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

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

Explore Other Research Opportunities

There are so many ways to engage in research during your college experience. Check out more resources below about how to get research at UT and beyond.
 

Explore UT Research Opportunities

Explore International Research Opportunities