The Freshman Research Initiative (FRI) at UT Austin is the largest program of its kind in the country. Over 1000 students each year join Research Streams and conduct faculty-led research while earning course credit. FRI works because of the involvement of UT faculty!
Why Launch a Stream?
- Research streams can help you get funding! Include FRI in the broader impacts in grants.
- Make progress on your research. FRI offers many hands and minds to help solve problems.
- Publish! Faculty have published 200+ papers with FRI student co-authors.
- Recruitment. You will be able to find and cultivate the best and most interested students and invite them to join your lab after they complete FRI.
- Get energized by the enthusiasm that young students bring to research.
How does FRI Work?
Faculty-led research groups engage ~35 undergraduate students in a Research Stream—a two-course (Spring & Fall) sequence plus optional summer participation—with the assistance of a Ph.D. faculty member, the “Research Educator,” undergraduate peer mentors, and sometimes other members (graduate students, post-docs, etc.) of their laboratory. Research streams span the disciplines including astronomy, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, pre-health, and many are interdisciplinary.
Cost
For sustainability, faculty contribute to the cost of their Research Stream. The average contribution is roughly 25% of the cost of the stream, around $25K per year for stream supplies or Research Educator salary.
If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please contact:
Dr. Lauren De Pue, Director of Freshman Research