Overview of the Freshman Science Research Program
At Emory College we feel strongly that undergraduate students should take advantage of our distinctive learning environment – one that features the groundbreaking work of a major research institution with the close student-faculty interaction of a small liberal arts college.
That's one of the reasons why we believe students should become active in research projects during their first year. Research experiences foster creativity and innovation, independence and analytical thinking. The lab environment trains students to perform well in future professional teams, as well as helps students discover the excitement of hands-on work, perhaps leading to a career in science.
The INSPIRE program will provide a unique freshman experience by placing students in a special curriculum designed to engage and empower with opportunities in scientific research and discovery at our institution. The special program is for students who are interested in science, motivated by the excitement of research, and stimulated by the role of discovery in our society. While INSPIRE students do not have to be a science major to participate in the program, they will need to take a sequence of science courses to obtain an interdisciplinary perspective. We are looking for students who have open minds, who believe in the values of a liberal arts education and who seek challenging intellectual programs.
This special program is focused on research, the source of new knowledge in all fields of science. Did you ever wonder how scientists conduct their experiments, or how they develop questions that ultimately led to answers about cancer treatments or the synthesis of new plastics and materials? The science faculty at Emory believes that there is no better way to teach problem solving, analytical thinking, abstraction, systematic thinking, communication skills, and science than by doing research.
INSPIRE students will be priority enrolled in special courses. They will learn about interdisciplinarity, research and the scientific enterprise. They will be mentored by experts in experimental design, learn how to ask and answer questions, think critically about problems in the natural and social sciences, and formulate experimental approaches to your own burning questions. Finally, accompanying labs are designed specially for INSPIRE students and here they will take the first steps toward independence in research and the expression of their own creativity. In total, this program will provide the foundation on which all future science courses will build and underpin the research opportunities offered in the second semester.
INSPIRE students will work side by side with upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and Emory faculty members on cutting-edge research projects in a variety of disciplines. How many universities can give a true research experience in your freshman year? The experience will place INSPIRE fellows at a distinct advantage, and in a unique position to tackle a summer research internship with their own research project in the department of their choice. INSPIRE faculty will assist them specifically during the academic year to identify their specific summer research project.
INSPIRE students will also participate in activities that will groom them for success in their professional fields. Activities range from meeting leading scientists on campus and from outside Emory, having special access to internships and research positions, workshops run by the Center for Student Leadership, the Career Center and many more. Retreats and social activities reinforce social skills with professional and teambuilding skills.
The wealth of resources available at a top tier University are united with the advantages of a truly world class liberal arts education. Access to research opportunities and close interactions with faculty and graduate student are combined with Emory’s traditional excellence in the humanities. This is a fast track program to scientific leadership, and we hope you will accept this challenge, and embrace this Uniquely Emory opportunity.
Expectations
INSPIRE fellows are expected to be actively engaged as learners and scholars and to fully exploit the research environment as creative and productive members of our intellectual community.
To receive a broad interdisciplinary background, INSPIRE students will take a range of introductory courses in each of the natural sciences and mathematics. In their senior year, INSPIRE fellows are expected to complete an honors thesis based on their individual research projects.
Contact Us
Dean Preetha Ram
Office for Undergraduate Education
215 White Hall
404-727-6040, pram@emory.edu