physics undergraduate research

Undergraduate Research

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Looking for Research?

You are in the right place.

Our department provides a variety of channels for students to get involved with real scientific research early in their careers. Through research, you will strengthen your physics background knowledge by applying it to real problems and develop crucial skills needed for careers in science and industry, such as collaboration, independent problem-solving, and communication. Though your role will vary from lab to lab, as an undergraduate, you can typically expect to assist with a variety of tasks, ranging from simulation and data analysis to operating and tuning lab equipment. While the idea of engaging in cutting-edge research as a college student may seem daunting, many research groups will organize projects specifically tailored to undergraduates, and you will often be put under the mentorship of a senior graduate student or a postdoctoral scholar who will be more than willing to assist you. Overall, participating in undergraduate research is an extremely fulfilling experience, and we highly encourage you to participate in it!

Read up on internships stories from Berkeley students on the Internship Stories@Cal website .

Student Testimonial

Finding Research To-do List

Do background research and decide (approximately) what you want to work on. Explore the Research Opportunities Board (Pre-Semester)

Go to the Undergraduate Research Fair . (first week of classes)

Find a project. (first two weeks of classes)

Find funding if possible, or register for research units (by the end of second week of classes in most cases)

*Note: A good strategy is to be proactive in the first two weeks of each semester. We recommend that you attend the physics research fair in the first week of each semester and to apply to positions from the fair and/or URAP positions of interest by the second week of the semester. It’s a good idea to apply to ULAB by the second week of the semester as well; this educational, student-led research program will help you grow your research skills and is a solid option, especially if you don’t obtain faculty-led research right away. Funding deadlines usually take place by the first two weeks of the semester, too. More information is below.

Preparing to be an Undergraduate Researcher

Landing a Research Position

Attend the semesterly Physics Undergraduate Research Fair to learn about physics research opportunities available each semester and to meet representatives from the various labs. Apply to positions of interest.
Visit the Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP) website for positions posted by faculty (for course credit only)
Know that throughout the semester, you can contact faculty members from your research field of interest to see if they have positions available. See here for tips on how to cold email a professor . Professors don’t always respond, but you’re always welcome to inquire via email, office hours, etc. to see if any informal research opportunities are available.
Consider positions at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL), Space Sciences Lab (SSL), and Advanced Light Source (operated by LBL), College of Chemistry, Nuclear Engineering, and Astrophysics.
Links to these opportunities are found on our Research Opportunities Board .

Compensation or Course Credit

During Fall or Spring Semesters

BPURS offers $750 for a year-long research project when you apply jointly with a faculty member for funding The project can also be mentored by postdocs or graduate students, under the supervision of a faculty member.

Consider asking to be hired through workstudy or through a stipend. Your success will depend on whether the faculty member has funds to support it.

Consider asking for course credit. Students can pursue getting course credit through Physics/Astro 195 (Senior Honors Research) or Physics/Astro 99/199 (Supervised Independent Study) or by applying to the Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP) . Applications for course credit should be submitted to the student’s department (Physics or Astro). In Physics, major advisors Anna and Kathleen can help with the process. The major advisor will provide the student with a form that requires them to list the project and the responsibilities that they will have as part of this enrollment and based on the units requested. The student can enroll in a minimum of 1 credit and a maximum of 3 credits. The faculty research sponsor must sign and approve the form. Once that is complete, the student submits the forms to their department major advisor who will then issue the class number for them to enroll in. Physics Department student forms can be found here .

Looking for paid summer research?

The SURF L&S fellowship allows UC Berkeley undergraduates in the College of Letters and Science to spend the summer doing concentrated research in preparation for a senior thesis. Fellows receive $5000.

The Physics Innovators Initiative (Pi2) Scholars Program provides a $5500 summer stipend to work closely with dedicated graduate student and/or postdoc mentors on a project. Final projects will require a written report and a poster presentation open to the whole department at the end of the summer. The applications to be Pi2 scholars are announced in early January of each year.

Physics REUs provide fully funded research opportunities at other universities. Note that January and February tend to be the application deadlines for most funded summer research.
See the Research Opportunities Board for a more extensive list of semesterly and summer research positions and funding options.

Watch this 2021 video highlighting physics research persuits by Berkeley physicists and mathmaticians

Basic research lights the way for uc berkeley's math & physical sciences.

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Undergraduate Research

Engaging in research is the most effective way of learning how real science is performed, and undergraduate research has become an increasingly important component of graduate school applications. Working in a lab is a great way to develop the experience and skills necessary for both graduate school and industry. The UW Physics Department aims to provide research opportunities for all Physics majors regardless of financial need.

University of Washington faculty perform internationally recognized research across a very wide range of areas. From the highest energy particle collisions to single ions for quantum computing, from gravity to dark energy to the universe’s first stars, from quantum materials to batteries for green energy, from the evolution of SARS-Cov-2 and HIV to measuring faint magnetic signals from the brain, from neutron stars to dark matter, from quantum gravity to quantum chaos, there are diverse opportunities for undergraduate students to become involved in ground-breaking research.

Getting involved in research

The first step is to find a faculty research mentor. Our Door Knocker page provides a list of Physics faculty who serve as undergraduate research mentors. Before you approach a faculty member to ask about research opportunities, please read over the Student Research Guide and be prepared with good answers to the questions. (Both pages are available on MyPhys under Student Information.) Because lab openings change and some research requires specific skills, you will likely need to approach a number of faculty to find a research opportunity that matches your interests and current skills. Be patient, open-minded, and persistent. If you would like advice on which research areas and groups might be a good fit, you are encouraged to schedule an office hours visit with the Undergraduate Research Coordinator . Once you have found a research mentor, you will work with them quarter by quarter to agree on how many hours per week you will work, plan your schedule, and discuss whether your effort will earn Phys 499 credit, be performed as a volunteer, or be compensated as part of Work Study or as an hourly employee.

Undergraduate Research Coordinator

The Physics Department Undergraduate Research Coordinator is Prof. Miguel Morales . Feel free to send email to [email protected] or arrange an office hour visit to discuss questions about the department’s undergraduate research programs.

Work Study Program

The Physics Department has allocated significant resources to enable students to use Work Study hours to perform undergraduate research. If you have Work Study as part of your financial aid package, you may arrange to be paid for your research. Once you have found a Physics faculty member to serve as your research mentor, simply go to the physics front office with your Work Study confirmation email and, contingent on available funds, staff will arrange for you to be hired as an undergraduate researcher . As an employee you will submit your hours bi-weekly for approval by your research mentor. The number of hours you work will be agreed upon with your research mentor up to the maximum provided by the Work Study award.

Can I sign up for both research credit (499) and Work Study? No. School and employment are legally separate, so it is not possible to obtain credit for the same hours you are paid.

