Education & Outreach
The Fralin Life Sciences Institute at Virginia Tech incorporates initiatives that provide learning opportunities for students of all ages in environmental and life science research areas such as bioinformatics and computational biology. We recognize that the scientists and researchers of tomorrow are the students currently enrolled in elementary, middle, and high schools.
The Fralin Life Sciences Institute at Virginia Tech also extends its research knowledgebase to high school and community college students in Virginia and across the nation through the sharing of resources, interactive curriculum, intimate teacher training sessions, and the Biotech-in-a-Box program, which reaches more than 10,000 students across Virginia each year.
K-12 Programs
For almost 30 years, the Fralin Life Sciences Institute at Virginia Tech has supported biotechnology education in Virginia middle and high school, as well as community college classrooms through the Biotech in a Box Outreach Program.
The outreach loan program currently has five kits available for schools to borrow: DNA Biotechnology, Protein Electrophoresis, Column Chromatography, Studying Slime Mold Behavior (Caging the Blob), and Introduction to Immunology. The kits contain all equipment, supplies and solutions needed for the experiments. To learn more, visit the Biotech in a Box page.
Kids’ Tech University (KTU) is a program for children, ages 9-12, and their parents with the primary purpose of creating the future workforce in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics STEM). Kids and parents participate in interactive sessions with scientists, perform hands-on activities on Virginia Tech's campus, and use online materials to build on their new knowledge. To learn more, visit the KTU page.
Kids' Tech University Graduate School is designed to spark kids, ages 13-16, interests in the growing fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. This day-long learning experience presents exciting scientific discoveries in language students can understand and gives them access to resources and expertise that can only be found at Virginia Tech. To learn more, visit the KTU Graduate School page.
El objetivo principal de Spanish Kids' Tech University es despertar el interés de los estudiantes en los campos de rápido crecimiento de la ciencia, la tecnología, la ingeniería y las matemáticas (STEM). Este programa se presenta y comunica en español y se llevará a cabo el 16 de noviembre de 2024.
In collaboration with 4-H, the STEM Summer Camp is a one-week long program designed for kids ages 9-12. Camp focuses on different STEM topics including geology (including jewelry making), microscopy, horticulture, coding, and engineering. To learn more, visit the STEM Camp page.
In spring 2024, the Fralin Life Sciences Institute created a FLSI Homeschooling STEM Club based on the success of partnering with the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library to deliver hands-on science programming to their homeschooling club. To learn more, visit the Homeschooling STEM Club page.
We welcome class groups to tour Fralin Life Sciences Institute at Virginia Tech and/or participate in a hands-on activity centered around DNA. Currently hands-on activities are being offerend on Friday's during the school year and all week during the summer.
If you are interested in scheduling a tour of Steger Hall, participating in a hands on activity on Virginia Tech Blacksburg campus or having us come out to your group contact, Kristy Collins at kdivitto@vt.edu.
Undergraduate Programs
The Fralin Undergraduate Research Fellowship program is a competitive award program that is open to all Virginia Tech undergraduates with a goal of increasing access to research for all students. Fifteen (15) fellowships of $1,350 will be awarded annually to individual students demonstrating academic capability and a strong interest in undergraduate research, to enable them to conduct research with a Virginia Tech faculty mentor over the course of one academic year. This program is open to students from any discipline, who have already identified a faculty research mentor.
To learn more about FURF, please visit the program homepage.
The Fralin SURF program is a 10-week training program designed to give motivated Virginia Tech undergraduates the opportunity to engage in full-time (~40 hrs/week) research and related professional development activities that mirror graduate training.
The goal is to offer students experiences that will help them determine if they want to pursue a career in research while they develop skills for graduate school. The program includes weekly research and professional development seminars, periodic social events, and a final symposium during which students will present their research.
To learn more about SURF, please visit the program homepage.
Funded by the Fralin Life Sciences Institute, the First-Year Fralin Undergraduate Research Fellowship (or First-Year FURF) Program will provide first-year students—who are new to research—with authentic research experiences in their chosen discipline, under the direct mentorship of a faculty member. The aim of this program is to provide early access to undergraduate research, particularly to students who may not otherwise have the opportunity, such as those who identify as first generation or low income. The program is open to all students and areas of research.
To learn more about First-Year FURF, please visit the program homepage.