Module 8: Share Your Results

MB 360: Scientific Inquiry in Microbiology At the Bench

Carlos C. Goller, Ph.D.

NC State University | Department of Biological Sciences

Camila Loyola, Graduate Teaching Assistant

2026-08-19

Module 8: Share Your Results

MB 360: Scientific Inquiry in Microbiology At the Bench

MB 360 Lab Workbook
NC State University | Department of Biological Sciences

Overview

Week 15 — Capstone Module

  • Design or repeat an experiment focused on your bacterial strain
  • Analyze results in the context of the semester’s genomic and phenotypic findings
  • Connect everything back to your overall research goal

Learning Outcomes

  • List safety considerations for working with microbial isolates
  • Review techniques, concepts, and experiments from the course
  • Repeat experiments to improve consistency and reproducibility
  • Describe the purpose, methods, and results of your team’s designed experiment
  • Interpret genomic data, gene annotations, and protein interaction predictions
  • Revise the draft for the individual and group projects

Skills & Knowledge

Skills

Specify the lab skills your final experiment develops.

  • (Add skill here)
  • (Add skill here)

Knowledge

Specify concepts, tools, and analysis techniques reinforced.

  • (Add knowledge area here)
  • (Add knowledge area here)

Experiment Goals

State at least two specific goals for your final experiment.

  1. (Add goal here)
  2. (Add goal here)

Background

Write a short description of:

  • Your strain and the experiment your team will perform
  • The science behind the experiment
  • How the experiment supports your final research goal

Lab Safety

Before Lab

  • Wear lab coat, goggles, and gloves
  • Wipe bench and pipettors with 70% ethanol

During Lab

  • Treat all tips as potential biohazards
  • Remove PPE when leaving the lab
  • Minimize use of personal devices

After Lab

  • Wipe station and touched personal items with 70% ethanol
  • Dispose of gloves, plates, liquids, and glass correctly
  • Return reusable materials, remove PPE, and wash hands

Methods

Write your methods so another group could reproduce the experiment, including:

  • Setup and controls
  • Measurements and data-collection plan
  • Data-analysis plan

Results & Analysis

Collect

  • Raw data files from your designed experiment
  • Plate-reader exports, images, or observation notes
  • Any quality-control checks performed

Analyse

  • Apply methods consistent with earlier modules (growth curves, biofilm values, etc.)
  • Identify patterns that confirm or contradict earlier findings
  • Note any unexpected results and consider confounding factors

Interpret

  • Connect experimental results to genomic and phenotypic evidence gathered this semester
  • Summarise what the designed experiment adds to your overall research narrative

Reflection Questions

  1. How did your experimental design account for variability or potential confounds?
  2. What would you change if you repeated the experiment with unlimited time and resources?
  3. What is the single most important finding from your semester of research?