I would like to be part of this program, but no Work Study hours were included in my financial aid award. Every financial aid award is unique, but in cases when there is a particularly promising opportunity (like research) it is sometimes possible to adjust a financial aid package to include Work Study hours. Please talk with your financial aid counselor to see if Work Study hours can be added to your financial aid package.

Other research access programs

In addition to the Work Study program the physics department has a number of additional programs designed to broaden access to undergraduate research. Please explore the following to see if they are a good match for you.

Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)

A wide range of internship, mentorship, and leadership programs for under-represented STEM students.

Physics Program for Advanced Training in Hands-on Science (PATHS)

A Community College transfer program using the power of research. Community College students can be paid to start research before they transfer to UW, seeing what real research is like and building strong interpersonal connections at UW.

INT Undergraduate Research Network (INTURN)

Both school year and summer research positions working with members of the University of Washington’s internationally famous Institute for Nuclear Theory.

UW Physics Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

A 10 week summer program of intense research hosted at the University of Washington.

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Department of Physics

Research experiences for undergraduates.

The University of Chicago Department of Physics invites applications for its Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

The University of Chicago Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program in Physics, supported by the National Science Foundation , offers undergraduates the opportunity to gain research experience working in the laboratory or research group of a Physics Department faculty member. The program is open to all and we encourage applications from those underrepresented in physics.

Supplementing this valuable practical experience, faculty present special lectures to provide an overview of the wide-ranging research conducted in our Department, and there are field trips to neighboring National Laboratories.

Ten to fifteen internships will be awarded for the ten-week program, (approximately June 7 through August 12). The stipend for the full ten-week program will be $6,000. Housing will be provided, and there will be a modest travel expense reimbursement.

The deadline for summer is Feb. 15th.

Possible research areas include:

Experimental and Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
Experimental and Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics
Non-linear Dynamics and Chaos (see condensed matter physics )
Space and Cosmic Ray Physics (see astrophysics )
Theoretical and Observational Astronomy and Astrophysics
Experimental Atomic Physics & Ultracold Atoms
Experimental Biophysics

Eligibility:

Participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are enrolled in (but have not yet graduated from) an accredited undergraduate college degree program with a concentration in physics or a related engineering field.

To apply to our REU program go to the online application .

Further Information:

Email: [email protected]

Opportunities for Students

U of i physics majors.

Juniors and seniors interested in gaining research experience use the Undergraduate Research Readiness Portal to contact faculty members to discuss opportunities.

Undergrads at other Institutions

Apply for our summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program with senior physics faculty on challenging, meaningful projects.

Graduate Students

Work with distinguished scientists in a collaborative environment. Browse our directory to learn more about our distinguished faculty.

Physics Research Centers

Center for the Physics of Living Cells

Illinois Center for Advanced Studies of the Universe

Institute for Condensed Matter Theory

Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center (IQUIST)

Illinois Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (I-MRSEC)

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Undergraduate studies.

Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies: Prof. Howard Georgi ( email ) Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies: Dr. Anna Klales ( email ) Guide to the Hidden Curriculum . Suggestions for an Inclusive Physics Culture . FAQs for first-years are located here . See also the Society of Physics Students' Guide to Physics . Physics and Chem/Phys concentration information is located here (old file, see Handbook for actual requirements) Starting physics research at Harvard as FGLI students: PANEL video

Concentrators are required to take a relatively small number of courses relative to other science concentrations at Harvard. This makes the concentration very flexible, and many students choose joint concentrations such as Physics-Mathematics, Physics-Astronomy and Physics-History of Science, in addition to the special Chemistry and Physics concentration . The faculty are enthusiastic about both undergraduate students and physics. Almost all faculty teach in the undergraduate program although not every year. They take pride in their teaching and continually develop new materials and courses such as the honors introductory course, Physics 16 ( about which a musical was written in 2002 ).

Many undergraduates participate in research through an independent research course that allows up to two semester courses credit for participating in independent research supervised by faculty members. The department supports a number of students to do independent research during the summer. 5-10 undergraduates work as TAs helping with large undergraduate sections. The department establishes a community of physics students. The active SPS chapter organizes a "buddy" system that teams first-year students with upper division concentrators, produces a booklet of advice for new concentrators, organizes lunches and picnics for students and professors, and sponsors weekly "Cool Physics" sessions where a student talks about research. SPS officers meet with the chair and Head Tutor to discuss issues of importance to undergraduates. There are many other opportunities for faculty-student interactions, both formal and informal. These activities include study nights, lunches, dinners, weekly presentations by faculty of their research, the Physics Answer Center organized by the graduate students. The "puppet show" where second year graduate students "roast" the faculty members, draws several hundred spectators each year.

Harvard is one of the leading producers of physics graduates at the bachelors level in the nation. Our undergraduates take pride in belonging to a lively, close-knit community. SPS events draw both concentrators and friends of concentrators so that mailings go to 500 students. Three physics faculty have recently won the Joseph R. Levenson Memorial Teaching Prize of the Harvard Undergraduate Council.

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UT Physics Repository

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Looking to get into undergraduate research? There are many ways to participate!

Research is a key aspect of almost any physics major’s undergraduate experience. It is one of the best ways to explore your academic and career interests, develop marketable skills, and prepare yourself for your postgraduate pathway.

Two great institutions offering resources that help students get involved include The National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) , and UT’s Office of Undergraduate Research.

If you are an incoming freshman, you can apply to the Freshman Research Initiative (FRI) which offers a beginner-friendly on-ramp into a wide range of research “streams” (labs with different focuses) to help you get started as soon as your second semester at UT.

There is also an equivalent program called the Accelerated Research Initiative (ARI) for transfer students and sophomores and juniors who did not participate in the FRI.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Hosted by the National Science Foundation
Current List of Physics REU’s
Applications are conducted on a site by site basis, so get in contact with the ones you are interested in.
Coding is a commonly desired skill.
General Resume Help

Getting Involved in Research at UT

The Office of Undergraduate Research’s steps for getting involved at UT:

Attend an Information Session
Identify Possible Research Interests
Find/Contact Faculty Members

Sample Email Format for Contacting Faculty:

Freshman Research Initiative

The program is meant to give freshmen a foot in the door of research. Students can explore a topic of interest while gaining actual research experience.

Typically, you apply before you come to UT as a freshman. Each research group is called a “stream.” In the first Freshman fall semester, the FRI program holds a steam sort where students can get to know what each group does. Students then fill out an application and rank their preferred streams. They’ll then be notified of which one they get and the classes to register for.

The workload, requirements, and area of focus greatly depend on the individual stream. Importantly, some streams count for lab credit. For example, the Magnetic Matter stream can give you credit for both PHY 116L and PHY 115L if you continue for two semesters. Make sure to check the course catalog before registering, since this is subject to change.

