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The LSU Freshmen Explorers Program is a one-year preparatory program for freshmen with Work Study or President's Student Aid funding who are interested in participating in faculty-mentored research.  In the Fall semester of this entry-level program, students participate in a series of weekly activities including research area tours, workshops, peer mentoring, seminars, and excursions.  These activities are meant to introduce research concepts and provide students with an understanding and connection to the research and researchers at LSU.  In the spring semester of their freshman year, Explorers are matched with a faculty mentor who will train the student in research basics specific to their field.  All Explorer participants are paid an hourly wage for their time spent in the program through their funding.  

Students touring a research facility

Explorers during a fall 2024 visit to the LSU Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD).

 

Students touring an art museum

Learning about how research is conducted in museums and the arts during a tour at the LSU Museum of Art during fall 2024.

Application Information

  • LSU Freshmen only
  • Students with Work Study or President's Student Aid funding
  • You must be available to attend the weekly meetings held every Friday from 3:00-5:00 p.m. during the Fall semester.  Students with courses scheduled during this time will not be accepted.
  • No prior research experience needed!
  • Applications for the 2024-25 academic year are due by Friday, September 20th
  • Students will be notified of decisions by September 27th
  • First mandatory meeting of the semester will be held on Friday, October 4th, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Complete the Freshmen Explorers Application

Program Information

The Explorers will meet every Friday at 3:00-5:00 p.m. for program activities.  This time will be compensated with hourly wages through your Work Study or President's Student Aid funding.  Activities include:

  • Faculty-led tours of research areas on and off-campus
  • Workshops, presentations, and seminars on various topics such as:
    • College 101
      • Study Skills
      • Time Management
      • Financial Literacy
    • Understanding Research
      • The role of Research Faculty at a university
      • Hear from Research Faculty about their current work
      • Hear from upperclassmen undergraduate researchers about what it's like to work with faculty on research
      • Take tours of research facilities on campus
    • Developing Research Skills
      • Understanding the basics of research
      • Research ethics
      • Information Literacy
    • Peer Mentoring: discussions led by advanced student researchers
      • balancing schoolwork and research
      • advice on college involvement

The Explorers will go on several excursions during the semester to meet research faculty in their labs and research spaces.  Past excursions included:

  • Dr. Sam Bentley's lab (geology)
  • Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (physics) with Dr .Sprunger and Dr. Kurtz
  • Center for River Studies (coast and the environment) with Dr. Clint Willson
  • LSU Museum of Art tour of exhibition spaces and storage area with curator Michelle Schulte
  • FACES forensics lab with Dr. Ginesse Listi
  • Special Collections tour of rare books and archives at Hill Memorial Library
  • Media Effects lab with Dr. Chun Yang
  • Pennington Biomedical Research Center
  • Dr. Erin Oberhaus's equine reproduction lab
  • Panel discussion with Dr. Chris Barrett (English), Dr. Ogunc Kurtay (Finance), and Dr. Darius Speith (Art history)
  • Tour of the Vet Med facilities with Drs.Tammy Dugas, Will Beavers, and Rebecca Christofferson
  • Lab tours with the Peer Mentors

Explorers can also participate in these optional activities (time spent in these activities also qualifies for hourly wages)

  • Science Café - monthly presentation of a professor's research held at the Varsity; discussion with Explorers to follow
  • Additional visits to creative and research spaces around campus planned outside of regular weekly meetings

In your spring semester, you will be matched with a professor and begin training for conducting hands-on research.  Time spent on these research hours will be compensated with hourly wages.  Tours and excursions will continue in the spring, but participation is optional depending on your spring course and work schedules.

  • All Explorer students must complete the annual LSU employee trainings within the first month of the fall semester each calendar year (time spent on these should be added to your timesheet).  Certificates of completion should be emailed to lsuour@lsu.edu.  Visit the LSU HRM website to access trainings:
    • Title IX Training
    • Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics Training
    • Digital Resource and Content Accessibility Awareness Training
  • Research training (time spent on these should be added to your timesheet).  This must be completed before the end of the fall semester.
    • In addition to any trainings assigned by your faculty mentor, Explorer students are expected to complete the CITI Responsible Conduct in Research Training online module. This training can be accessed here.
      • There are 7 options for this training.  Choose whichever is most closely related to your faculty mentor’s area of research.  If  you’re not sure which to choose, ask your faculty mentor.
      • Certificates of completion for CITI should be emailed to lsuour@lsu.edu 

The goal of the Explorer program is to acquaint freshmen students with university research activities and support their success.

  • First year goals
    • Fall semester 
      • 100% attendance at all weekly programming meetings
      • Complete all assigned trainings
      • Meet with Peer Mentors
      • Select research mentor for spring
    • Spring semester
  • Goals for sophomore year and beyond
    • serve as a Peer Mentor
    • continue research with faculty mentor or request to switch to new mentor
    • apply to university & summer research programs
    • present at Discover Day
  • Advanced goals
    • Presentation at a professional conference/event or a co-authored publication with faculty mentor
    • Off-campus summer research opportunity – details to be provided by the Office of Undergraduate Research

LSU freshmen students who have Work Study or President's Student Aid (PSA) funding.

Log into MyLSU and check your status under "Financial Aid."  Look for the "Award Letter/Award Page."  Make sure you have accepted your Work Study or PSA funding.

Undergraduate research refers to any activity in which an undergraduate student works alongside a faculty member (professor) on a research or creative project.

LSU professors and research professionals can serve as mentors.

Either at the end of the Fall semester or beginning of the Spring semester.

Each research experience is unique so we cannot give you exact details but all students will be given on-the-job training. Explorers will learn more about the variety of research experiences during the weekly programming activities.

None!  This program is meant for you to learn about research so no experience is necessary.

Minimum of 2 hours per week with opportunity for additional hours.

Explorers are paid $12/hour bi-weekly via direct deposit.

  • In the Fall, everyone must attend the Friday programming activities from 3:00-5:00 PM
  • In the Spring, you will set a schedule with your faculty mentor which can be anywhere from 2 to 20 hours per week.  If you have no conflicts on Fridays from 3:00 - 5:00 PM, you can continue to attend the excursions.

The Explorers program is set for the Fall and Spring semesters of your freshmen year.  Students will be invited to serve as Peer Mentors after they have completed their freshman year.

Our staff will continue to support Explorers throughout their college careers.  Explorer students will be given ample advice on how to continue their research either through their Work Study funding or by applying to one of the various student research programs at LSU and at other US institutions.

The LSU Office of Undergraduate Research runs the Explorers program. 

The LSU Explorers program is a freshmen year program designed to introduce students to faculty research and research opportunities.  The program prioritizes accepting low-income and 1st -generation students, though any LSU student is eligible.  LSU Explorer faculty mentors are asked to meet at least once a week with their mentee for introductory level activities in research such as shadowing, assisting with entry-level research tasks, readings, assigned videos, and/or one-on-one discussions.  Mentors can also assign the student to meet with Post-docs, graduate students, or undergraduates in their research groups.