Online students conduct research with Nobel Prize winner

Online degree programs have opened up opportunities for thousands of students to pursue higher education. An ASU program is taking things a step further, providing research experiences for ASU Online students through the Online Undergraduate Research Scholars (OURS) program in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Since 2022, 55 faculty and staff members have mentored online student researchers, including Leland Hartwell , a Nobel Prize-winning scientist who has left a legacy in multiple research areas, from yeast cells to cancer therapies. Hartwell’s project leads ASU students in a unique online research experience about visual cognition.

Students in the course construct experiments that explore the creation and comprehension of stories. The fully remote class uses technology to create experiments using visuals, including graphics and videos.

Students in the course also explore how different interpretations of language, storytelling and memory can shape and redefine a narrative.

Beyond the curriculum, students are gaining valuable skills from Hartwell himself on research, specifically inquiry and curiosity.

[Hartwell is] somebody who is a lifelong learner. I was struck by how much he sees himself as having a youthful curiosity about the world. He’s been so intent in saying he’s also learning from us. He’s very genuine, open, accessible and encouraging toward us.

— Grace Pavelka, anthropology student from North Carolina