At the time of writing, the Magnetic Matter stream with Dr. Markert is the only physics-focused stream. This group does work with electronics, superconductors, magnetism, nuclear magnetic resonance, and other materials-oriented experimentation. Students have the opportunity to garner experience in experimental physics and work within the Markert group throughout their undergrad.

The FRI also gives out research fellowships, and are submitted around spring break, so students have the potential to gain even more experience.

For student testimonial of each FRI stream, check out the UT Catalyst Unofficial FRI Guide.

For more information, visit the FRI Website.

TIDES Office

The TIDES Office aims to get students in touch with research and educational opportunities. They offer FRI, Science Sprints, experiential learning opportunities, the Inventors Program, etc.

For a comprehensive list of TIDES services, take a look at their website .

Directed Reading Program in Physics

The Directed Reading Program in Physics (DRP-PHY) is a mentor program that connects undergraduates with graduate students. The students work with their mentor to select an independent project – often based on but not limited to reading a book or articles. At the end of the semester, participating students will give a 15 minute talk on a topic or idea they learned from their project. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible to participate (just need to have finished the physics 301-316 series of courses). Learn more about the program and application at their website.

Additional Resources

Office of Undergraduate Research Presentation on Getting Involved in Research
Full List of the OUR’s Starting Research Steps
Office of Undergraduate Research Website
UT Catalyst’s Guide to Getting Started in Research has some great additional insights and information not included here. Made by students of CNS, for students of CNS.
Eureka! – Lists faculty and the research they do, but this site is sometimes outdated. As a supplement, you can hop onto Google Scholar and find research articles the professor has published.
Research Centers – Shows what faculty are researching at the moment.
UT Library – You should be able to find most of the professor’s papers here.
Online Resume Reviews – A UT service that allows you to send your resume by email and receive feedback from a career coach within 3 business days!
Science and Inventor Sprints – Short workshops to get students some research experience. Students will contribute to actual research projects in science sprints (Project HETDEX would be a good opportunity for Physics or Astronomy majors).
UT Society of Physics Students – Holds recurring meetings about advice for finding research, and students in the organization can offer advice.
Professor Websites – You can also check these to find out what a professor researches!

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Prospective Undergrads

An undergraduate degree in physics at MIT, with its emphasis on learning to solve problems, provides an excellent basis for graduate study in physics and related fields; it is also a great foundation for careers in industry, research, finance, management, law, medicine, or public policy.

The Physics Department offers two tracks to the major , Flexible and Focus, each leading to a Bachelor of Science in Physics:

The Flexible track is selected by most Physics majors: it provides a series of rigorous courses in fundamental physics topics, and its options enable many of our students to complete second majors in other disciplines.
Students who choose the Focus track take a greater number of specific required courses, including two terms of experimental physics, and write a research thesis.

Both pathways are highly suitable for any student planning to pursue graduate school, teaching or research beyond MIT. Degree requirements for each can be found on our Physics Degree Requirements webpage.

Advanced Standing and Transfer Credit Exams

MIT Physics offers two kind of credit for knowledge demonstrated through exams or for previous work:

Advanced Standing credit can be given for successfully passing an exam demonstrating mastery of the material from an MIT course. Current subjects for which Advanced Standing Exams (ASEs) are available are 8.01 , 8.02 , 8.03 , and 8.04 .
Transfer credit is given for course work completed at another university; a Validation Exam to demonstrate mastery of the material is required for 8.01 or 8.02 transfer credit.

Upcoming Exams Schedule

The MIT Physics Department offers ASEs twice a year (once in August and once in January).

Fall 2024 Advanced Standing/Validation Exams schedule: 8.01 ASE: August 5, 2024 — Online 8.02 ASE: August 7, 2024 — Online 8.03 ASE: September 3, 2024 — On Campus – Time/Location TBA 8.04 ASE: September 3, 2024 — On Campus – Time/Location TBA To register for ASEs, download the ASE petition form . Be sure to sign the petition yourself and obtain your advisor’s signature, then forward it to Physics Academic Administrator Shannon Larkin for instructor signatures. To request transfer credit for any Physics subject, consult with Physics Academic Administrator Shannon Larkin , who serves as the Department’s Transfer Credit Examiner and will determine whether the course meets MIT Physics’ standards.

Accommodations for ASEs / Transfer Validation Exams

In order to be granted extended time, a distraction-free space, or any other needed accommodation for the exams offered, students need to get approval from the Disabilities and Access Services Office ( [email protected] ). Students also need to contact the Physics Course Manager, Anna Maria Convertino ( [email protected] ) to coordinate the logistics of the accommodation requested.

More on Advanced Standing Credit

MIT’s first-level Physics courses in Classical Mechanics (8.01) and Electricity & Magnetism (8.02) provide a rigorous, in-depth study of these topics at a level offered by few other schools. A student who believes that pre-MIT work has prepared the student with strong knowledge of the subject matter in 8.01 and/or 8.02 may take an Advanced Standing Exam.

A passing grade on an MIT Advanced Standing Exam entitles a student to full credit for the subject, as well as placement in the next subject in a sequence. A student may only take an Advanced Standing Exam in a class for which they had never registered nor attended at MIT.

Obtaining Advanced Standing Credit

For january exams:.

All students, including new transfer students:

Register for ASEs using the ASE petition form .
Be sure to sign the petition yourself and obtain your advisor’s signature, then forward it to Physics Academic Administrator Shannon Larkin for instructor signatures.

For August Exams:

Incoming first-year students:

All continuing students and new transfer students:

All students, both exam dates:

Read the “ What you need to do ” section of the MIT Registrar’s Office website on ASEs.
After obtaining a signature from your Academic Advisor, and signing the petition yourself, send the petition to [email protected] to obtain an instructor signature from Shannon Larkin , Physics Academic Administrator.
Once you receive your signed form, submit it to the Registrar’s Office (send to [email protected] ) for verification that you have not previously been enrolled in the class. Forms must arrive at the Registrar’s Office at least three weeks before the date of the exam.

Additional information about MIT’s Advanced Standing Exams policy and practice .

Advanced Standing Grading

First-semester freshmen: P grade for passing the exam; no grade posted for failing the exam.
Second-semester freshmen: graded on the A/B/C/No Record scale; any passing grade (C or above) appears on the student’s transcript.
Sophomores, juniors, and seniors (including new transfer students): letter grades will appear on transcript, but not factor into the GPA.
A student who fails an advanced standing exam cannot retake it, and should enroll in the appropriate subject.

