The University of Texas at Austin

The Freshman Research Initiative offers first year students the opportunity to initiate and engage in authentic research experiences in chemistry, biochemistry, nanotechnology, molecular biology, physics, astronomy and computer sciences while being supported and mentored by faculty and graduate students.

Research Grant to Fund New Stream in 2011

Three UT professors, Tom Juenger, Christine Hawkes and Tim Keitt, have been awarded a $4.6 million grant to study the impact of climate change on switchgrass.  As part of this grant they will start a new Research Stream on the biology of biofuels for 2011.  See details.

Stream Switch

Students may request Stream Switches if they wish to change streams. These requests are more likely to be granted if your Stream conflicts with a required course or if you have communicated with a Research Educator who needs more students.  Switches will be processed in November, December and January as matching requests are submitted. See the Stream Sort page for the timeline.

FRI Research Educator Recognized for Excellence in Teaching

Scientists who guide research streams need to be gifted educators as well as researchers. Dr. Anne Tibbetts, Research Educator for the Mitochondrial Gene Expression Stream, is one of these gifted teachers.

FRI Participates in National Roundtable on Science Education

The Freshman Research Initiative participated in a recent conference sponsored by HHMI and AAAS to explore innovative options for introductory biology classes.  Read more about it here.

Teacher Nominations Due

You can have your High School science teacher or counselor nominate you for admission to FRI. Nomination forms for 2010 are now open. (The last day to nominate a student for 2009 school year was May 1, 2009).