MDP SANDBOX SITE

Kickstart your future by building hands-on skills that grad schools and employers value. Through faculty-led research projects, the FRST program gives you the chance to work on cutting-edge problems alongside faculty and peers.

What You’ll Get:

• Practical Experience: Apply classroom knowledge to real research problems in engineering and related fields.
• Teamwork & Leadership: Join a project team (10–40 students) and collaborate in small subteams led by experienced student leaders.
• Direct Mentorship: Receive direct guidance and mentorship from faculty.
• Professional Development: Many students publish research and attend and present at conferences.

How It Works:

• Check out our current project offerings Faculty Research Project Teams.
• Teams are organized into subteams (2–7 students each), focused on specific aspects of the project. Each subteam has their own goals and responsibilities to the project.
• Expect to spend about 4 hours per credit hour each week, including all-team meetings, subteam meetings, team work togethers and independent work.
• No lectures or exams—earn credit through your participation, collaboration, and progress on your project.

Ready to Learn More?
Read on for program requirements, summer opportunities, detailed deadlines, and all the ways MDP supports you in the FRST program.

To get the most out of your FRST experience, all students are expected to meet the following requirements:

Two-Semester Commitment

• • You must participate for at least two semesters, enrolling in 2 credits each semester. Students generally start in January, break in the summer (see opportunities for summer research), and return in the fall. 
  • Continued participation beyond the minimum is encouraged—Long-term involvement deepens the experience and opens doors to leadership roles, advanced research skills, and unique experiences like presenting at conferences or publishing your work.

Active Participation

• • Attend all team and subteam meetings.
  • Engage in discussions, share your ideas, and contribute to your group’s work.

Research Progress

• • Contribute to your project through team collaboration and independent research tasks.
  • Take responsibility for moving your team’s research forward.

Check-Ins with MDP (Freshman and Sophomore students)

• Freshman and sophomores new to MDP are required to meet with FRST Program Manager, Ellen Solomon once each semester.
• Meetings are typically 15-30 minutes and are intended to provide students with an opportunity to share their experiences and to allow MDP to offer ongoing support.

Staying involved and meeting these expectations will help you succeed in the program and get the most value from your FRST experience!

Many FRST students continue their research during the summer, as most faculty remain active on campus year-round. You have the option to stay on campus and keep working on your project even if you’re not enrolled in a course.

As funding permits, MDP offers a summer enrichment program featuring weekly social events and professional development opportunities—helping you build skills and connect with fellow student researchers. Please note that funding for summer stipends varies from year to year. Contact MDP staff for details on the latest opportunities.

Here’s what the weekly schedule might look like as a participant in the FRST program:

Team Meetings with Faculty PI (1-2 hr/week or every other week)

Meet with your entire research team and the faculty Primary Investigator (PI) to discuss progress, share challenges, and set goals for the upcoming week. Each student or subteam lead will give updates, and all students are expected to join the discussion and take notes.

Subteam Planning Meeting (1 hr/week)

Work closely with your subteam to plan research tasks, solve challenges, and coordinate your work. Subteam leads help facilitate these meetings and communicate your team’s plans to the rest of the group and faculty PI.  

Collaborative Work Sessions (2-4 hrs/week)

Spend time working together with subteam members on your project to encourage teamwork and hands-on collaboration.

Independent Research Time (2-10 hrs/week, depending on the number of enrolled credits)

Complete your individual research tasks. This could mean collaborating with others when possible, but you’ll also need to work independently to make progress.

Total time each week will vary depending on your role and number of credits, but expect your schedule to be a mix of meetings, team-based work, and independent research.

FRST Events

Connect with your peers, build new skills, and celebrate your progress throughout the year with these MDP-sponsored events:

• JumpStart Kickoff Dinner (Early January): Meet your teammates and faculty PI and get energized for the semester ahead.
• Cohort Social Event (February): Enjoy a fun, MDP-planned social gathering with your fellow FRST students.
• Leadership Training Workshops (Fall & Winter): Take part in sessions designed to help you develop your leadership and teamwork skills.
• Team-Building Activities (Fall & Winter): Each MDP team can plan one MDP-sponsored team-building event per semester to strengthen connections and collaboration.
• Design Expos (Mid-December & April): Show off your team’s work to the wider campus community, connect with other MDP teams, and practice your presentation skills.

Personalized Support from MDP

MDP provides dedicated support to help you succeed. Ellen Solomon, the FRST Program Manager, offers weekly in-person or virtual office hours. She’s here to answer your questions, provide support, and help teams get the most out of the program. 

To learn more about Ellen and how she can support you and your team, check out her bio page or send her an email at esitz@umich.edu to book a meeting with her.