More on Transfer Credit

MIT’s first-level Physics courses in Classical Mechanics (8.01) and Electricity & Magnetism (8.02) provide a rigorous, in-depth study of these topics at a level offered by few other schools. A student who has not yet completed the Physics GIRs at MIT may wish to take a course at another college or university (e.g., during a summer session) and apply for transfer credit; students transferring to MIT may have already taken such a course. In order to qualify for MIT credit, the course must:

be calculus-based and directed toward science or engineering majors;
use a text at a level comparable to that of texts used at MIT (see below);
be the equivalent of one MIT term in the number of lecture hours, number of assignments, etc.; have content matching that of 8.01 (Mechanics) or 8.02 (Electricity and Magnetism).

The principal topics usually included in such a course are listed below. Additional information can be found on the individual course websites .

Obtaining transfer credit

To request transfer credit for any Physics subject, consult with Physics Academic Administrator Shannon Larkin , who serves as the Department’s Transfer Credit Examiner and will determine whether the course meets MIT Physics’ standards. Students requesting transfer credit should send:

a copy of or link to the official catalog description of the course;
a detailed syllabus including the title and author of the textbook and the chapters covered, as well as topics covered week to week;
a transcript from the institution where the course was taken (NOTE: a grade of B or better is required to receive transfer credit).

Requesting credit for 8.01 or 8.02:

The student must “validate” the transfer credit by passing an MIT 8.01 or 8.02 Validation Exam. Exams are given during Orientation week prior to the fall term and in the last week of IAP prior to the spring term. To register for an exam, submit a petition (PDF) to the Academic Programs Office .
After passing the Validation Exam, request transfer credit by submitting a Request for Additional Credit (PDF) to the Transfer Credit Examiner.

Requesting credit for courses beyond the GIRs:

Based on the materials sent to the Transfer Credit Examiner, a decision will be made on what transfer credit will be awarded; no exam is required for subjects above 8.02. Transfer credit may be in the form of direct credit for a specific MIT Physics subject, if the previous course covers the same curriculum with the same rigor, or may be in the form of units of academic credit, in cases where no analogous MIT course exists.
Once credit has been approved, submit a Request for Additional Credit (PDF) to the Transfer Credit Examiner.

Transfer Credit Grading

Transfer credit appears on the transcript with a grade of “S.” Transfer credit entitles the student to placement in the next subject in a sequence.

A student who fails an 8.01 or 8.02 Validation Exam will have no grade noted on the transcript, but may not repeat the exam and must enroll in the MIT course.

Potential Topics for Placement Exams

Physics ASEs and Validation Exams are three-hour, closed-book exams covering calculus-based introductory Classical Mechanics ( 8.01 ) or Classical Electromagnetism ( 8.02 ). Exams are modelled on final exams in 8.01 and 8.02, with problems based on a selection of the topics listed below. Suggested texts for study include University Physics by Young and Freedman; Physics by Halliday, Resnick and Krane; and Physics for Scientists and Engineers by Serway. Calculators may not be used during these exams; formula sheets are often provided but are not guaranteed.

8.01 Preparation Guides

Potential 8.01 ASE topics
8.01 ASE equation sheet for Fall 2023

8.02 Preparation Guides

Potential 8.02 ASE topics
8.02 ASE equation sheet

Physics subjects for First-years (GIRs)

The Department of Physics has various options for fulfilling the General Institute Requirements (GIRs) of Physics I and Physics II , all based on extensive use of calculus.

Physics I introduces classical (Newtonian) mechanics: space and time; kinematics; Newton’s Laws; particle dynamics; collisions and conservation laws; work and potential energy; universal gravitation; rigid bodies, equilibrium, and rotational dynamics.

8.01 : taken by most students, this course uses the Technology Enabled Active Learning (TEAL) format, including group problem-solving and digital content;
8.012 : mathematically more advanced than 8.01; is intended for students with strong physics and math background;
Appropriate placement in 8.01, 8.01L, or 8.012 is determined by the results of the Math Diagnostic for Physics Placement test taken during Orientation.
8.011 : offered each spring, intended for students who need to retake a version of 8.01; its organization of small lecture sections and weekly quizzes benefits students who learn well in a highly-structured environment.

Physics II introduces electromagnetism and electrostatics: electric charge, Coulomb’s law, the electric structure of matter, conductors and dielectrics. Concepts of electrostatic field and potential, electrostatic energy. Electric currents, magnetic fields, and Ampere’s law. Magnetic materials. Time-varying fields and Faraday’s law of induction. Basic electric circuits. Electromagnetic waves and Maxwell’s equations.

8.02 : like 8.01, presents material using the TEAL format .
8.021 : offered each fall; taught in small lecture sections with weekly quizzes. Enrollment is limited to students who have previously attempted 8.02 or 8.022.
8.022 : mathematically more advanced level than 8.02; intended for students with strong physics and math background.

Physics Undergraduate Student Activities

Undergraduate student life in the MIT Physics Department is lively! Many activities—social events, grad school discussions, career panels, dinners with faculty—are planned and sponsored by:

Society of Physics Students (SPS)
Undergraduate Womxn in Physics (UWIP)

The Department also sponsors activities throughout the year: sophomore orientation, gatherings welcoming the year and celebrating the end of exams, Town Halls where students can voice their opinions about department issues, and much more. You can find these events listed in our calendar .

Learn more about undergraduate life at MIT in general at:

MIT Association of Student Activities
MIT Campus and Student Activities
MIT Undergraduate Association
MIT Division of Student Life

Visit MIT Physics

We welcome hearing from you if you are planning a visit to the Boston area and would like to visit the MIT Physics department! Visits usually involve meeting with our Undergraduate Program Coordinator, who will describe the program and undergraduate activities, and answer questions. We can also arrange for you to meet with a current student. Visit arrangements should be made in advance in order to ensure someone is available to meet with you. To request an appointment, contact [email protected] .

While we do not arrange visits with faculty members, you may contact research labs and/or individual faculty directly to ask about a meeting during your visit.

Visitors can also take a campus tour provided by the Admissions Office and read more information about arranging a general visit to MIT .

Programs for Prospective Students

Mit summer research program (msrp).

The MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) is an institutional effort to help facilitate the involvement of talented students in research aspects of the fields of engineering and science, in particular those from disadvantaged backgrounds such as under-represented minorities, or first-generation college students.

This summer program seeks to identify talented undergraduates from around the country who could benefit from spending a summer on MIT’s campus, working in a research laboratory under the tutelage and guidance of experienced scientists and engineers – MIT faculty members, postdoctoral fellows and advanced graduate students.

Students who participate in this program will be better prepared and motivated to go on to a Ph.D. degree, thereby helping to curtail under-representation in critical fields of scientific investigation.

Application Deadline

Please visit the MIT Summer Research Program site for application deadline information.

