Meet the next generation of researchers

Three women have a nice conversation, smiling amongst one another. — First-year students get a chance to meet and mingle with their fellow peers and faculty mentors at the Fralin Undergraduate Research Fellowship (FURF) reception to mark the beginning of the 2026 cohort program. This is the third cohort to be part of the First-Year FURF program. Photo by Clay Blue for Virginia Tech.

Welcoming the next generation of researchers!🔬🎉

The Office of Undergraduate Research and the Fralin Life Sciences Institute officially installed its latest First-Year Fralin Undergraduate Research Fellowship (FY-FURF) program cohort at a recent welcome reception.

The program provides 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.

Rob McCarley, executive director of the Fralin Life Sciences Institute, remarked on his own experience as a first-year undergraduate student, sharing just how transformative this experiential learning was for him. "I had the opportunity to experience undergraduate research very early in my career. It was a really exciting thing—it was the thing that got me up in the morning."

Here's a snapshot of this year's cohort:

30 students engaged in undergraduate research and paired up with 29 faculty mentors
All 7 colleges are represented this year representing 19 individual departments
First-time representation from the College of Natural Resources and the Environment
Doubles the number of students since the program launched in 2023