Talk to your advisor today about enrolling in one of these Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) for Fall 2026!
*Some courses may require you to complete an application or email the instructor to enroll. See information for each course below.
Interested in Vertically Integrated Projects? Visit their webpage to apply: uavip.arizona.edu/
Check this page regularly - we update it as classes are added or changed. A complete list of CUREs developed at the University of Arizona can be found here.
Questions about CUREs? Email UndergradResearch@arizona.edu!
CUREs in STEM Fields
Instructor: Dr. Na Zuo
Schedule: TuTh 12:30PM - 1:45PM at Saguaro Hall, Rm 202
Credits: 3
Description: Few questions are more fundamental than how we feed the world's people. Yet, the coexistence of food insecurity and food waste begs the question: how can we feed the population efficiently, sustainably, and equitably? This course familiarizes students with the food economy and its efficiencies while identifying where gaps occur as food flows from producers to consumers. These gaps frequently lead to food insecurity with a less healthy populous, as well as food waste, an issue in more developed societies. By examining 1) the food supply chain and markets, 2) food insecurity, 3) food loss and waste along the food supply chain and 4) food policies through the lens of marginalized populations, students will gain insights into the economic forces that shape the food system. This course stimulates critical thinking and problem solving through economic, nutritional science and policy-making perspectives, which may lead to potential resolutions for those who struggle to afford and consume healthy, wholesome foods
Prerequisites: two courses from Tier One Individuals & Societies
Instructor: Dr. Haiquan Li
Schedule: Online
Credits: 3
Description: In this class, students will work in collaborative teams to develop and conduct a short research project on data and code reproducibility in bioinformatics. This class will provide an opportunity for collaboration between students but will also allow them to present to- and connect with local members of the data science community. Students will conduct a survey assessing the accessibility, documentation, and reproducibility of previously published bioinformatics tools. Students will also conduct a survey of the current landscape and the evolution of these practices in bioinformatics.
Prerequisites: None
Instructor: Dr. Tara Archuleta (tlarchul@arizona.edu)
Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays 2:00pm-2:50pm
Credits: 2
Description: To introduce sophomore biochemistry students to experimental design and data interpretation. Exercises include group discussions on experimental controls, conclusions, and alternate explanations for published experiments. Students will apply what they learn to generate resources in the field of biochemical research.
Prerequisites: Biochemistry majors only, or consent of instructor
Instructor: Luke Fleck
Schedule: Online
Credits: 3
Description: This course will lay a foundation for students to understand how to process, analyze, and visualize data. Topics include data collection and integration, exploratory data analysis, statistical inference and modeling, machine learning, and data visualization. The emphasis of the course topics will be placed on integration and synthesis of concepts and their application to solving problems. Students will explore these topics using software tools.
Prerequisites: Students enrolled in fully online programs only. CYBR 342 and CYBR 320.
Instructor: Ryan Ruboyianes
Schedule: Online (7 week - first or second), Tu, Wed, Thur 8:00AM - 10:50AM, 11:00AM - 1:50PM, 2:00PM - 4:50PM, 5:00PM - 7:50PM
Credits: 1
Description: Diversity and evolution of life; structure and function of plants, animals, and organ systems; processes of micro and macroevolution, strategies and selection of different species; phylogenetics and descent.
Prequisites: ECOL 182R or concurrent registration. At least Level III placement on the Math Readiness Test. High school biology recommended.
Instructor: Dr. Martha Whitaker
Schedule: TuTh 9:30AM - 10:45AM
Credits: 4
Description: This course is an introduction to main hydrologic processes, including global circulation, precipitation, evaporation and transpiration, runoff, soil moisture, infiltration, groundwater, water quality, and water resources management. Laboratory and field techniques complement lecture topics. Students will conduct at least one course-based-undergraduate research experience (CURE) and prepare a presentation for stakeholders.
Prequisites: MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 122B.
