Development of a Peer-Reviewed Open-Access Undergraduate Research Journal

Evelyn Sun; Julia A Huggins; Kirstin L Brown; Rozlyn C T Boutin; William D Ramey; Marcia L Graves; David C Oliver

doi:10.1128/jmbe.v21i2.2151

Development of a Peer-Reviewed Open-Access Undergraduate Research Journal

J Microbiol Biol Educ. 2020 Aug 31;21(2):21.2.62. doi: 10.1128/jmbe.v21i2.2151. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Evelyn Sun¹, Julia A Huggins¹, Kirstin L Brown^{2

3}, Rozlyn C T Boutin^{1

2

3}, William D Ramey¹, Marcia L Graves¹, David C Oliver¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
² Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Research, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4S6, Canada.
³ Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.

Abstract

Dissemination of results is a fundamental aspect of the scientific process and requires an avenue for publication that is specifically designed to suit the nature of the research being communicated. Undergraduate research journals provide a unique forum for students to report scientific findings and ideas while learning about the complete scientific process. We have developed a peer-reviewed, open-access, international undergraduate research journal that is linked to a course-based undergraduate research experience. We reflect on lessons learned and recommend effective approaches for the implementation and operation of a successful undergraduate research journal.