Program Features

Supervision by an MIT faculty member, postdoctoral fellow or advanced graduate student
Weekly research presentation by MIT faculty
Weekly seminars on issues directly related to the academic, personal and professional growth of interns
Social outings (barbeques, boat cruise, visits to Boston area, etc.)
Preparation of an abstract and graduate school statement of purpose
Poster presentation at the end of the program
Individual counseling on academic careers
Constructive feedback on the need for further undergraduate courses and acquisition of additional laboratory skills
Opportunity to possibly co-author a scientific paper with the faculty mentor
Exposure to state of the art research laboratories in MIT departments and over 60 interdisciplinary centers on MIT’s campus
Hands-on training in active, “real-world” laboratories

For questions or for further information, contact the MSRP staff at [email protected] .

Physics Bridge Program

The MIT Physics Bridge Program is a one- or two-year post-baccalaureate program at MIT to facilitate the transition to graduate school. Participation is open to physics students who have completed a bachelor’s degree and have participated in the MIT Summer Research Program.

Interested college seniors who have attended MSRP should apply to the MIT Physics graduate program by following the procedures given at our physics graduate study website .

Undergraduate Employment Opportunities

Interested students can find opportunities to work as TAs, graders, and course mentoring in Student Employment Opportunities .

Tutoring Resources

Physics students have access to a variety of academic support and tutoring opportunities:

Peer Tutoring Program : offered to qualifying students taking sophomore core subjects (8.03, 8.033, 8.04, 8.044). For more information about this program, contact [email protected] .
Fall Classes: 8.01, 8.02, 8.01L, 8.012, 8.021, 8.022, 8.03, 8.04, 8.041
Spring Classes: 8.011, 8.02, 8.022, 8.03, 8.04, 8.044
Tutoring in specific courses: some courses include tutors as part of their course staff; please refer to individual subject web pages for specific tutoring opportunities.
Individual hiring of tutors: can be organized through a special arrangement with the Physics Academic Programs Office.
The Office of Minority Education’s Talented Scholars Resource Room (TSR^2): free tutoring services to all MIT undergraduate students. TSR^2 provides one-on-one tutoring sessions, p-set nights, and exam reviews.

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Department of Physics Undergraduate Research

Jump to a subject:.

If you are interested in doing research in the Physics department, take a look at the Research Advising chart which summarizes each physics faculty’s research interests and preferences, for their research students’ seniority/experience. Also, you can visit our website to explore the myriad of research areas/interest for each faculty. You may contact the faculty directly if you see something that peeks your interest.

There are many opportunities available for undergraduate research in Physics:

Condensed Matter Physics, Theoretical & Computational Physics and Biophysics are our research concentrated areas. Our faculty work in larger laboratories/groups on many interesting sub-topics within these three areas.
Science writing and journalism research explores the parallels between the arts and sciences.
Design, construction and application of new instrumentation, a hallmark of physics research, is supported in several laboratories.
The DFM Telescope and planetarium in the Mathematics & Science Center allow us to offer research projects in astronomy.

Goals for Undergraduate Research in Physics

A research project in experimental or theoretical physics that is performed in one of the laboratories (in the Department of Physics) offers the opportunity to see how the "textbook" knowledge you are learning in class is applied in the pursuit of new physical understanding, and the circumstances under which new insights are gained.

There are two parallel goals for undergraduate research:

1. For you to acquire training in experimental or theoretical approaches of physics research that will benefit a future career in the sciences.

2. Work on a novel research project that may reveal new information about how a physical system works.

Some possible research projects that are available in the Department of Physics vary widely in scope and sophistication. They may follow a promising path of inquiry suggested by a previous or ongoing study, or be an investigation of a new area that appears to offer opportunities for insight. The level of the project is tailored to the experience of the student and the degree of commitment that can be made.

Identify an area of research in the Department that interest you.

After you have identified the research area of interest with a particular faculty, connect with that faculty and arrange a meeting. In some cases, faculty members who have had you in class may invite you to do research in their group. In general, faculty are more interested in students who have taken the basic Physics coursework.

Since the size of the laboratories in our Department are modest, the time commitment for training undergraduate researchers is significant, and faculty generally accept one or two students, at most.

Physics B.S. or B.A. students who maintain at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA may enter the Honors Program in Physics. Honors students are given priority in placement in the laboratories. Students in the Honors Program must sign up for Physics 495, "Honors Research", for one semester prior to the completion of the Honors Program

During the Spring and Fall semesters of the school year, research is typically performed for credit. Students sign up for Physics 499, "Undergraduate Research" , for 2-4 credit hours . Although there is not a general rule in our Department, the policy in most groups is that each credit hour is equivalent to 3-4 hours of work in the laboratory per week. This includes time to perform experiments, analyze data, and interpret results.

Progress on a research project requires at least 6-8 hours of research time per week (equivalent to 2 credit hours). For example, experiments involve set up, execution, and clean up, which requires uninterrupted blocks of time of 3 hours or more.

At best, try to arrange your course schedule so that you have blocks of time, and then dedicate these blocks to your research.

Undergraduate research can be performed for credit or for pay.

It may also be possible to perform research for pay. This is typical in the summer. Support may come from the head of the laboratory. Other sources of external funding include the SURE (Summer Undergraduate Research Experience) program, which is administered at Emory.

If you are interested in other research opportunities on campus please click the Undergraduate Research Programs website .

What to Expect from Undergraduate Research

The requirements associated with the research projects will vary from group to group. For example, undergraduate researchers in several groups are encouraged to attend group meetings, and are required to keep a detailed laboratory notebook, present the results and conclusions from their projects at the end of the semester (in a short report), and in an informal presentation to the group.

An accurate notebook allows other researchers to repeat your important work, and the written and oral expression of your results develops your science communication skills. Reproducibility and communication of results are cornerstones of progress in science. It's not all hard work. As a contributing member of the research group, you also tap into the "life of the lab", which can include parties and outings.

In the summer, there are weekly inter-lab get- together over lunch, where you can get an idea of what other undergraduates are doing in their laboratories and compare experiences.

Undergraduate research can be a rewarding experience, if you have the desire and time in your schedules to make the commitment. Perhaps you will be the one to make a new discovery!

Check out the research opportunities currently being offered in Emory Physics.

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Undergraduate Research

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics or Engineering Physics are encouraged to consider an undergraduate research position on campus. Students in our program who choose to participate in research normally choose research projects in the Department of Physics, but research in other fields such as Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Geological Sciences, and Medicine are also possible.

Resources for Getting Started

The following research fields within the Department of Physics are available for Physics and Engineering Physics majors:

Astrophysics
Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
Condensed Matter Physics
High Energy Physics
Medical Physics
Nuclear Physics
Particle Physics
Physics Education

For a description of research being done by physics faculty who often hire undergraduate students, go to the Physics Research Summary page .

Students interested in undergraduate research in the Department of Physics are encouraged to read the How to get Involved in Undergraduate Physics Research guide. Feel free to contact the Physics advisors with any questions regarding undergraduate research.

