Office of Undergraduate Research

First-Year Student Information

Spring 2023-Fall 2023 applications are closed!

The Purdue First Year Investigators Program provides new Boilermakers an academic-year experience to prepare and conduct research with expert Purdue researchers.

Applications are being reviewed and applicants will be notified via email whether they were selected or not and how to proceed.

Through this new program, student participants will:

  1. Prepare for research with other new students in face-to-face courses provided by the Office of Undergraduate Research each semester.
  2. Conduct an authentic paid research project with a Purdue mentor and peer mentor.
  3. Develop a network of faculty, staff, upper-class students, and other first-year students.

Students who participate in this program will gain valuable skills employers and graduate schools are seeking and will learn how to discuss them with future Purdue programs such as communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and technical skills.

How to apply:

First-Year Student Application Guide

Statement of Interest Form (.docx)

First-Year Undergraduate Research Program Timeline

Fall 2022 - Apply to participate in the First Year Investigators Program. Applications will start to be reviewed on Nov. 18 and will continue until spots are filled.

  • For GPA: Include "5.0" since you do not have a Purdue GPA.
  • For resumé/transcript: Upload blank documents for now. You will start creating them in your first semester.

Spring 2023 - Complete the in-person undergraduate research preparation course (ILS 295 - Introduction to Research Fundamentals*). Course meets either on Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 3:30pm-4:20pm.

Fall 2023 - Complete a paid research project with a faculty mentor, work with a peer research mentor, present your work at the Fall Expo, and complete an online undergraduate research support course (ILS 280 - Understanding Your Undergraduate Research Experience I**)

Summer 2023 is available to conduct a research project outside of the formal FYI Program if you secure a summer research position instead of conducting it in Fall 2023.
  

*ILS 295 - Introduction to Research Fundaments is a 1-credit preparation seminar course to learn the basics of undergraduate research and the value of the experience with other first-year students. This course prepares students to begin a research project in the upcoming fall semester. First-year students will apply to specific research projects in the spring/summer semester.

**ILS 280 - Understanding Your Undergraduate Research Experience I is a 1-credit research support course to discuss valuable skills as a researcher. While completing the research project, first-year students will be mentored by a peer research mentor (undergraduate student) and the research project mentor (Purdue faculty member).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

First-year Purdue undergraduate students who do not have undergraduate research experience may apply to participate as a student research mentee. No research experience is expected during high school or summer programs. Every major is welcome.
While completing the research project in Fall 2023, student researchers are paid $15/hour for completing either 6 or 10 hours of research each week. Class time in Spring 2023 and Fall 2023 are not paid as these are 1-credit courses.

You will submit your application through OURConnect. See the Application Guide for additional information on how to submit your information.

For your profile, if you do not have a GPA you should include "5.0." You may upload a blank resume and transcript if you do not have either of these. (We will create a resume in Spring 2023.)

Applications will begin review on November 18, 2022 and will continue until the program is filled.
During the Spring 2023 course, you will learn how to apply for research positions. Starting around spring break and continuing until you have a research position confirmed, you will use the documents, emails, and connections to apply for positions. Faculty with available research positions for the First Year Investigators will be invited to share their projects for FYI participants to apply.

Spring 2023 - A 1-credit, in-person course that meets once a week for 50 minutes.

Spring/Summer 2023 - Apply for the Fall 2023 research project using information from the course and the Purdue OUR.

Fall 2023 - A 1-credit, online course; weekly meetings with a research peer mentor; completing a paid research project with a Purdue faculty mentor for 6-10 hours a week; presenting on your fall work during the Fall Expo in November.

How to Apply