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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 their first 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 second semester of the program, 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.  

This year there are two cohorts of Explorers, the Fall Cohort begins the fall of freshmen year and the Spring Cohort begins the spring of freshmen year.

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 semester.  Students with courses scheduled during this time will not be accepted.
  • No prior research experience needed!
  • Applications for the 2025-26 academic year are due by Friday, September 12th
  • Students will be notified of decisions by September 17th
  • First mandatory meeting of the semester will be held on Friday, October 3rd, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Complete the Fall 2025 Freshmen Explorers Application

  • Applications for the Spring 2026 cohort are due by Sunday, Nov. 9th 
  • Students will be notified of decisions by November 30th
  • First mandatory meeting of the semester will be held on Friday, January 16th, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

click here to Complete the Spring 2026 Freshmen Explorers Application

Program Information

There are two cohorts of Freshmen Explorers

  • The Fall Cohort begins in the fall and is matched with a research mentor for the spring of their freshman year.
  • The Spring Cohort begins in the spring semester is matched with a research mentor for the fall semester of their sophomore year.
  • Regardless of cohort, all matched students can continue in their research positions if the research mentor agrees.

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
  • Topics covered during Explorer activities:
    • College 101
      • Study Skills
      • Time Management
      • Financial Literacy
    • Understanding Research
      • The role of Research Faculty at a university
      • The role of graduate students and undergraduates in research
      • How research is conducted in a variety of disciplines
      • Visiting research spaces on and off 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 and connection

The Explorers will meet several faculty researchers during the semester, often traveling to their labs and research spaces.  The faculty we meet changes from year to year, but have included the following in the past:

  • 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 with Dr.John Miles
  • Media Effects lab with Dr. Chun Yang
  • Pennington Biomedical Research Center with various researchers
  • 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 various researchers
  • 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 2nd semester in the program, 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 2nd semester, but participation is optional depending on your class and work schedules.

Each Freshmen Explorer is paired with a Peer Mentor with whom they are required to meet at least once per month.  Peer Mentors can choose to require more than monthly meetings, and may choose to meet weekly.  Explorers are expected to practice good communication and professionalism with their Peer Mentor by replying to emails in a timely fashion, showing up to planned meetings, and engaging in discussions.  All Peer Mentors are alumni of the Explorers program.  

All Peer Mentors are required to complete a series of trainings at the beginning of the Fall semester, attend monthly Peer Mentor cohort meetings, and meet with their mentees at least once per month.  

Peer Mentors can opt to join the Freshmen Explorers on excursions, site visits, and other scholarly/academic events such as Science Cafe or Pizza & Public Affairs.

All time spent on these required training activities is considered part of your Explorer position and should be added to your timesheet.  Certificates of completion for each requirement should be uploaded to the Explorers Moodle site.

All Explorer students must complete the following:

  • LSU employee trainings.   
    • Power-based Violence Prevention & Response Training
    • Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics Training
    • Digital Resource and Content Accessibility Awareness Training
    • Cybersecurity Awareness Training
  • Hazing Prevention
  • Student Employment Orientation Training
  • CITI Responsible Conduct in Research Training

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

  • Goals
    • Semester #1 
      • 100% attendance at all weekly programming meetings
      • Complete all assigned trainings
      • Meet with Peer Mentors
      • Select research mentor for following semester
    • Semester #2
  • 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 WorkDay:

  • Click menu (the 3 lines) on the top left.
  • Under Student, click “Financial Hub”
  • Click “View Financial Aid”
  • Choose the correct academic year in the drop box
  • Click PDF in right corner

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.

In your 2nd semester in the program.

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 your 1st semester, everyone must attend the Friday programming activities from 3:00-5:00 PM and at least once a month  with your Peer mentor.
  • In the 2nd semester, you will set a schedule with your faculty mentor which can be anywhere from 2 to 20 hours per week.  If you have no class conflicts on Fridays from 3:00 - 5:00 PM, you will continue to attend the cohort meetings in addition to your research hours.

The Explorers program is set for two semesters in one of the following cohorts:

  • Freshmen year fall and spring cohort
  • Freshmen spring/Sophomore fall cohort

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 research prep program designed to introduce students to research concepts and opportunities.  The program prioritizes accepting low-income and 1st -generation students, though any LSU student with Work Study or PSA funding 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.