Fast-track Research Immersion Program

About FtRI

FtRI is a research-intensive, structured and mentored experience meant to catch participants up to speed with the skills and discipline content knowledge built during the first two semesters of our First-year Research Immersion (FRI) program. Upon completion of the FtRI program, 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 ten research streams.

FtRI consists of one, four-credit course over 5 weeks in the summer during Summer Session I. Participation in the program is a full-time (40 hr/wk) commitment. The FtRI program typicall runs end of May to beginning of July.

The FtRI course will cover the FRI program's Semester 1 research methods course and Semester 2 course which covers theory, techniques, protocols and data management of the research. Successful completion of FtRI will admit students to the FRI program in the subsequent fall where they will participate in the FRI program's Research Stream Part 2 course which consists of applying the skills from FtRI to a research problem, as student teams plan their experiments, conduct their experiments, analyze the results, and present their results.

A dedicated Research Educator designs and oversees the research experience for each Research Stream in collaboration with a team of three to five tenure/tenure-track faculty members. Laboratories have been designed, constructed and outfitted to provide the innovative infrastructure to fully integrate undergraduate students in leading-edge research in their Research Stream. 

For the research conducted, students will work in teams of three to five. We have students work inter-dependently 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.

FtRI students learn how to talk about their research, collaborate and identify their next steps in research. Students will finish this two-course sequence (Research Stream 1 during summer and Research Stream 2 during fall) with a public poster session displaying their results.

Course Credit

These courses will count toward a Binghamton University degree. Upon completion of the FRI program in the fall with your participation in the FRI Research Stream 2 course, the courses, together, will also fulfill the Composition and Laboratory general education requirements and count toward the major that corresponds to the rubric code of the courses.

You will be billed for 4 credits during the summer to cover participation in FtRI. In addition to tuition, there are comprehensive, laboratory and activity fees as shown in the table below. 

	NYS Resident	Non-Resident
Tuition	$295/credit x 4 credits = $1,180	$1,038/credit x 4 credits = $4,152
Comprehensive Fee*	$52.95/credit x 4 credits = $211.80	$52.95/credit x 4 credits = $211.80
Laboratory Fee	$150	$150
Total Cost	$1,541.80	$4,513.80

*Subject to Change, rates for 2025 have not yet been determined.

Additional Options

• A campus resident hall in a double-occupancy room at a discounted rate of 50%. You would have to provide your own sheets and towels. More information can be found through Residential Life.
• Campus meal plan.
• All motor vehicles parked on campus must display a valid University parking permit. Parking permits may be purchased at Parking Services in Room G-8 of the Couper Administration Building or at the Information Booth on Bartle Drive.
• For more information about summer session at Binghamton University please visit the Center for Learning and Teaching's Summer Session student info page.

Application Process

FtRI is particularly appropriate for STEM majors who have completed their first year and/or STEM majors who have not had an intensive research experience. FtRI is for students who have had the equivalent of at least one year of college and introductory college science, math and/or engineering (= STEM) courses in their intended STEM major. AP scores of 4 or 5 may apply to that requirement.

Admission into the FtRI program is based on the student's academic record indicating sufficient preparation to be successful, the student's essay indicating background and career aspirations, and letters of recommendation from professionals familiar with the student's aptitude for science and/or engineering.

The FtRI application opens mid-January. FtRI has rolling admission and application review starts March 3rd, 2025. The number of slots in the FtRI program are limited, so we recommend that you apply early. Applicants are notified within a few weeks of application deadline on April 6th, 2025.

• For non-Binghamton University students, official college transcript(s) must be submitted, so we can review your math and science courses. Submit these to sri@binghamton.edu.Scanned copies of your official transcript(s) are preferred.
  • Cross out or cover your Social Security number (SSN) prior to scanning your transcript. Your SSN should not appear on your scanned transcript.
  • Remember to scan your files with care, making sure that they are clear and legible. The files you upload are what the Admissions Review Committee will see.
  • Individual files should be under 2 MB. Preferred file format is PDF. Other accepted file formats include: .doc, .docx, .rtf, .jpg and .tif
• We do not require SAT or ACT test scores.
• ESL students: If English is a secondary language for you and you did not graduate from a high school in which English was the standard language, we require a minimum TOEFL score of 100 (on the Internet-based test, or 7 on IELTS) for admission. The TOEFL (or IELTS equivalent) helps demonstrate your proficiency in English at the college level. As with all official test scores, the TOEFL or IELTS must be sent electronically through the testing agency. Binghamton University's code is R2535.
• If you have received a high school degree from an institution in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or some Canadian provinces, you are not required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score.

APPLY HERE

Informational Webinar

This is a great chance to learn more about the program and the benefits of completing it.

Policies

• Honesty - Note that any deliberate falsification or omission of application data may result in rescinding of admission, denial of permission to enroll or dismissal from courses. All applicants affirm acceptance of these terms and conditions.
• Admissions Materials - All admissions materials submitted by applicants become the property of the University.
• Program switching - Once the summer program is begun by student, the student cannot switch to another research stream.
• Grading policy - Research Stream courses must be taken as regular grading (not pass/fail). To continue in the FRI program (from Research Stream Part 1 to Research Stream Part 2), students are expected to engage fully in the FtRI project, complete all assignments in the FtRI course satisfactorily, and demonstrate a steadily increasing ability to engage in research-specific projects as they move through the two-semester course sequence. Students who fail to meet these standards will not be allowed to continue. Students should monitor their own progress and discuss any concerns with the FtRI staff.