Frequently Asked Questions

Program Basics

• Who can participate in the program?

  New first-year students can participate in FRI. Students are invited via e-mail to the program through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

  If you missed this first-year experience, consider applying for the Fast-track Research Immersion (FtRI) or the Summer Research Immersion (SRI) programs.

• Who is chosen for the program?

  Admissions will invite a diverse population of incoming Harpur and Watson students who indicated interest in the STEM fields, and those students who are undecided. Students are chosen for having high academic merit and a possible interest in research.

• Are all parts of the program mandatory?

  If you accept your offer, you agree to commit to all parts of the program and to complete the three-semester sequence.

• I really want to participate in the program but I was notified that the slots are full. Is there any chance I can still be a part of the program?

  A waiting list will be kept according to the date of student registration. If a student drops the program, the first person on the list will be notified, etc. However, it is advised to not count on this outcome. There are other research opportunities available to students on campus. The Undergraduate Research Center is a great resource for students who want to get involved in research. In addition, Fast-track Research Immersion (FtRI) and Summer Research Immersion (SRI) are parallel programs available in the summer. Each summer 2-3 of the FRI research streams are available.

• I have no previous experience with research. Will I be at a disadvantage in comparison to the other students?

  FRI has been designed for students with little to no research experience. It is a step-by-step program that allows students to progress at a rate that makes sense given different backgrounds and experience. Students will be provided with constant feedback and guidance to help them develop their research skills. Thus, previous research experience is not necessary or expected. 

• If I am interested in pre-health, which research stream should I choose?

  Currently, we have seven research streams that would align well with pre-health:

  • Biomedical chemistry 
  • Community & Global Public Health 
  • Drug Discovery (pharmaceutical sciences, biochemistry)
  • Ecological Genetics
  • Microbial biofilms in human health (microbiology)
  • Molecular & biomedical anthropology
  • Neuroscience 
  • Also, some of the research in Image-&-Acoustic-Signals-Analysis addresses health issues, such as better ways of monitoring pain, via pain recognition in people's faces.

Structure of FRI Courses

• Does the program follow a regular grading system?

  Yes, students are taking courses for the FRI program, and they receive letter grades for those courses. However, the grades for the FRI courses are not on a curve. This means that there is not a pre-determined distribution of grades. The course grades are based on achieved competency and research progress.

• How are the FRI courses structured? 

  In the research methods seminar, there will be two hours weekly of lecture and discussion. In addition, students will have the opportunity to participate in team meetings with their instructor and office hours will be available. The laboratory portion of the program (second and third semesters) is run as an authentic research lab. You will have access to faculty and teaching assistants throughout. If a student wants additional help, the student can and should ask the professors or a teaching assistant for assistance, just as the student would if conducting an independent study project. In addition, the FRI program monitors the progress of all students, and so checks individually with students about their progress.

Research Streams

• Do the students in each stream work individually or in teams?

  For the research conducted, students will work in teams. We have students work interdependently because developing teamwork and collaborative skills are so important in research today. Each student team will work on a research question that is related to the overall objective of the research stream for that year.

• Is it possible to switch my Research Stream?

  During your first semester, if slots become available in the stream you are interested in, you may be able to switch streams. You should not count on this option as research streams are usually full. FRI is more about the research experience than the research topic. Once you complete the program, you can pursue research opportunities outside of that field.

• When do I find out which Research Stream I am accepted into?

  Students are assigned to a Research Stream after the Binghamton University deposit deadline (May 1st). Students should expect to receive a stream assignment email by June.

Research Outside the Program

• I wasn't invited to the program. Can I still do research at Binghamton University?

  If you have not received an invitation but are interested in the program, please complete the FRI interest form.

  If you missed this first-year opportunity, consider applying for the Summer Research Immersion (SRI) program. SRI is a ten-week intensive research experience, for 8 credits, in which students work in teams on the same kinds of research problems addressed in FRI. It is designed for students with at least one year of college courses.

  Additionally, the Fast-track Research Immersion (FtRI) program is a five-week, 4 credit research experience. FtRI is a structured and mentored research experience meant to catch participants up to speed with the skills and discipline content knowledge built during the first two semesters of our FRI program. Upon completion of FtRI, students will be admitted to the third and final semester of the FRI program in the following fall semester where they will have the opportunity to complete their proposed research projects alongside current FRI students in one of our eleven research streams.

  Once you come to Binghamton, you will have access to many professors that are at the top of their field in research. To begin, we recommend going to the Binghamton University website, typing in the department you are interested in and clicking on the faculty to identify which faculty conduct research you are interested in. If you click on each faculty member, you can find out their research interests, and get links to their publications. From there, you can contact the professor and express your interest. You can also contact the Undergraduate Research Center for assistance.

• I am a transfer student. Can I still do research at Binghamton?

  Yes, you should look at the Fast-track Research Immersion (FtRI) and  Summer Research Immersion (SRI) programs.

  Yes. Once you come to Binghamton, you will want to connect with the Undergraduate Research Center.

• I have been invited to join the FRI program starting next fall, but I am planning to defer until spring. Can I still participate?

  No. You have been invited to the FRI program starting in a specific fall semester only. If you start at Binghamton in the spring semester, you can explore available research opportunities through the Undergraduate Research Center.

  Another option is to look into the Summer Research Immersion program.

Open House and Registration

• How do I register for FRI courses?

  You will be automatically pre-registered for your first FRI course (Research Methods) before summer orientation. During orientation, confirm that you are enrolled in the appropriate section for the particular research stream to which you have been assigned.

  For the second and third semester FRI courses, you will be informed about what to register for and when.

• What information can I get about FRI at Binghamton's Open House?

  FRI students and faculty should be available to answer any questions you may have. At each Open House the FRI program hosts an information session and provides tours of the research labs.  Visit our sessions to get a closer look at the science buildings, hear personal stories and inquire about what research at Binghamton entails.

Scholarships/Fees

• Do I get scholarship money for participating?

  No. There is no monetary award for the program. 

• Are there any fees associated with this program?

  Yes. You will be charged an additional $38.50 in course fees for the first semester research methods course. You will also be charged an additional $150 in lab fees for both your second semester of your first year and first semester of your second year, for a total cost of $300. Research-grade equipment and supplies are expensive. The laboratory fee subsidizes the cost of the research-grade supplies and the need for students to be able to repeat procedures as they learn protocols and design and run experiments.