First Indy Research Experiences (FIRE)

FIRE IS OPEN NOW
Do you want to start doing research with a non-Purdue STEM faculty mentor in Indianapolis?
Send us an email to get started!


First Indy Research Experiences (FIRE) is a new opportunity for Purdue Indianapolis students who are new to undergraduate research. Students find and secure their own research position with a non-Purdue faculty mentor in the Indianapolis area, and our program provides the funding directly. FIRE is intended to lower the barrier to mentoring new undergraduate Indy researchers and to build pathways into longer-term research opportunities, including SURF.

FIRE grew out of the enthusiasm we saw from Purdue Indy students for the First-Time Researcher (FTR) fellowship, and was made possible by additional funding to expand opportunities for first-time researchers in Indianapolis.

Interested in working with a Purdue faculty member? FIRE is explicitly for research with faculty outside of Purdue. If you want to research with Purdue faculty, including those based in Indianapolis, apply to FTR instead.

Student Information

Who
Purdue Indy undergraduates new to research
Research Position
Find & secure a position with a non-Purdue faculty mentor in Indianapolis (all STEM areas)
Term
Fall/Spring semester
Time Commitment
~10 hours per week

Program Benefits

Compensation
Up to $500, paid directly by the program once a mentor is secured
Graduate School
Fee waiver for Purdue graduate school applications
Transcript
Add an optional 0 credit course to your transcript

Where Can I Do Research?

FIRE research placements are with faculty outside of Purdue, such as:

  • Indiana University faculty in Indianapolis – IUI research faculty (please note that opportunities within the medical school may be limited due to access restrictions)
  • Butler University research labs – Butler research

We are also open to other non-Purdue collegiate research opportunities in the Indianapolis area, provided the research is in a STEM field. Looking for a Purdue mentor? Purdue faculty, including those based in Indianapolis (for example, the Purdue ECE Indianapolis faculty), participate in FTR, which is the better fit for those placements.

Some general guidance for finding research labs can be found in our video, How to Find a Research Lab.

Looking for a Purdue mentor? Purdue faculty, including those based in Indianapolis (for example, the Purdue ECE Indianapolis faculty), participate in FTR, which is the better fit for those placements.

How It Works

  1. Explore potential research groups and non-Purdue faculty mentors in Indianapolis.
  2. Reach out to labs and secure a faculty mentor willing to host you. We are happy to support you as you contact labs and navigate the process.
  3. Email the Engineering Undergraduate Research Office at eur@purdue.edu to let us know about your placement.
  4. Once you have a lab and mentor, the program provides the funding directly. We aim for research experiences of approximately 10 hours per week.

As FIRE is a brand-new program, we are still exploring different avenues and expect some hurdles along the way. We are committed to helping you get started!