Established in January 2006, the Undergraduate Research Office helps students pursue research opportunities at OSU. Their website contains useful information about research opportunities both on and off campus and information about funding. The URO also holds informational session and workshops that can help you get involved in research or enhance your current research experience. Additional information can be found on the URO Website .

If you are already involved in undergraduate research and you would like to earn course credit, please follow the below instructions.

Confirm with your research advisor that you have their permission to sign up for the research for credit course.
Figure out which course you will sign up for. Non-honors students will take Physics 4998 and Honors students will take Physics 4998H. (Note: if you are not doing research in physics, but instead in Astronomy, Math, Chemistry, etc. you will sign up for the research course in that department).
Figure out how many credit hours you'd like to take. We recommend signing up for 1 credit hour of research credit for every 3 hours a week you work in the lab. But, the decision is ultimately up to you and your research advisor.
Figure out how you'd like to be graded. The default grading scale for Physics 4998 and 4998H is A-E, which does affect your GPA. If you and your research advisor would rather you take the course as Pass/Non-Pass, please indicate this prior to asking your advisor to enroll you.
Which class you'd like. If you are not a senior working on a senior thesis, you will enroll in 4998 or 4998H (for honors students). If you are a senior working on a senior thesis, you will enroll in Physics 4999 or 4999H (honors students)
Which professor you are working with
How many credit hours you want
If you want to take the course as graded or pass/non-pass.
Your advisor will respond to your email and copy your research professor after the class has been added to your schedule.

Deadline for Enrolling in Research Credit

The last day to enroll in a research course is the 2nd Friday of each term. Deadlines are indicated below. Autumn Semester 2021 - 5pm ET on September 3, 2021

OSU Research Programs and Scholarships

The Department of Physics Summer Research Program is open to current OSU physics and engineering physics majors. This program is 10 weeks during the summer and requires at least 30 hours of research per week. The application is available early January through mid-March.

The OSU Undergradute Research Program in Astrophysics is managed by the Department of Astronomy and is primarily for juniors interested in graduate study in astrophysics, although exceptional sophomores may be considered. Applications are available January-February.

OSU Center for Emergent Materials (CEM) Summer Research Program is open to all students to apply. Application deadline is February 15.

Stone Lab's Research Experience for Undergraduates is a competitive comprehensive research internship that attracts students from across the country to learn how to conduct real, in-the-field research alongside top scientists. Over six weeks, participants use scientific equipment, explore the Lake Erie islands, and collect important data to help solve the most pressing issues for the Great Lakes region.

OSU College of Engineering Summer Research Scholarship (open to Engineering students, including Engineering Physics majors) aims to provide $3,500 scholarships to students who are participating in his/her first research experience during Summer Term. Students who have just begun participating in undergraduate research within Engineering during the current academic year may be eligible to receive this scholarship as well, but priority will be given to students who have not yet been significantly involved in a research experience. Students who receive the scholarship will be responsible for working 30 hours per week for a total of 10 weeks during Summer Term.

Arts and Sciences Research Scholarships (open to all Arts and Sciences students, including Physics majors). Multiple scholarships are available. See website for more information.

Funding from OSU's Undergraduate Research Office available for all students to apply. Multiple scholarships and funding options are available. See website for more information.

External Summer Research and Internship Programs

An internship integrates career-related experience into an undergraduate education through participation in planned, supervised work. Internships are usually paid, full-time positions that take place off campus during the summer but this varies depending on the position.

Students interested in participating in an internship program can get started by contacting Career Services and attending campus career fairs.

For information about study abroad options, including taking classes abroad, contact OSU's Education Abroad Office or browse their website to see a list of programs available.

Additionally, physics and engineering physics majors can participate in research abroad programs such as the DAAD RISE (Germany), STEM Summer Research Programs Abroad (England, Ireland, Spain, etc.), and the Summer Research Experience at CERN .

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs are funding by the National Science Foundation and provides students with funding and support to do research at a university or national laboratory over the summer.

Many Physics and Engineering Physics majors participate in a summer research program at a national laboratory over the summer. A summary of some of those options can be found on the National and International Summer Research Options page .

Graduation with Research Distinction

If you're interested in graduating with research distinction, or if you're interested in getting more information about the process, please contact the following person based on your program:

Honors Physics Majors : Please schedule an appointment with Dr. Joanna Spanos by calling (614) 292-5104 or by going to the Arts and Sciences honors counseling office in room 3180 Smith Lab. You can also find information on the ASC Honors webpage .

Non-Honors Physics Majors : Please read this document for information regarding graduating with research distinction. If you have any questions, please schedule an appointment with Mr. Ed Quinn by calling the Arts and Sciences Advising Office at (614) 292-6961.

Honors and Non-honors Engineering Physics Majors : Please contact Mr. Mike Knisley at [email protected] . You can also find more information on the College of Engineering webpage .

Please note that the rules and processes for research distinction are handled at the college level (not the department level), so Dr. Perry and Ms. Thaler will be unable to answer questions about research distinction.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Abby Santos – Dr. Mugler's Group – Summer 2019

Colin Burke - Dr. Peterson's Group - Summer 2017

Joshua Leeman - Dr. Fischbach's Group – Summer 2017

Charlie Guinn – Dr. Manfra's Group – Summer 2017

Zhuo Hann Cheah – Dr. Hung's group – Summer 2017

George Mitchell – Dr. Jung's group – Summer 2017

Dr. Jung's Undergraduate Students – Summer 2017

Summer 2015 – Alison Hoe

Being in a research environment stimulates learning and reinforces concepts and critical thinking skills needed for success. Our faculty members provide a vibrant research environment for students and we encourage all undergraduate physics majors at Purdue to participate.

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program

Research Courses

These courses deepen and broaden understanding of physics by providing learning experiences tailored to specific faculty research and teaching interests. While many of these courses are lecture based, they can also be a pathway for undergraduates to earn course credit for participating in research. Recent opportunities include courses in infrared spectroscopy, physics education, dark matter research, and Bose-Einstein condensates. Check the course catalog each semester for new opportunities.

PHYS 59000 – Reading and Research

This individual study course is available to physics seniors and graduate students. Students conduct research while receiving individualized supervision and guidance from a faculty member.

PHYS 59300 – Independent Research

This is a required course for Honors Physics and Applied Honors Physics majors . Students conduct research while receiving individualized supervision and guidance from a faculty member.

Centers and Laboratories
Seminars and Colloquia
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Research Experience for Teachers

Department of Physics and Astronomy, 525 Northwestern Avenue, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2036 • Phone: (765) 494-3000 • Fax: (765) 494-0706

Trouble with this page? Disability-related accessibility issue ? Please contact the College of Science .

