Breaking barriers: broadening neuroscience education via cloud platforms and course-based undergraduate research.

Abstract

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating cloud computing platforms with Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) to broaden access to neuroscience education. Over four consecutive spring semesters (2021-2024), a total of 42 undergraduate students at Lawrence Technological University participated in computational neuroscience CUREs using brainlife.io, a cloud-computing platform. Students conducted anatomical and functional brain imaging analyses on openly available datasets, testing original hypotheses about brain structure variations. The program evolved from initial data processing to hypothesis-driven research exploring the influence of age, gender, and pathology on brain structures. By combining open science and big data within a user-friendly cloud environment, the CURE model provided hands-on, problem-based learning to students with limited prior knowledge. This approach addressed key limitations of traditional undergraduate research experiences, including scalability, early exposure, and inclusivity. Students consistently worked with MRI datasets, focusing on volumetric analysis of brain structures, and developed scientific communication skills by presenting findings at annual research days. The success of this program demonstrates its potential to democratize neuroscience education, enabling advanced research without extensive laboratory facilities or prior experience, and promoting original undergraduate research using real-world datasets.