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To facilitate investigations of the microtubule severing protein spastin and its specific role in neurons, we aimed to create a C. elegans strain in which the spastin homolog SPAS-1 is visible and can be degraded with spatial and temporal precision. We used CRISPR-Cas9 to fuse an auxin-inducible degron and mScarlet to the endogenous SPAS-1 protein, enabling degradation of SPAS-1 in neurons during desired life stages. DNA sequencing confirmed in-frame insertion with the SPAS-1 N-terminus and fluorescence microscopy revealed endogenous SPAS-1 throughout the CRISPR-edited worms. Auxin treatment in rgef-1::TIR1; mScarlet::AID*::3xFLAG::spas-1 animals reduced mScarlet::SPAS-1 fluorescence in neuronal ganglia. 

Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of titanosilicate ETS-10 was used as a means to prepare students for a research-focused independent term project as part of a 200-level descriptive inorganic chemistry course. Students spent the first 7 weeks of the course learning synthesis and characterization techniques that are common for metal oxide systems. In the second half of the semester, students led their own independent term projects as part of this research integrated laboratory course. All students successfully synthesized their materials and characterized their products independently. At the completion of the course, students submitted a journal-style report as well as presented their findings at a department poster session. The students were assessed through Student Assessment of their Learning Gains (SALG) surveys which showed enhancement in understanding and all-around research skills. The feasibility of learning advanced instrumentation that is not typically used in an undergraduate lab setting was demonstrated through this course.