Undergraduate Contacts

Student Services Specialist

Director Undergraduate Studies

choosingphysics [at] stanford.edu (Pre-Major Advising)

Physics Undergraduate Summer Research 2023

The Research Program has weekly Faculty Research Presentations and/or Professional Development Workshops. Except for the Orientation, which will be held on Monday, June 26 at 9:00 AM , all other events will be held in person and are scheduled to take place Wednesdays at 9:00 AM in Physics and Astrophysics Building, Room 102/103 . During weeks where there is a Faculty Research Presentation, it will start at 9:00 AM. If there is no Faculty Research Presentation, the Professional Development Workshop will begin at 9:00 AM. All programs, unless otherwise noted, will conclude by 10:30am. All Research participants are required to attend and participate in these presentations and workshops.

Orientation will be on Monday, June 26, 9:00 - 10:20am in Physics and Astrophysics Building, room 102/103.
We will hold mid-summer check-in meetings during week 5. Sign up and Mid Quarter Reflections survey links to be added later in the summer.
Students will give a brief (~6-minute) presentation about their research at the end of the program (rather than presenting a poster at an in-person event). Presentations will be held on Thursday or Friday of week 10 of the program.

SCHEDULE FOR SUMMER 2023 - Details such as titles of talks will be added, but event timing is fixed.

All events will be held in person in the Physics and Astrophysics Building, room 102/103 and will begin at 9:00am Wednesday morning unless noted.

Upcoming Social Events

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream: Event on Thursday, July 27 at 5:30 PM; form due by noon, Wednesday, July 26

SLAC Tour: Event on Tuesday, August 8; sign up here ASAP, limited to 29 students, first-come basis

Stanford Student Observatory Tour: Event on Wednesday, August 9 (rain date is Thursday, August 10); sign up here

Professional Development Workshops and Faculty Research Presentations

Undergraduate Research

Apply what you have learned in the classroom to real world problems. Not sure where to start? Take a look at the resources below.

Check out our faculty's research

Faculty by research area:

Biophysics and Biological Physics , Cosmology, Particle and Astrophysics , Nanoscience and Materials Physics , Physics and Society

Faculty by initiative:

Biodesign Institute , Center for Biological Physics , Cosmology Initiative , Interplanetary Initiative

Apply to an opportunity

Research openings.

Department of Physics faculty and affiliated faculty will periodically post openings in their group. Use the link below to view the current list of research projects.

Start the conversation

Interested in working with a physics faculty member? Send them an email to let them know you're interested in their research. Include the following in your email: relevant skills, grades of recent math and physics courses or unofficial transcript, and why you are interested in their group.

ASU Programs

Prefer a bit more structure? Apply to a program:

LEAP Scholars (transfer)
SCENE (high school)
QRLSSP (math REU)
Online Undergraduate Research Scholars - (Online)

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

The National Science Foundation funds research opportunities through its Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites program . Participating in a REU is a great way to gain research experience and build lasting connections.

You've found a research opportunity, now what?

Gain academic credit.

Physics majors can enroll in PHY 495 Project Research to obtain credit for conducting research with a professor in the Department of Physics. Students must secure a research instructor before registering.

Apply for funding

Here are a few websites where undergraduates can apply for research scholarships or grants:

Showcase your research

Present your research at the Department of Physics Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium or at a physics conference.

Research Events

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Undergraduate research.

Summer research opportunities offered by the Physics Department are an excellent introduction to scientific research. Most Physics majors do research during their time at Duke, and many do senior thesis to graduate with distinction . Students are encouraged to contact potential faculty research advisors , to inquire about possible projects. A good time to do this is early in the spring of sophomore year, but earlier or later can work out as well.

The Physics department offers a limited number of research awards to enable students to participate in research over the summer.

In addition to the individual Physics research groups, research opportunities are available in the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory and the Free-Electron Laser Laboratory. These facilities are located behind the Physics Building.

Research opportunities can also be found with scientists with physics backgrounds working outside the Physics Department, such as the Engineering School, the Medical School, and the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Mathematics, Neuroscience, and Psychology. It is also possible to find research opportunities at UNC, at NC State, at other colleges and universities, at private and government laboratories, and at colleges and labs outside the US.

The following is a representative list of possible summer opportunities for research away from the Duke campus.

NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Physics: Application deadlines: late February through Mid March
NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Other Fields: Application deadlines: late February through Mid March
SPS Internships (Society of Physics Students): Application deadline: February 1
Summer Internships at Fermilab: Application deadlines: early January through early April
ORISE Undergraduate Research Opportunities
The NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program
High Energy Density Physics Program at Lawrence Livermore National Lab: Application deadline: mid January
CERN Summer Student Program in Geneva, Switzerland
Department of Energy's Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI)
More Research Internships in Physics and other sciences at the Nucleus
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Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Students: Find a Research Project in Physics or Applied Physics

Faculty: Post a Research Project in Physics or Applied Physics

One of the most valuable educational experiences offered by the department is the opportunity to participate in research projects with faculty members. Projects can involve laboratory work, data analysis, or computational research in any of our faculty research areas. Virtually all qualified students who seek an undergraduate research project will find a suitable project, and some students carry out research with more than one research group during their time at UCI.

Whether you are planning to attend graduate school or pursue a career in industry or any of the many other possibilities that will be available to you, taking advantage of research opportunities is an important part of your undergraduate experience as a physics major, and one of the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects of an undergraduate education. As a minimum, we encourage all of our majors to be involved in research during their senior year. We encourage students to start talking with faculty at the end of the sophomore year or during the beginning of the junior year to plan summer research projects and senior thesis research work. There are a variety of arrangements for research during the academic year and during the summer.

Students must be in good academic standing, major and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. UCI students are given priority for conducting undergraduate research in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Finding UCI research projects We recommend three ways to find research projects at UCI:

Browse research projects with current openings for undergraduate researchers through our Department of Physics & Astronomy Undergraduate Research Project Marketplace .
Use the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) web site, which maintains a list of faculty who have undergraduate research openings in their groups and some opportunities off campus. Please be aware that this is a very incomplete list: many Physics faculty will have openings that aren't listed on the UROP site.
Browse research pages from the department and individual faculty. Then contact faculty directly, regardless of whether they have an advertised opening. Send an email to set up an appointment to talk, or stop by their offices to introduce yourself if the door is open. Faculty will generally be happy to tell you about their research and possible opportunities for undergraduate participation.

Finding a research project takes initiative. Think about what areas of physics you're most interested in, and what research techniques. Are you most interested in working with lab equipment and electronics, or analyzing data from large experiments or astronomical surveys, or carrying out computer modeling and simulations of physical systems? You can get ideas from browsing the resources above and talking to faculty, grad students, and other undergraduates already involved in research.

Do not be discouraged if your first inquiry is not successful! Research programs continually evolve, and at any given time faculty might not have projects available that are a good match to your skills or interests, but students who want to find research projects are very likely to find opportunities.

