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Many undergraduates major in science in the hope of doing research someday. The
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of research in the College of Science, and breaks down the structure of a lab, such as the
College of Science’s Science Research Initiative (SRI) is an innovative new program that puts
roles of graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and the principal investigator. After
students in a lab as soon as they arrive.
learning about the research projects, known as research streams, the students rank the
“The most consequential learning happens by doing, and that is especially true in
labs they’d most like to experience. The program matches them to a SRI faculty scientist
the College of Science. Experiences in a laboratory-centered, team-based, interdisciplinary
leading the project where they will work during the second semester. Then, SRI mentors
environment give students the skills to succeed and access opportunities in high-paying
help each student figure out a path forward, whether it be continuing with the research
industries,” said Peter Trapa, Dean of the college. “The SRI offers incoming students, with no
stream, switching projects, or even finding alternatives to lab-based research.
prior exposure to research, the opportunity to learn alongside their peers to gain hands-on,
technical expertise, and learn directly from researchers as early as their first year at the U. The
Dr. Joshua Steffen, Assistant Professor Lecturer of Biology, leads a research stream that uses
college’s exceptional faculty, world-class research facilities, and commitment to in-person
metagenomic approaches to understand generalist foraging behaviors. Dr. Ryan Stolley,
experiential learning makes this unique program possible.”
Associate Instructor of Chemistry, leads a research stream building an underexplored class of
molecules. Dr. Heather Briggs, Associate Instructor for the College of Science, leads a research
Any student admitted to the College of Science can apply. During the first semester,
The SRI is led by three scientists and educators who specialize in diverse disciplines.
the cohort of SRI undergraduates take a course that prepares them to work in a research
stream focused on understanding how microbial communities in flower nectar impact the
lab. The course teaches principles of scientific inquiry, introduces students to the breadth
way pollinators interact with plants.
