FIRE streams share similarities and differences; they engage in a variety of disciplines and methods to produce research outcomes. We provide the following definitions to help you better understand where FIRE streams have overlaps and where they differ.​
 

• Faculty Leader: each FIRE stream is led by a full-time FIRE team member with a PhD in a specific discipline.  FIRE Faculty Leaders lead, educate, and mentor students daily in our dedicated labs.
   

• Keywords: these words help describe the disciplines and methods of each FIRE stream.  Please study the keywords for each FIRE stream to get an initial sense of the subject matter of a stream.
   

• FIRE Cluster: a group of FIRE streams using related research tools and methodologies.
   

• FIRE Cluster - Natural Science: probes the complexities of the physical world around us.  These FIRE streams operate in modern laboratories with specialized equipment that further our understanding of the living world. 
  
  
  
  
  
   

• FIRE Cluster - Social Science & Humanities: study the broad institutions and functioning of human society and the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society.  These FIRE streams further our understanding of people: as individuals, communities, and societies with an eye toward developing a deeper understanding of human values and of the unique ability of the human spirit to express itself.
  
  
  
  
  
   

• FIRE Cluster - Tech & Applied Science:  uses cutting-edge techniques that involve coding (programming, compiled & scripting languages, high performance, cluster-based, etc), advanced algorithms (machine learning, AI, etc), and/or physical construction and modeling.  These FIRE streams often engage in a broader applied discipline including atmospheric science, particle and quantum physics, applied economics, computational biology, etc.