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The FIRE program

SLU CHROME lab
 

 

The Foundational Interdisciplinary Research Experience (FIRE) promotes collaboration among Saint Louis University School of Science and Engineering (SSE) faculty and empowers SSE undergraduate students with hands-on research and mentorship opportunities. 

Created in 2022, FIRE is an independent academic research experience that offers students credit-bearing coursework. In 2025, program offerings were expanded to allow for greater participation and to provide a direct pathway to a true entrepreneurial experience through FIRE’s collaboration with SLULaunch – a student-driven incubator at SLU’s Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship.  

In addition to facilitating collaborative research relationships among SSE faculty, FIRE benefits students by:  

  • Offering opportunities for experiential, research-based work
  • Providing a clear structure and foundation for SSE undergraduate students, with three distinct FIRE courses – each designed to support research and innovation  
  • Equipping students with the technical and professional skills they need to be highly successful after graduation 
  • Incorporating an entrepreneurial mindset into their research experiences 
  • Building a bridge from research to entrepreneurship by allowing SSE faculty-led projects to enter SLULaunch 

If you have any questions, please contact Brian Woods at brian.p.woods@slu.edu