Undergraduate Research

Why wait to dive into discovery? At UT Austin, students do real science, right from the start.

Vieo still of students looking at bugs they collected.

Freshman Research Initiative (FRI)

Want to feel what it’s like to be a professional scientist? Have your world rocked by the thrill of discovery? At UT Austin, nearly half of all brand new undergraduates in the College of Natural Sciences have that opportunity.

Many participate in our Freshman Research Initiative and its 30+ dedicated “research streams.” They conduct real-world scientific research in faculty-led labs, publish new knowledge, present their work and make discoveries.

Explore FRI and the research streams

What FRI Provides

  • Life-changing experiences. You’ll work at the cutting edge of modern science with the latest equipment and technology and contribute to new knowledge in areas like artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and biochemistry.
  • Course credit: Research in FRI counts towards your degree.
  • Friendships and connections: Students forge relationships in their research streams that last through their college career, and many become mentors to newer students after their own first years.
  • A leg up: Not only do graduate schools and employers value the FRI experience, students who participate have been found to be more likely to graduate within four years with a STEM degree.

Not Just for Freshmen

Sophomores, juniors and transfer students can participate in a program similar to FRI: the Accelerated Research Initiative. Staff in the College of Natural Sciences also help match students with the right faculty lab to get the most out of undergraduate research experiences at any stage.

Photo of students interacting at a table with computers

Inventors Program

Students connect with real-world research opportunities beyond our faculty labs in the Inventors Program. Private companies, public organizations and nonprofit or community-based partners present problems for STEM students to solve over the course of a semester or year. You’ll learn to take a new product to market, build skills and get course credit for solving real challenges with a team.

Explore the Inventors Program

A photo of students testing water at Waller Creek as part of Science Sprints

Hackathons & Projects

Jumpstarting a new research project or internship opportunity can begin with just a day or two of experience with others. With events like hackathons, students spend a day or a weekend with a team of peers, joining forces to tackle a problem, whether from the real world or based on a hypothetical scenario.


Already a UT College of Natural Sciences student and seeking options? 

Explore current research opportunities