First-Year Research Immersion (FRI)

Make Your First Year Count. Dive into the World of Research.

Who says research has to wait until junior year?

The First-year Research Immersion (FRI) program provides first-year students with a three semester authentic research experience in sciences and engineering. Working alongside faculty and fellow students on cutting-edge research projects in their early college years, participants in the FRI program tackle weighty world issues, build powerful relationships, and set a course for college and career success.

Unique Benefits

Credit

Cutting-edge research is part of your coursework. You'll learn the core concepts and theory of a discipline while earning credit that counts toward your degree and major requirements.
Growth

Your personal and professional growth: turbocharged. You'll learn methods of scientific research and develop your skills of critical thinking and collaborative research earlier than most undergraduate students.
Direction

Your future will be brighter. You'll acquire a solid foundation toward your chosen career or advanced academic studies.
Recognition

People will know your name. You'll find opportunities to publish in professional journals, present posters at conferences, seek industry internships, be considered for fellowships, and a whole lot more.
Access

Renowned faculty members collaborate with you. You'll build powerful connections with influential Binghamton University professors and lay the foundation for requesting valuable letters of recommendation, which are often required for scholarships, internships and graduate school applications.
Excitement

Excitement is part of your course load. Our research teams are attacking big-world issues – from developing clean energy to preventing neurodegeneration to understanding climate change. You will be a valuable contributor to the solution.
Opportunity

Open doors left and right. You'll make essential connections and build your academic credentials, which employers and graduate programs carefully evaluate.
Friendship

Great team members make for great friends. You'll work alongside students with common interests and build important, long-lasting relationships along the way.

Virtual Open House

To help prospective students better understand the FRI program, we have created a Virtual Open House webpage that includes a program overview, FRI student Q&A panel, lab tour and each research stream. In addition, we encourage you to explore our entire website and frequently asked questions to learn more!

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE

Research Streams

Most students don't get to take on heavy, global issues during their first and second years in college, but our first-year students dive right in.

You’ll conduct research in what are known as Research Streams, specially created research labs and courses for emerging fields in sciences and engineering. Research stream topics include clean energy, neurodegenerative diseases, biofilms that plague healthcare and industry, remote sensing of archaeological sites and more!

LEARN ABOUT ALL 11 RESEARCH STREAMS!

Interested in FRI?

Want to conduct cutting-edge research within the next year? Want to make new friends, rub shoulders with leading researchers, and accelerate your personal and professional growth? Submit an interest form for the FRI program.
INTEREST FORM