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First Year Research Experience - FYRE

The First Year Research Experience (FYRE) provides first year students with opportunities to engage in research and to establish early contact with faculty mentors. Four tracks are offered to accommodate multiple disciplines and to provide flexibility for students. In addition, all tracks require students to engage in common seminar/workshop experiences, and participate in the Annual Undergraduate Research Forum in mid‐April 2010 sponsored by OARS. All activities are in keeping with a number of the President’s 5 year strategic goals that address advancing the academic success of students and raising the level of scholarly accomplishments, and with his model of “Student as Scholar”.

Goals and Objectives

• Provide opportunity to initiate and facilitate successful research partnerships mutually beneficial to students and faculty.
• Participate in a learning community aimed at generating a collective understanding of the challenges faced by first year students
• Contribute to a FY interdisciplinary seminar series to raise awareness of research based careers.
• Increase familiarity with disciplinary education research especially as it relates to undergraduate education with an emphasis on retention.
• Develop multiple forums for communicating research.
• Utilize FY Researchers as ambassadors for raising awareness of the benefits of research
• Create materials for publicizing research programs of individual faculty in STEM and other disciplines.
• Collaborate with Admissions/Residence Life/Science Clubs for educating majors, non‐majors as well as K‐12 students.

Program Options

(1) FYRE URO (research intensive, all disciplines) (Faculty $300 award; student employment stipend provided.) Faculty who participate in this program are asked to submit a project from their own research that a first year student could do with guidance.  Faculty are expected to work with their student weekly during the academic year. Each semester, faculty will meet with administrative staff as part of the program assessment, complete program evaluations, and participate in a joint meeting. Students are expected to work with a faculty sponsor for 4‐8 hours a week. In addition, they will attend weekly/bi‐weekly training workshops. This is a year‐long commitment. Interested faculty should contact dixonlj@muohio.edu for additional information.

(2) FYRE STEM This option allows first year students to participate in an ongoing research project: Awards range from $100‐$200, and will be disbursed to the faculty sponsor. Faculty from Science, Technology, Engineering and Math departments will serve as faculty hosts/sponsors. Interested Faculty members should submit examples of student projects to OARS by August 31. weberme@muohio.edu

(3) FYRE RESEARCH SHADOWING This option allows students to experience the research environment without fully participating in an ongoing project. Awards range from $100‐$200, and will be disbursed to the faculty sponsor. Interested Faculty members should submit descriptions of their labs or observable projects to OARS by August 31. weberme@muohio.edu.

(4) FYRE TEAM RESEARCH This option allows teams of students to conduct a research project during the academic year. Awards range from $500‐$1,000).  Maximum number of students per team is 6; at least 2 members must be first year students.

Faculty Roles and Responsibilities:

• Submit a brief summary of available research projects including a) Titles of projects b)
  Techniques that a student will learn c) Any information relevant for a First Year student.
• Be available to be interviewed by students during the recruiting period (Aug. 24‐Sept 18).
• Consider attending an informational fair between noon and 2:00 pm Tuesday September 8, 2009 (Shriver Multipurpose Room A).
• Sign off on the student’s application
• Consult with students to plan and execute their projects
• Invite students to attend lab meetings and journal clubs
• Regularly monitor student participation

Student Application Process and Timeline

• Timeline:
  Obtain information about faculty research projects (August 24- September 11)
  www.muohio.edu/oars/undergrad_research
  Visit departments
  Attend Informational Fair on Tuesday September 8 (Shriver MPC)
  Interview at least two faculty members of their choosing and briefly summarize the reasons for choosing the lab (e.g. interest in the topic, relevance to career aspirations etc). Each description should be 100-150 words.  Team research groups will develop a one page proposal including goals, background and significance, project design, and expected outcomes for a single project. 
  Submit Completed Proposal/Application by Monday September 21 to the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship, 102 Roudebush.
• Team Research Groups will develop a one page proposal including, goals, background and significance, project design, and expected outcomes for a single project. The responsibilities of each team member should be clearly stated.
• Agree to terms of the award guidelines

 

 

________________________________________________________________Enhancing Undergraduate Research at Miami University:  First Year Research Experiences (FYRE).  Proposal Submitted by Linda Dixon, Associate Dean of Students; Michael Kennedy, Professor - Biochemistry; Joyce Fernandes, Associate Professor - Zoology.