Integrating Course-based Undergraduate Research and Entrepreneurial Mindset (CURE-E) in to Mechanical Engineering Curriculum

Ozgul Yasar-Inceoglu; JoAna Brooks; David G Alexander; Sam Lloyd-Harry

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Conference: 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Publication Date: June 22, 2025
Start Date: June 22, 2025
End Date: August 15, 2025
Conference Session: ME Technical Session 1 - Enhancing Mechanical Engineering Education: From Prerequisites to Practice
Tagged Division: Mechanical Engineering Division (MECH)
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 15
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/56824

Paper Authors

biography

Ozgul Yasar-Inceoglu California State University, Chico

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Ozgul Yasar-Inceoglu is an Associate Professor in Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Department at California State University, Chico. She received her Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering from University of California, Riverside.

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biography

JoAna Brooks California State University, Chico

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JoAna Brooks serves as Co-Principal Investigator and Project Director for the CEMUR Project (Course-based Experiential Modules for Undergraduate Research), which recruits, trains, and supports faculty in integrating Course-based Undergraduate Research and Entrepreneurial Mindset (CURE-E) into STEM curricula. Her work focuses on fostering inclusive research experiences and advancing innovation in undergraduate education through faculty development and curriculum transformation.

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David G Alexander California State University, Chico

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My research interests and areas of expertise are in engineering pedagogy, capstone design, renewable energy systems, thermal sciences, vehicle system modeling and simulation, heat transfer, new product development, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

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Sam Lloyd-Harry California State University, Chico

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Sam recently earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and will begin a Ph.D. program in Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago in Fall 2025. Their academic interests lie in the process-structure-property relationships within materials engineering, with a broader passion for interdisciplinary research that bridges mechanical and electrical systems. Sam is also deeply committed to engineering education, with a goal of making complex concepts accessible and engaging for undergraduate students.

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Abstract

Engaging undergraduate mechanical engineering students in research offers a substantial opportunity to enrich their educational experience and increase their interest in STEM fields. However, undergraduate students at many institutions often face significant barriers to engaging in research such as limited access to research opportunities, heavy course work, study-work schedule, and lack of research experience and knowledge. In order to address these challenges and introduce research to undergraduate engineering students, Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience and Entrepreneurial Mindset (CURE-E) is implemented to a lower division Mechanical Engineering course, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, at California State University, Chico. CURE-E is created as part of the Cultivating a Culture of Entrepreneurial Mindset and Undergraduate Research (CEMUR) project funded by a National Science Foundation (NSF) Improving Undergraduate STEM Education grant. The CURE-E project in to Materials Science and Laboratory course aimed to integrate research experiences into the curriculum, focusing on developing research skills and entrepreneurial mindset of engineering students. As part of the project, students conducted literature reviews, fabrication, and material property characterization of hydrogels for bio-related applications/tissue regeneration. Students collaborated closely with faculty and a student research mentor, applying materials science and engineering concepts to practical, real-world challenges. At the end of the course, students completed a 60-question survey to assess the impact of the CURE-E project on their self-perceived capabilities, their connection to the STEM community, and their interest in research and STEM fields. The results demonstrate high level of student satisfaction with research teamwork on important research, strong value alignment with STEM professional. In addition, students reported increased confidence in their ability to learning and applying STEM skills. This projects shows the impact of scientific collaboration and hands-on research on undergraduate engineering students and indicates students gain valuable experience and confidence that may positively influence their future success as engineers.

Citation
Format

Yasar-Inceoglu, O., & Brooks, J., & Alexander, D. G., & Lloyd-Harry, S. (2025, June), Integrating Course-based Undergraduate Research and Entrepreneurial Mindset (CURE-E) in to Mechanical Engineering Curriculum Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Montreal, Quebec, Canada . https://peer.asee.org/56824

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Engaging undergraduate mechanical engineering students in research offers a substantial opportunity to enrich their educational experience and increase their interest in STEM fields. However, undergraduate students at many institutions often face significant barriers to engaging in research such as limited access to research opportunities, heavy course work, study-work schedule, and lack of research experience and knowledge. In order to address these challenges and introduce research to undergraduate engineering students, Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience and Entrepreneurial Mindset (CURE-E) is implemented to a lower division Mechanical Engineering course, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, at California State University, Chico. CURE-E is created as part of the Cultivating a Culture of Entrepreneurial Mindset and Undergraduate Research (CEMUR) project funded by a National Science Foundation (NSF) Improving Undergraduate STEM Education grant. The CURE-E project in to Materials Science and Laboratory course aimed to integrate research experiences into the curriculum, focusing on developing research skills and entrepreneurial mindset of engineering students. As part of the project, students conducted literature reviews, fabrication, and material property characterization of hydrogels for bio-related applications/tissue regeneration. Students collaborated closely with faculty and a student research mentor, applying materials science and engineering concepts to practical, real-world challenges. At the end of the course, students completed a 60-question survey to assess the impact of the CURE-E project on their self-perceived capabilities, their connection to the STEM community, and their interest in research and STEM fields. The results demonstrate high level of student satisfaction with research teamwork on important research, strong value alignment with STEM professional. In addition, students reported increased confidence in their ability to learning and applying STEM skills. This projects shows the impact of scientific collaboration and hands-on research on undergraduate engineering students and indicates students gain valuable experience and confidence that may positively influence their future success as engineers.
AU  - Ozgul Yasar-Inceoglu
AU  - JoAna Brooks
AU  - David G Alexander
AU  - Sam Lloyd-Harry
CY  - Montreal, Quebec, Canada 
DA  - 2025/06/22
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Integrating Course-based Undergraduate Research and Entrepreneurial Mindset (CURE-E) in to Mechanical Engineering Curriculum
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/56824
ER  -