An interdisciplinary course on computer‐aided drug discovery to broaden student participation in original scientific research

Abstract

AbstractWe present a new highly interdisciplinary project‐based course in computer aided drug discovery (CADD). This course was developed in response to a call for alternative pedagogical approaches during the COVID‐19 pandemic, which caused the cancellation of a face‐to‐face summer research program sponsored by the Louisiana Biomedical Research Network (LBRN). The course integrates guided research and educational experiences for chemistry, biology, and computer science students. We implement research‐based methods with publicly available tools in bioinformatics and molecular modeling to identify and prioritize promising antiviral drug candidates for COVID‐19. The purpose of this course is three‐fold: I. Implement an active learning and inclusive pedagogy that fosters student engagement and research mindset; II. Develop student interdisciplinary research skills that are highly beneficial in a broader scientific context; III. Demonstrate that pedagogical shifts (initially incurred during the COVID‐19 pandemic) can furnish longer‐term instructional benefits. The course, which has now been successfully taught a total of five times, incorporates four modules, including lectures/discussions, live demos, inquiry‐based assignments, and science communication.