Incredible potential exists at large research institutions to create a generation of science-minded innovators through undergraduate research, yet many models have limitations of scale. The Freshman Research Initiative (FRI) at UT-Austin introduces over 1000 freshmen each year into an integrated three-semester research-based course sequence that increases the number and diversity of students engaged in research, and significantly impacts student success and engagement in science. The core principle behind FRI is the merging of the educational and research missions of the University to benefit both students and faculty, by creating an environment where teaching is based on authentic research projects of the faculty. We demonstrate that undergraduate research can work at large scale to recruit and engage students and create innovators.<br/><br/>Studies have been performed and are continuing on this program’s unique dataset. Some of our recent findings will be highlighted, including ways in which student persistence in the sciences might be influenced by research participation, the effects of FRI participation on graduation and retention in STEM disciplines, and an overview of ways we teach freshman chemistry laboratory requirements in the context of different research areas. We encourage and aid dissemination of our model to other interested institutions and continue to study and evolve our program to find the optimal way to create the next generation of scientists.

Teaching through research: Freshman research initiative at the University of Texas at Austin

2019 Fall National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.