The Freshman Research Initiative (FRI) at The University of Texas at Austin provides an authentic research experience to over 700 freshmen in natural science disciplines. The FRI involves an integrated three-semester research-based course sequence that increases the number and diversity of undergraduate students participating in research, and significantly impacts student success and engagement in science. Following the first semester in FRI, students join a research �stream� where they begin their investigations in a specific discipline. In chemistry streams, the curriculum must satisfy the requirements for the American Chemical Society accredited General Chemistry Laboratory, while providing students with the necessary techniques to engage in a multidisciplinary research project. This talk will focus on a redesign of the general chemistry curriculum by the FRI organic synthesis group, which allows freshmen to develop the skills required to synthesize small organic molecules, and investigate the binding of these compounds to proteins using microcalorimetry.

Transforming general chemistry laboratory into a research-centered curriculum

245th National Meeting (2013)

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