A broadly applicable semester-long course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE)-inspired organic II laboratory course was developed from an engaging story supported by the current literature surrounding paraben use in consumer products. The project involves the synthesis of brominated parabens followed by an investigation into the structure--activity relationship between the ester lipophilicity and antimicrobial properties. The synthetic route for the project mirrors the sequence of reactions and topics typically covered in a second-semester organic course to support student learning within their lecture. The project culminates in a microbial cell death assay which lends a simple biological application to the project that is attainable for a broad audience of learners. The final assessments involve a notebook-based exam and the creation of an article mirroring a submission to the ACS journal "Organic Letters." Three iterations of the course spread across three years and seven lab sections have supported the reliability of the synthetic route and have provided significant data validating the engaging nature of the lab course. Such engagement has decreased attrition, promoted better notebook skills, and helped to develop strong writing skills within our second-year undergraduates.