UT Arlington 's College of Science has launched a new program to connect freshmen science majors and authentic research experiences with the goal of igniting a passion for inquiry and charting a path to a career in the STEM fields.

Achieving Success through Undergraduate Research and Engagement, or ASSURE, begins this fall. A class of 24 students will spend this semester studying research methods. In Spring 2015, they will take part in a course through which they seek to answer a research question, such as analyzing natural products for new antibacterial drugs, rather than enrolling in a traditional lab introductory course.

The progression from classroom to research lab will be quicker than in the past when positions in research labs were hard to come by for freshmen. The group will work under the direct guidance of an experienced postdoctoral researcher, a graduate research assistant and several undergraduate research assistants.

"At UT Arlington we are committed to finding new ways to fulfill our central mission of academic excellence, ' said Ron Elsenbaumer, provost and vice president for academic affairs. "Engaging outstanding students in inquiry-based laboratory experiences as soon as possible has been shown to build a strong foundation for their college success and the ASSURE program will give more of our students that opportunity. '

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