Program Overview

Introduction to the First-year Research Immersion Program

The First-year Research Immersion (FRI) program at Binghamton University offers students a unique opportunity to engage in research projects from their first year of study. This program is designed to provide students with hands-on experience in research, working closely with faculty members and research educators.

Undergraduate Research Streams

Each student in the FRI program is placed into one of twelve research streams. These streams are designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of research methods, techniques, and applications in their chosen field. The research streams include:

• Biogeochemistry
• Biomedical Chemistry
• Clean Energy
• Community & Global Public Health
• Ecological Genetics
• Environmental Visualization
• Image & Acoustics Signals Analysis
• Microbial Biofilms in Human Health
• Molecular & Biomedical Anthropology
• Neuroscience

Current Research Streams

Eleven of the research streams are available to students admitted to the Harpur College of Arts and Science, while two streams (Clean Energy and Image and Acoustic Signals Analysis) are available to students admitted to the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Research Stream Details

AI and Society

This new stream, planned for fall 2026, focuses on the use of AI to address pressing societal challenges. It is available to Harpur College of Arts and Science admitted students only.

Biogeochemistry

This stream focuses on the sustainability of earth systems from the perspectives of human and ecosystem health. It explores the interactions between microbes and geochemical contaminants, with field sites including modern and ancient oceans, atmosphere, watersheds, and wetlands. The stream is led by Research Educator Jonathan Schmitkons and is available to Harpur College of Arts and Science admitted students only.

Biomedical Chemistry

This stream studies the structure and function of biological macromolecules, particularly proteins, to understand patho-physiological processes and develop new biomedical applications. The stream is led by interim Research Educator Andrew Ziesel and is available to Harpur College of Arts and Science admitted students only.

Clean Energy

This stream focuses on harvesting and storing energy, with research encompassing new materials and devices for energy generation and storage. The stream is led by Research Educator Yiliang Luan and is available to both Harpur College of Arts and Science and Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science admitted students.

Community and Global Public Health

This stream explores factors affecting human physical and mental health, collecting and analyzing human subjects research data to gain insights into behavior and health outcomes. The stream is led by Research Educator Shane McCarty and is available to Harpur College of Arts and Science admitted students only.

Drug Discovery

This stream focuses on transforming new biological discoveries into therapeutic agents, employing methods such as high-throughput screening and molecular modeling to identify new drug leads. The stream is led by Research Educator Patricia Wolfe and is available to Harpur College of Arts and Science admitted students only.

Ecological Genetics

This stream focuses on current issues in how ecological factors influence the evolutionary trajectory of populations, using state-of-the-art techniques in genetics, evolutionary biology, and ecophysiology. The stream is led by Research Educator Christina Baer and is available to Harpur College of Arts and Science admitted students only.

Environmental Visualization with Drones

This stream applies geospatial mapping technologies to natural and archaeological resources, using hands-on field research with geophysical instruments and image analysis. The stream is led by Research Educator Joe Panzik and is available to Harpur College of Arts and Science admitted students only.

Image and Acoustic Signals Analysis

This stream focuses on robotics, human-computer interaction, acoustics, and computer vision, with research and development in areas such as immersive environments and computer vision technology. The stream is led by Research Educator Umur Ciftci and is available to Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science admitted students only.

Microbial Biofilms in Human Health

This stream investigates biofilm resistance associated with human chronic infections, exploring the self-secreted slime matrix of microorganisms and its impact on antimicrobial treatments. The stream is led by Research Educator Whitni Redman and is available to Harpur College of Arts and Science admitted students only.

Molecular and Biomedical Anthropology

This stream focuses on population genetics, human genetics, and Lyme disease, utilizing genetic data and biological specimens to explore human genetic diversity and the genetics of tick-borne diseases. The stream is led by Research Educator Michel Shamoon Pour and is available to Harpur College of Arts and Science admitted students only.

Neuroscience

This stream focuses on the neurophysiology of anxiety and depressive disorders using an animal model, exploring more effective therapeutic strategies for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The stream is led by Research Educator Deb Kreiss and is available to Harpur College of Arts and Science admitted students only.

Program Structure

Students in the FRI program spend approximately six hours per week in laboratory settings, learning techniques, using high-level instrumentation, and conducting research. They also participate in weekly group meetings with research educators and students to discuss project backgrounds, design experiments, troubleshoot, analyze data, and present results. By the end of the three-semester program, students complete a research manuscript and participate in a public poster session to display their findings.