ok×ÊÔ´Íø

The First Year Research Experience (FYRE) is a unique opportunity for a limited number of students to get involved in research right away, in their first year at ok×ÊÔ´Íø.  Incoming students will be invited to apply in summer 2026.

• FYRE students will take a class together during fall term and work as research assistants in fall and spring terms. 
• FYRE research assistant jobs are 10 hours per week and pay $15 per hour 
• The required course is UNIV 1102 (FYRE), a specialized 1-credit course about professional development in research, taught by Dr. Jennifer Ebinger and Dr. Adam Scott Neal.

What students are saying about FYRE

FYRE mentors for 26-27

• Anthropology: Matthew Boulanger, Kacy Hollenback, Aanmona Priyadarshini, Chris Roos, Kelton Sheridan, 
• Biological Sciences: Jon Hibschman
• Center for Teaching Excellence: Constantin Icleanu, Adeline Tolliver
• Chemistry: David Son, Brian Zoltowski
• Civil and Environmental Engineering: Brett Story
• Computer Science: Eric Larson
• Education Policy and Leadership: Sondra Barringer, Leanne Ketterlin Geller
• Guildhall: Elizabeth Stringer
• History: Sabri Ates
• Management and Operations: Emily Choi
• Office of Faculty Success: Paige Ware
• Physics: Joel Meyers
• Psychology: Chrystyna Kouros
• Research Technology Services: Eric Godat
• Teaching & Learning: Candace Walkington, Annie Wilhelm
• ok×ÊÔ´Íø Archives: Benjamin Jenkins
• World Languages & Literatures: Constantin Icleanu and Denise DuPont

FYRE mentors for 25-26

Thanks to these faculty mentors for working with FYRE students in 2025-26: Matthew Boulanger, Kacy Hollenback, Chris Roos, Kelton Sheridan (Anthropology); Amy Brewster (Biological Sciences); Anindita Das, Pokhraj Ghosh, Brian Zoltowski (Chemistry); Brett Story (Civil and Environmental Engineering); Leanne Ketterlin Geller (Education Policy and Leadership); Sabri Atesh, Jill Kelly (History); Patrick Breysse, Joel Meyers (Physics); Eli Olinick (Operations Research & Engineering Management); Chrystyna Kouros (Psychology); Eric Godat (Research Technology Services)

FYRE mentors for 24-25

Thanks to these faculty mentors for joining this pilot program: Matthew Boulanger, Courtney Brown, John Buynak, Kacy Hollenback, Leanne Ketterlin-Geller, Maria Langlois, Monnie McGee, Chul Moon, Milica Mormann, Chris Roos, Janille Smith-Colin, Brett Story, Ben Voth

UNIV 1102 overview

The UNIV 1102: First Year Research Experience course introduces students to research in a university setting. Discussions include research as a practice, ethics, literature, communication, and networking. 

Topical outline

• Module 1: The Research Environment. Students are introduced to faculty and each other. The students participate in exercises to help them refine their research interests and learn how they align with their faculty mentor’s interests. 
• Module 2: Research as a Practice. Students explore literature related to their mentor’s research, to learn about “the field” as well as methodology and codes of ethics. 
• Module 3: Sharing Research. Students are exposed to formats for disseminating research, and the typical components (introduction, literature review, methodology, discussion). Students produce and deliver a 3-minute presentation, with a slide deck, on their mentor’s research project. 

Assignments

• Weekly Read and Response (based on The Craft of Research by Booth, et al.)
• Weekly Homework Exercises (e.g., Interviews, guided practice)
• Final Oral Presentation
• Attendance and Participation