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All About the First Year Research Initiative

First-year Research Initiative logo in rainbow colors

Penn State Biology FRI First-year Research Initiative.

What is the First-Year Research Initiative (FRI)?

The FRI Lab is a two-semester lab course sequence that gives students an authentic research experience and provides a support to connect you to a research laboratory. Students are supported by faculty and by undergraduate FRI alumni in the sequence.

How to sign up? 

Students sign up during New Student Orientation (NSO) in the summer before their first-year. The only requirements are that you are excited to learn research skills and to earn an extra research credit (BIOL294) each semester for conducting independent and collaborative research projects. 

Fall semester: 

In lieu of the original BIOL110 lab, FRI student researchers explore biological research practice and design their own independent research projects with the support of the Fall Research Mentors (Teaching Professors) and undergraduate learning assistants (FRI alumni)! FRI research students also earn an additional BIOL294 Research Credit for taking this lab course.

Spring semester: 

FRI student researchers work with a Spring Research Mentor (Research Professors) on authentic research in lieu of the BIOL230 lab. FRI research students also earn an additional BIOL294 Research Credit for taking this lab course.

Learn more about the FRI faculty and our research community by visiting our LinkedIn alumni group! 

Have we sparked your curiosity?!

Please send any questions about getting involved with Biology Research to the FRI Coordinator, Dr. Carly Sjogren, at carly.sjogren@psu.edu.

FRI Mission and Values 

What is our FRI Mission? 

Successfully train students in biology research skills, ethics, and scientific thinking to generate belonging in the future STEM-workforce. 

In the FRI, what is… 

RESEARCH: Engaging the cycle of the scientific method and responsible conduct of research. 

SUCCESS: Cultivating growth mindsets that promote college and STEM readiness. 

BELONGING: Seeking collaboration as a requirement for scientific problem solving; without a diversity of scientists, we do inferior science. 

We carry out our Mission through our Values 

The values that motivate our Mission in the FRI are integrity, curiosity, and encouragement. 

INTEGRITY:  

dedication to the pursuit of better understanding the biological world through the cycle of the scientific method. This must be infused with responsible conduct of research training and the ability to conduct reliable science. 

CURIOSITY:  

questioning our understanding of the biological world through the cycle of the scientific method. This must be infused with responsible conduct of research training and the ability to speak truth to power. 

ENCOURAGEMENT:  

supporting each other as a community striving to understand the biological world through the cycle of the scientific method as our unique perspectives are informed by our lived experiences. This must be infused with responsible conduct of research training and the ability to think autonomously in order to share our ideas.  

Student researchers in the FRI conduct their own original research and have access to biology research mentorship for the entire first year of their undergraduate education!

 

…are you curious about doing biology research in the FRI?

 

The FRI is a fun and supportive community of first-year researchers learning by engaging in the cycle of the scientific method!

 

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