Welcome to FRI!
During the fall semester, we offer many opportunities for FRI-admitted students to interact with current undergraduates, faculty, and research available in FRI undergraduate research labs, called Research Streams. Students participate in a process that we call Stream Sort, which is a series of events that land a student placement in a research stream.
Students are invited to indicate their Research Stream preferences on the FRI Stream Sort form (opens end of October). We do our best to place FRI admits into one of their top stream choices. Students self-register for their stream placement during registration and begin research in the spring semester of the academic year.
FRI in Your First Semester
In the fall semester, students admitted to FRI explore their options and prepare for stream placement. During this time, you will:
- Participate in an optional first-year seminar (based on your program or major) to acclimate to UT.
- Learn about FRI Research Streams by attending fall events.
- Complete the Stream Sort process to request your preferred streams by submitting a Stream Sort Form. At the end of this process, you will be offered a seat in a Research Stream for the spring semester.
Important: You must submit the Stream Sort form to be considered for placement. Students who do not submit the form will not receive a stream!
Fall FRI Event Timeline
ORIENTATION | Your First Year Community & Seminar Registration
FRI-admitted students will be invited to join the FRI Canvas page during summer UT orientation, where you’ll complete a self-paced FRI orientation and find information about registering for an optional first-year seminar connected to your major, program, or community. FRI does not offer separate programming during orientation.
If you have questions, please contact fri@utexas.edu and include your EID in your message.
What are CNS Cornerstones Communities?
CNS Cornerstones Communities are small, first-year learning communities. Each community connects you with other students who share similar academic interests, helping you build relationships and feel supported early in your time on campus. These seminars are designed to help you settle in, meet people, and start building your identity as a UT student.
As part of a Cornerstones Community, you’ll:
- Take part in a first-semester seminar or weekly meeting
- Get to know a dedicated faculty or staff advisor
- Connect with peer mentors who have been in your shoes
- Participate in activities and resources designed to support your academic and social transition to UT
FRI & Your First Year Seminar
FRI students come from a mix of majors and learning communities, so your first-semester seminar placement is based on those affiliations.
Some FRI students are placed into an optional FRI Research Methods seminar. This seminar is designed to help you build community and develop skills for success in research and at UT.
If you are already part of another learning community, you may not be placed in the FRI seminar, and that’s completely okay! It is not required for participation in FRI, and you will not be behind if you don’t take it. Instead, think of it as one possible version of a first-year seminar, with a research-focused experience.
Registration: How Your Fall First-Semester Seminar is Assigned
Your 99 cluster helps place you into your first-semester seminar. Where that placement comes from depends on your program or your major. You will receive this information at UT Orientation!
-
Your Seminar is From Your First Year Community. If you’re part of any of the communities below, your seminar will come from that program. Students are automatically placed into these communities during their admission process and learn of their placement in late April.
- Your Major Assigns Your Seminar. For certain majors, your department will place you into a first-semester seminar.
- Astronomy
- Environmental Science (EVS)
- Computer Science (CS)
- Human Ecology
- Informatics (iSchool)
- Mathematics
- Nutrition
- Physics
- X+CS
- FRI Assigns Your Seminar. If you’re in one of the majors below, or you’re still undeclared, your 99 cluster will come through FRI.
- Biochemistry (BCH)
- Biology (BIO)
- Chemistry (CH)
- Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS)
- Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS)
- Neuroscience (NEU)
- Public Health (PBH)
- Textiles & Apparel (TXT)
- Undeclared
SEPTEMBER | Explore the Research Streams
At the beginning of the fall semester, explore the Research Streams.
- Attend the FRI Meet & Greet Poster Session. At this event, you'll be able to interact with students and faculty to learn more about our research streams.
- Review the FRI Canvas (invitation only) and Stream Course Credit & Course Schedules. To help you identify several Research Streams that interest you, review the Spring Course Schedule and Fall Research Credit options.
OCTOBER | Visit Research Streams
During October, we open our doors for students to visit and interact with stream team members.
- Attend Stream Open Houses. Research Educators and Peer Mentors provide lab tours and overviews of their stream research/laboratory on specific days/times and are available to answer your questions (~30 min -1h tours). Check the FRI Canvas for the Open House schedule.
- Submit a Stream Sort Form. Select your top research stream choices by the deadline. You will not receive an offer for a seat in a stream if you do not submit a form!
LATE OCTOBER | Submit FRI Stream Sort Form
Each year, the stream sort form opens the week before the first day of registration. Students who fill out the FRI Stream Sort Form have the opportunity to submit their top research stream choices on this form, and a brief statement explaining their selection.
-
Students who do not submit the Stream Sort form will not receive an offer in a research stream.
-
Students who submit the form after the deadline are not guaranteed placement.
Form Opens Late October 2026!
Stream Switch & Late Form
If you DID NOT fill out a form, you are welcomed to fill out a Stream Sort Late Form. While we will try our best to fit you into the most ideal stream of your choice, please understand that we will not guarantee you a switch or stream placement if it is not available.
If you have a course conflict with the stream you've been placed in or you feel very strongly that you need to change streams, fill out the Stream Switch Form. Note that not all stream switches are guaranteed. *Keep in mind that students will be sorted up until the first class day in January.*
NOVEMBER | Stream Placement & Registration
Students are sorted into Research Streams based on preference and research stream availability. We do our best to give students one of their five preferred choices.
- Receive a Research Stream Placement. FRI admitted students who submitted a Stream Sort form by the deadline will be notified of their stream assignments and the unique number of the course(s) associated with that stream by November 10, 2026 VIA E-MAIL.
Please be patient as it takes time to notify all students - you may not receive your assignment at the same time as your roommate!
If you have a course conflict with the stream you've been placed in or you feel very strongly that you need to change streams, fill out the Stream Switch Form.
*Keep in mind that students will be sorted up until the first class day in January 2027.*
- Students self-register for their stream. Your seat in a research stream is reserved. You will register for your stream during your registration time using the information provided in your stream placement email.
JANUARY | Begin Stream Research!
Students who register will begin their research and coursework in the Spring Semester!
FRI Researchers attend a weekly conference meeting(s) and are assigned additional laboratory requirements that are scheduled independently from course registration.
Your Research Educator will provide you with more details regarding course requirements, schedule, and attendance expectations.