Montana State University will launch a new initiative to engage students through research as part of its efforts to help students stay in school.

The First Year Research Experience (FYRE) was designed to introduce first-year students to undergraduate research.

"There is evidence that early engagement in research increases the likelihood that students will stay in school during the critical early years," said Colin Shaw, MSU assistant research professor of Earth sciences and director of the Undergraduate Scholars Program, which is developing the new initiative. "This is accomplished by involving students in the research mission of the university, providing a sense of connection to faculty and peers, and demonstrating the real-world relevance of academic pursuits."

As part of the program, students will complete a one-credit course that introduces basic research skills as well as the research culture at MSU. Students will also work as a laboratory or research assistant and receive mentoring, and they will participate in a semi-weekly seminar focused on research concepts and skills.

A pilot group of six students began the program in the fall.

Oscar Machado, a first-year student from Tehachapi, Calif., said FYRE gives incoming students an advantage, and he would recommend it to others.

"I got to learn a lot of cool new things this semester," Machado said in a statement. "I've been trained to work with a scanning electron microscope - you can view everyday objects in a totally different way. This research program is giving me an edge - it's great experience."

He said he intends to continue to be involved in research at MSU and looks forward to being placed in a lab.

FYRE is designed to build on MSU's strength as a leader in undergraduate research, according to MSU Provost and Executive Vice President Martha Potvin.

"MSU has been very successful in promoting undergraduate research for upper division students, with the university's Undergraduate Scholars Program nearly quadrupling in size since 2005," Potvin said in a statement. "By leveraging the infrastructure and expertise of this thriving program, we intend to reach more students who could benefit from a research experience."

FYRE is one of 51 programs in which the university invested one-time funding to increase the number of students who stay in school and graduate.