Lauren DePue, Ph.D., is the director of the Freshman Research Initiative (FRI) at The University of Texas at Austin, the nation’s largest undergraduate research program. In this role, DePue leads efforts to immerse first-year students in authentic scientific discovery, where they engage in real-world research, use advanced instrumentation, develop technological innovations and publish in peer-reviewed journals.
DePue earned dual bachelor's degrees in biology and chemistry from the University of Kentucky in 2004, followed by a master’s in Chemistry from Yale University and a Ph.D. in chemistry from UT Austin. From 2013 to 2023, she led an FRI chemistry research group before stepping into the director role. Her research was recognized with the 2021 Arthur E. Martell Early Career Research Author Prize for her manuscript "Visible luminescent Ln42 nanotorus coordination clusters." In 2016, she received UT Austin’s Natural Sciences Foundation Professor Award, a student-nominated teaching honor that contributed to her promotion to associate professor of practice.
A Journey from Student to Director: Leading the Freshman Research Initiative at UT Austin
Date:
Location:
CP 114
Speaker(s) / Presenter(s):
Lauren DePue, University of Texas at Austin
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