The Paul Shannahan Wenger CURE Laboratory Transforms Student Research at Emmanuel

At the time, the donor envisioned a space where undergraduate students would gain hands-on experience solving real-world scientific challenges from their very first days on campus. 

Four years later, the results speak for themselves: the CURE Laboratory has reshaped undergraduate science education at Emmanuel, empowered more than 1,150 student scientists, and established a powerful legacy for Paul that continues to ripple far beyond campus walls. 

Contributing to a CURE 

The name “CURE” stands for Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience, but at Emmanuel it has come to mean much more. Student scientists are contributing to a CURE in every sense of the word: honoring Shannahan Wenger’s legacy in education, while advancing research on tuberculosis (TB), and taking their first college-level steps toward becoming leaders in science, healthcare, education, and beyond. Each year, first-year student scientists in the flagship BIOL1105 Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology course step into the CURE Lab and immediately begin working on authentic research. At the center of this curriculum is TB, one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. Student scientists are actively searching for new antibiotic targets as they contribute to impactful research that extends far beyond the classroom. 

Expanding Frontiers 

Since 2022, the Paul Shannahan Wenger CURE Laboratory has grown into much more than a single course. The donor’s gift has allowed Emmanuel to purchase state-of-the-art equipment that expands both the scope and quality of student research. Among the new tools are the ChemiDoc MP Touch Imaging System for visualizing DNA and proteins, the MinION nanopore sequencer, a portable device that students even bring to the Galápagos Islands for on-site sequencing, and an array of general-purpose instruments that support advanced lab work across courses. The lab also houses an Opentrons OT-2 robotic pipetting system, which introduces undergraduates to lab automation and makes preparation of thousands of reagents more efficient. These resources, uncommon in undergraduate settings, have reduced wait times in class sessions and given student scientists the chance to practice research with the same technologies used in professional labs and industries. 

The gift has also sparked innovation from students themselves. Together with faculty, students developed the DigiBox, an inexpensive digital imaging box first built out of cardboard and later refined with 3D-printed parts and laser-cut acrylic. The DigiBox solves a century-old challenge in microbiology: how to capture clear, glare-free images of agar plates. Students now use their own cell phones to produce high-resolution images of their results, and the team is exploring whether the device could be distributed to high schools and community colleges across Massachusetts. 

One section of the BIOL1105 CURE course also takes the lab experience far beyond Boston. After six weeks of training on campus, students pursued the opportunity to conduct research on the Galápagos Islands, in part funded by the Paul Shannahan Wenger Student Travel scholarships. For many, it is the first time they see how the skills gained in an Emmanuel classroom translate to scientific discovery in the wider world.

Student Impact, Alumni Outcomes

The CURE Laboratory has already shaped the academic and professional journeys of dozens of students. Many of these projects were supported through Paul Shannahan Wenger Student Researcher Stipends, which provide undergraduates with up to $1,200 per semester or $5,500 for summer research 

• Andrew Farinha ’17 completed a PhD in microbiology at Northeastern and is now a postdoctoral fellow at Brown University Health funded by the NIH.
• Cali Sweitzer ’21 entered a PhD program in Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University.
• Astrid Noriega ’26, a Beckman Scholar, is advancing amyloid research while preparing for graduate study.
• Queenie Cheung ’23 curated CURE Lab data on antibiotic resistance before joining Massachusetts Eye and Ear; she is now enrolled in a master’s program in Human Microbiome at the University of Florida.
• Emily Pike ’24 helped develop a new upper-level CURE course and now works as an Associate Scientist in a biotech company.
• Chris Akut ’24 co-developed the next iteration of the CURE lab, Project CERTI (Certified Employment Ready Training Initiative), a workforce readiness initiative supported by a $580,000 grant, and continues to shape Emmanuel’s biotech pipeline.
• Sydney Teixeira ’22 launched the STEM Peer Mentorship Program at Emmanuel and is now pursuing a PharmD degree. 

Together, these stories and others, illustrate the CURE Lab’s reach: Emmanuel students are publishing, securing research roles at institutions like Boston Children’s Hospital and the Broad Institute, pursuing advanced degrees, and contributing to Massachusetts’ life sciences workforce. 

Building Community & Belonging 

The Paul Shannahan Wenger CURE Laboratory has also helped spark a cultural shift in Emmanuel’s Biology Department: a focus on belonging in biology. From their first year, students engage in authentic research that allows them to see themselves as scientists, not just students. 

Faculty and interns have launched initiatives like the annual Belonging in Biology Summit, where students share projects and reflect on how research shapes their scientific identity. Out of this work came Open Lab, a space for practicing techniques and collaborating outside of class. Together, these efforts ensure the CURE Lab is not only a place of discovery, but also a community where students gain confidence and a sense of identity as scientists.

Preparing the Workforce of Tomorrow

Building on lessons from the CURE Lab, Emmanuel launched Project CERTI with support from a $580,000 Massachusetts Life Sciences Center grant. CERTI formally certifies students in industry-vetted biotech skills—such as tissue culture, flow cytometry, and fluorescent microscopy—and pairs them with faculty mentors to develop training modules and ePortfolios. Under the leadership of Dr. Pádraig Deighan, Dean of the School of Science and Health, and Dr. Anna Payne-Tobin Jost, the newly appointed Paul Shannahan Wenger CERTI Program Coordinator, this initiative aims to diversify the life sciences talent pipeline and equip Emmanuel graduates with credentials that accelerate their entry into the workforce.

Opening Doors Beyond Emmanuel

The Paul Shannahan Wenger CURE Laboratory has also become a resource for the wider scientific community. During the summer months, Emmanuel rents lab space to strategic partners, generating revenue for student research while showcasing the College’s state-of-the-art facilities. Recent partners include the Institute of Protein Innovation, BioResearch Academy, HMS MEDscience, and the Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, whose students even completed the Emmanuel CURE curriculum as part of their biotechnology program. These collaborations highlight the Lab’s growing role as both a teaching space and a hub for regional innovation. 

A Legacy Realized 

Today, four years in, it is clear: Paul’s legacy shines brightly. From first-year classrooms to global research sites, from local biotech pipelines to innovative new tools, the Paul Shannahan Wenger CURE Laboratory has fulfilled and expanded on its founding vision, preparing Emmanuel students to heal, to discover, and to lead.