Instructor: Dr. Na Zuo
Schedule: TuTh 12:30PM - 1:45PM
Credits: 3
Description: Few questions are more fundamental than how we feed the world's people. Yet, the coexistence of food insecurity and food waste begs the question: how can we feed the population efficiently, sustainably, and equitably? This course familiarizes students with the food economy and its efficiencies while identifying where gaps occur as food flows from producers to consumers. These gaps frequently lead to food insecurity with a less healthy populous, as well as food waste, an issue in more developed societies. By examining 1) the food supply chain and markets, 2) food insecurity, 3) food loss and waste along the food supply chain and 4) food policies through the lens of marginalized populations, students will gain insights into the economic forces that shape the food system. This course stimulates critical thinking and problem solving through economic, nutritional science and policy-making perspectives, which may lead to potential resolutions for those who struggle to afford and consume healthy, wholesome foods.
Prequisites: None
Instructor: Dr. Na Zuo
Schedule: TuTh 12:30PM - 1:45PM
Credits: 3
Description: Few questions are more fundamental than how we feed the world's people. Yet, the coexistence of food insecurity and food waste begs the question: how can we feed the population efficiently, sustainably, and equitably? This course familiarizes students with the food economy and its efficiencies while identifying where gaps occur as food flows from producers to consumers. These gaps frequently lead to food insecurity with a less healthy populous, as well as food waste, an issue in more developed societies. By examining 1) the food supply chain and markets, 2) food insecurity, 3) food loss and waste along the food supply chain and 4) food policies through the lens of marginalized populations, students will gain insights into the economic forces that shape the food system. This course stimulates critical thinking and problem solving through economic, nutritional science and policy-making perspectives, which may lead to potential resolutions for those who struggle to afford and consume healthy, wholesome foods.
Prequisites: None
Instructor: Dr. Martha Bhattacharya (marthab1@arizona.edu)
Schedule: Tuesdays 9:30-10:30. Then students are enrolled for two 50 minute laboratory sessions during the week
Credits: Varies
Description: This course asks how genes altered in human sequencing datasets might alter the course of a neurodegenerative disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Students test their hypotheses using a fruit fly (Drosophila) model – setting up genetic crosses, collecting behavioral data from offspring, and doing machine learning-based analysis on the high performance computing cluster. As a group, we’re hoping to find ways to prevent the loss of neurons in ALS.
To apply, please fill out the google form here: NROS 397 Fall 2026 Student Application
CUREs in Humanities, Social Sciences, and Fine Arts
Instructor: Dr. Jennie Gubner (jgubner@arizona.edu)
Schedule: Tu 9:30AM - 11:50AM
Credits: 3
Description: How can music promote health and wellness in our lives and communities across the lifespan? For years, ethnomusicologists have been studying music around the world as a form of healing and a vehicle for community building and identity formation. One of the most important ways ethnomusicologists do research is by learning directly with and from individuals and communities through interviews, observant participation, and thoughtful engagement in communities of practice. In this interdisciplinary, hands-on, fieldwork course, we will explore the relationship between music and health through the creation of collaborative, community-based digital storytelling projects. Working in teams, students in this course will meet with individuals from diverse backgrounds from across the Tucson area to learn about their musical preferences and practices, document their musical life stories, and work to map the musical spaces and activities that have brought and continue to bring meaning, wellness, and health to their lives. To raise awareness about how music can be used to build and strengthen healthy communities, the stories students gather will be collected and shared as a growing creative toolkit to be shared with community members and healthcare providers.
Prerequisites: None
Instructor: Dr. Kristy Slominski (slominski@arizona.edu)
Schedule: In-person on Tuesdays 9:30am-10:45am, the rest online!
Credits: 3
Description: This course is designed to offer tools for engaging religious and cultural diversity within healthcare settings, which includes consideration of religious patients, religious healthcare workers, faith-based healthcare institutions, and the impact of religious communities on healthcare laws and services. To develop skills for navigating intercultural differences, students will practice applying academic approaches to religion to health-related case studies.
This is a CURE course, so students will engage in online research that contributes to understandings of religious contributions to healthcare in Tucson!
Prerequisites: None