Beginning this fall, first-year students at IUPUI will have a unique opportunity to gain an immersive experience in research, scholarship and creative activity on campus through the First-Year Research Immersion Program.
To better understand the culture of research and creative activity at the university level, students will be paired with a faculty mentor on a team project. They will be immersed in a wide array of scientific and creative disciplines across campus, working alongside their peers and participating in activities such as literature reviews, grant proposal development, basic lab experiences, data collection, art design and installation and more.
“We are thrilled to offer this new experience to first-year students at IUPUI,” said Phaedra Corso, IU associate vice president for research and vice chancellor for research at IUPUI. “We understand the value that engaging in research can have on students, and we hope this program can play a critical role in helping our first-year students achieve success, a key component of the IU 2030 strategic plan.”
Undergraduates who participate in research opportunities may experience a variety of benefits, including graduate school and career preparedness, the development of critical thinking skills, an increase in self-confidence and personal growth and retention at their school.
IUPUI’s First-Year Research Immersion Program will be open to all incoming freshman students with no minimum GPA or previous research experience required.
Faculty mentors from across disciplines will have a unique opportunity to work with these first-year students, facilitating the students’ first impressions of research. Faculty will benefit from meaningful mentorship opportunities and will have a chance to foster student interest in their lab, scholarship or creative activities.
“We hope this program will serve as a pipeline for getting students engaged in undergraduate research opportunities on campus, which typically begin in their second year,” Corso said. “It is an exciting opportunity to build on IUPUI’s strong research activities and get students excited about the opportunities that exist.”
More information about the First-Year Research Immersion Program, including how students and faculty can get involved, will be available in the coming weeks.
