First Year Research Experience (FYRE)

Two students working in a chemistry lab fume hood

The First Year Research Experience (FYRE) is a unique opportunity for a limited number of students to get involved in research right away, in their first year at 无码专区. Applications are closed for the 25-26 academic year. Incoming students will be invited to apply in summer 2026.

  • FYRE students will take a class together during fall term and work as research assistants in fall and spring terms. 
  • FYRE research assistant jobs are 10 hours per week and pay $15 per hour 
  • The required course is UNIV 1102 (FYRE), a specialized 1-credit course about professional development in research, taught by Dr. Jennifer Ebinger and Dr. Adam Scott Neal.

FYRE mentors for 25-26

  • Anthropology: Matthew Boulanger, Kacy Hollenback, Chris Roos, Kelton Sheridan, 
  • Biological Sciences: Amy Brewster
  • Chemistry: Anindita Das, Pokhraj Ghosh, Brian Zoltowski
  • Civil and Environmental Engineering: Brett Story
  • Education Policy and Leadership: Leanne Ketterlin Geller
  • History: Sabri Ates, Jill Kelly
  • Physics: Patrick Breysse and Joel Meyers
  • Operations Research & Engineering Management: Eli Olinick
  • Psychology: Chrystyna Kouros
  • Research Technology Services: Eric Godat
  • 无码专区 Libraries: Carrie Johnston

FYRE mentors for 24-25

Thanks to these faculty mentors for joining this pilot program: Matthew Boulanger, Courtney Brown, John Buynak, Kacy Hollenback, Leanne Ketterlin-Geller, Maria Langlois, Monnie McGee, Chul Moon, Milica Mormann, Chris Roos, Janille Smith-Colin, Brett Story, Ben Voth

UNIV 1102 overview

The UNIV 1102: First Year Research Experience course introduces students to research in a university setting. Discussions include research as a practice, ethics, literature, communication, and networking. 

Topical outline

  • Module 1: The Research Environment. Students are introduced to faculty and each other. The students participate in exercises to help them refine their research interests and learn how they align with their faculty mentor’s interests. 
  • Module 2: Research as a Practice. Students explore literature related to their mentor’s research, to learn about “the field” as well as methodology and codes of ethics. 
  • Module 3: Sharing Research. Students are exposed to formats for disseminating research, and the typical components (introduction, literature review, methodology, discussion). Students produce and deliver a 3-minute presentation, with a slide deck, on their mentor’s research project. 

Assignments

  • Weekly Read and Response (based on The Craft of Research by Booth, et al.)
  • Weekly Homework Exercises (e.g., Interviews, guided practice)
  • Final Oral Presentation
  • Attendance and Participation