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Much of undergraduate scientific education focuses on facts, but not on how to apply that information, which is why many courses include laboratory units for hands-on experience. However, standard laboratory curricula are less effective for computational genomics, where students must make frequent decisions and interpret data while working through an unfamiliar workflow. Computational genomics is an essential tool for studying microbial pathogens that threaten food security, making effective training in these approaches increasingly important for future microbiologists. We evaluate whether integrating authentic genomics into a cohort-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) centered on Nanopore sequencing and genome assembly of bacterial plant pathogens improved undergraduate students’ engagement with computational genomics and promoted positive educational and professional development outcomes. We developed and expanded educational resources for the KBase genomics platform that guide students through assessing the quality of sequencing data, identifying the genetic organization of bacteria, and inferring evolutionary relationships. Student outcomes were assessed using the validated Persistence in the Sciences (PITS) survey, which measures project ownership, self-efficacy, science identity, and science values. In Winter 2026, the CURE included 17 undergraduate students, with 11 students completing the survey. PITS survey reflections using a 1-5 scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree showed average scores between 4.0 and 4.5 for all metrics. These findings are consistent with PITS reflections from 2022-2025 and support the effectiveness of using authentic genomics in a CURE program for positive educational outcomes and student engagement with computational genomics of bacteria. We will continue to offer this experience and improve the program, aiming to recruit 8-12 students for Winter 2027. Overall, the plant pathogen genomics CURE has contributed to the genomic tools available to undergraduate students in the KBase Educators network, and the results of our PITS survey assessment illustrate that this instructional approach has a robust impact on education.
