Research First Initiative

The RFI is an innovative elective curriculum that allows undergraduate students to engage in authentic scientific research under the mentorship of a faculty research scientist. Enrollment in the RFI is open to all qualified students from the Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology, as well as students from other Colleges on a case-by-case basis.

The program is designed to promote student interest in scientific research and encourage students to pursue careers in STEM. Students enrolled in the RFI become part of a faculty member’s research team working on real-world problems alongside their peers. In so doing, students experience the thrill of discovery and problem solving in science not through standard classroom lectures but by actively applying the fundamental scientific principles found in textbooks.

The ability of students to successfully conduct authentic scientific research builds individual confidence and identity. RFI students gain valuable work experience and the possibility of presenting their findings at scientific symposia or publishing in a scientific journal. Throughout their undergraduate research experience, RFI participants develop and perfect vital career skills in Critical Thinking, Translational Science, Quantitative Literacy, Information & Technology Literacy, and Communication Literacy. Students who complete the RFI requirements are eligible to receive either an RFI Distinction or RFI Honors designation on their transcript upon graduation.

• Machine Learning: The Future of Intelligence (Faculty Leader: Dr. Malihe Aliasgari)
• Bridging the STEM Gap: Examining New Jersey's Educator Deficit (Faculty Leader: Dr. Brian Baldwin)
• Microbial Biobanks for Applications in Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Food and Agricultural Sciences (Faculty Leader: Dr. Gerald Bills)
• Biologically Inspired Materials (Faculty Leader: Dr. Subhasish Chatterjee)
• In Silico Molecular Modeling and In Vitro Verification and Other Studies (Faculty Leader: Dr. Thomas Comollo)
• Cancer Cell Signaling: Gene Expression Analysis of Tumor-Associated Macrophages (Faculty Leader: Dr. Salvatore Coniglio)
• Acoustics and Digital Signal Processing (Faculty Leader: Dr. Edward Farnum)
• Health Applications of Coffee By-products (Faculty Leader: Dr. Renalison Farias Pereira)
• Using Deep Neural Networks to Solve Scientific Problems (Faculty Leader: Dr. Ensela Mema)
• Developmental Biology: Gene Expression (Faculty Leader: Dr. Matthew Niepielko)
• Molecular Neuroscience: From Genes to Behavior Using the Earthworm as a Model Organism (Faculty Leader: Dr. Cecil “Jake” Saunders)
• Mycobiome of Dead Wood (Faculty Leader: Dr. Maria Shumskaya)

• Forensic Chemistry Research (Faculty Leader: Dr. Mingjing Sun)

RFI is a research-mentoring program designed to train undergraduate students and improve learning through research in the STEM fields.  Participation is by petition only, and students apply to the program after first speaking with faculty members who are leading the various RFI streams.  Applications are reviewed by the the RFI Admissions Committee, led by the Associate Dean of the IST, and students are matched with specific research streams after consulting with research stream leaders.  Registration petitions are granted according to faculty recommendations as well as space available in individual research streams.  Prior to applying, students should consider the following program guidelines:

STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE AN OVERALL GPA OF 3.0, WITH A 3.25 GPA IN SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS

• Proficiency in Mathematics
• AP Science & Math courses or High School research experience desirable

RFI RESEARCH STREAMS HAVE SPECIFIC PREREQUISITES

• High School Advanced Placement course(s) in field related to an RFI research stream or research experience. i.e., Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Sciences, Computer Sciences or Mathematics (Calculus)
• Science club, Group Summer Scholars Research Program (GSSRP), Research camp or HS/College science project

PREREQUISITE UNDERGRADUATE COURSES MAY BE REQUIRED FOR ENTRY INTO ADVANCED RESEARCH STREAMS SUCH AS CHEMISTRY, BIOINFORMATICS OR ASTROPHYSICS.  FACULTY MENTORS DETERMINE THE PREREQUISITE COURSE(S) FOR THEIR RESEARCH STREAM

• i.e., Organic Chemistry 1, Java Programming, Calculus & Differential Equations
• Exceptions are subject to Instructor’s & Dean’s approval

ENROLLMENT IN RFI RESEARCH STREAMS (STME 2903 & 3903) AND INDEPENDENT RESEARCH OPTIONS (STME 4901, 4902 & 4903) IS BY PETITION

• Students petitioning to enroll in an RFI research stream must interview with the Faculty Stream Leader, obtain approval of their advisor and/or the RFI Admissions Committee
• HCSMT students who are non-STME majors are encouraged to discuss their interests with their faculty advisor and department chair prior to applying to the RFI
• Exceptions are subject to Instructor’s & Dean’s approval

Students who complete the two-course RFI sequence of STME 2903 and 3903 may continue their research activities independently by performing a laboratory, field or theoretical investigation of a research problem under supervision of a faculty member.  Students do so by enrolling in Independent Research using the course codes STME 4901, 4902 or 4903, representing one, two or three credits of independent research, respectively.  These courses may be repeated for academic credit toward one's major, up to a total of six credits.  However, only four credits may be used to fulfill major elective requirements for IST programs.  For students in non-STME majors, other limitations may exist.  All students are encouraged to discuss their interests with their faculty advisor and department chair prior to applying to applying for independent research.

As described below, IST students pursuing a 4-yr BS or 5-yr combined BS/MS degree may use STME 4901, 4902 or 4903 to achieve RFI Distinction in Research on their Kean transcript.  These students will take at least two full semesters of Independent Research (4 – 6 credit hours total) and complete an Honor’s Thesis or contribute to a scholarly research paper.  With guidance from their advisor, students complete and submit a proposed research plan for approval by the IST Associate Dean to enroll in Independent Research.  Templates of research proposal forms are distributed by the IST Dean’s Office.  Approval of the faculty research sponsor(s) is required to apply for RFI distinction upon graduation. 

Those students interested in conducting authentic scientific research may elect to pursue either (i) the basic RFI Track or (ii) one of two RFI Distinction in Research Tracks.  Students are encouraged to select their RFI track, in conjunction with their advisor, upon entry into their junior year.  Upon completion of the track’s requirements, the selected RFI designation will be awarded to students at graduation.  Students are required to take the minimal RFI track, consisting of two courses, in order to graduate.

Minimal Requirements

STME 1903 Research Methods

GE 2024 Research & Technology

RFI "Distinction in Research" Certificate

STME 1903 Research Methods

GE 2024 Research & Technology

STME 2903 Research Experience

STME 3903 Advanced Research Experience

Poster Presentation at Kean Research Days

RFI "Honors Distinction in Research" Certificate

STME 1903 Research Methods

GE 2024 Research & Technology

STME 2903 Research Experience

STME 3903 Advanced Research Experience

STME 4901, 4902 or 4903 Independent Research (3-6 credits)

Presentation at Kean Research Days & Research Summary Paper