Research funding and summer research programs UCI has organized research programs for undergraduates that provide financial support as well as mentoring and guidance on applying to graduate school. Application deadlines for summer programs are generally in winter or spring quarter, and may require that you have already been working with a faculty member for one quarter. Programs include:

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)
California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP) Summer Science Scholars

In addition, the UCI Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) awards research grants that can be used to help fund student research projects, as well as other undergraduate research fellowships. They also host workshops and provide resources to help you write and apply for research grants through their program.

Support for research over the summer at other universities is available through NSF's REU program . Each university usually runs its own application process, and students apply to each university's program individually. Most of these programs have application deadlines during in early winter, so it's important start looking and applying early. Admission can be very competitive, so take the time to prepare a complete and well-written application to optimize your chances of being admitted. Your faculty advisor can help you with this process.

More information and listings of REU programs in physics and astronomy, or similar summer research programs, can be found on these sites:

NSF-Supported Physics REU Programs
NSF-Supported Astronomy REU Programs
American Physical Society description of Physics REU Programs
The Physics Nucleus REU Program Listing
Department of Energy Summer Undergraduate Laboratory Internships Program (SULI)
Department of Defense summer internships
Cal-Tech summer wave program
American Astronomical Society listing of REU Programs
Space Astronomy Summer Program at the Space Telescope Science Institute
NASA internships and fellowships
NIH summer internship program
CERN summer student programme
CERN summer internship through George Mason University

Course credit for research and senior thesis projects Students who take Physics 196 or H196 for a year complete a Senior Thesis in Physics while satisfying their upper-division writing requirement. (This sequence also counts as two quarters of "coherently related" courses for the departmental degree requirement.) Alternatively, students can enroll in Physics 195. A senior thesis can be a stand-alone project initiated at the start of senior year, but it can also be the culmination of research started at an earlier stage, for example as a summer project that later expands into a senior thesis. We strongly recommend that students begin working on identifying possible Senior Thesis projects during the junior year. Students who are carrying out Senior Thesis research are eligible to present their findings at the UROP Symposium .

Volunteering as an undergraduate researcher In addition to Senior Thesis research, many students take part in research opportunities during summers, or during academic years prior to senior year. Starting early on research projects can be a great way to learn more about different areas of physics and gain experience in a variety of experimental or computational techniques.

Research Opportunities in the Department

Performing research in.

One of the highlights of the Cornell physics program is the opportunity for undergraduates to become actively involved in world-leading, cutting-edge research. For students interested in getting involved in research they can look at the research opportunities for undergraduates posted by Cornell faculty below.

Signing up for Research Opportunities

Please fill out the following online form to indicate your interest in these (or other) research projects : https://goo.gl/forms/ss7VvfJRXtOeq3412 . The form will be used to populate a database that faculty can check when looking for undergraduate researchers for projects in their labs.
In addition to filling out the online form, please upload your CV / resume and a 1 page personal statement (about your background, research interests, future goals, etc…) as PDFs. They should be titled as “Rebecca_Smith_CV.pdf” and “Rebecca_Smith_Statement.pdf”. These documents can be uploaded by sending them via email to [email protected] .
You should also feel free to directly contact (via email) any of the professors listed in the research opportunities below, particularly if you do not receive any responses within two weeks.
If you are interested in other research opportunities beyond those listed here, you should try contacting other professors directly. One way to do this is to talk with professors teaching your courses, attend Monday lunches with faculty & graduate students (in PSB 401), and the physics colloquium (Monday at 4:00 pm in Schwartz Auditorium in Rockefeller Hall). You should also try reaching out to faculty directly via email.

Read about Hunter Rawlings III Cornell Presidential Research Scholars.

A current list of research positions available in the Department of .

Most undergraduate research positions are unadvertised and students are encouraged to contact a number of faculty in their search. Below are a few advertised positions. (updated Winter 2022)

Research with Professor Tomás Arias

Apply quantum mechanics and supercomputing to understand the physics of materials with important societal impact: from alternate energy technologies, to superconducting cavities, to photocathodes, and even biophysics. Recently, and quite surprisingly, we have discovered ways that non-quantum versions of our techniques also predict the behavior of large crowds of people. Prospective students must have significant computing skills (experience with Linux a big plus) and have done well in undergraduate quantum mechanics courses.

Contact Professor Arias

Research with Professor Carl Franck

For Winter break 2024@, and Spring 2024*, Summer 2024@, Fall 2024*, (* = for 4490 course credit, @ volunteer, possibly summer living expenses provided). Seeking an enthusiastic undergraduate to join in our experimental, theoretical and/or computational studies of either 1) X-ray physics, especially novel forms of spectroscopy aimed at fundamental electron-photon processes (including our recent surprise), uncovering electronic correlation effects in condensed matter and atomic systems, or 2) biological physics where we are learning about signaling in living matter and transitions to multicellular life. In the first effort, we are interested in performing experiments with energetic electron scattering and especially inelastic x-ray photons scattering at Cornell’s synchrotron radiation facility, CHESS, and other national labs as well as with an intense in-house radioactive source. In the second, we exploit laboratory optical, digital, microfluidic and cell culture techniques. Please see https://physics.cornell.edu/carl-franck and http://franckgroup.lassp.cornell.edu/ (please email me for a visit) for our latest papers and talks.

Contact Professor Franck

Research with Professor Georg Hoffstaetter de Torquat

High-brightness electron beams

(a) Charged particle optics in accelerators; optics design for the Electron Ion Collider

(b) Fields excited by the beam in superconducting accelerating structures. (HOM heating and BBU instability)

(d) Build detectors for particles being lost in the edges of an intense beam; halo monitors

(e) Machine learning for the complex control of particle accelerators

(f) Optimize electron beams for electron microscopy and electron diffraction

(g) Creation and simulation of polarized charged particle beams

Most projects are related to the large Electron Ion Collider that is currently being designed and that will be constructed at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Contact Professor Hoffstaetter de Torquat

Research with Professor Rob Thorne

We have openings for at least two more undergraduates at the sophomore or junior level, and have projects in three main areas:

1. We are developing and applying a variety of new methods for probing the structure and function of biomolecules using X-rays generated by synchrotron sources and using cryo-electron microscopy.

We have projects involving preparation of biomolecular solutions and growth of biomolecular crystals, CAD design, construction and testing of apparatus, and X-ray and EM data analysis and modeling. I'm particularly interested in students who have hands-on experimental/apparatus construction skills.

2. Water is critical to life, yet many aspects of its interactions with biomolecules remain poorly understood. We are engaged in experiments and simulations related to the physics of water and ice formation in biomolecule-containing structures, including cryoEM samples, protein crystals, and single cells. These problems are directly connected to important challenges in X-ray crystallography and molecular structure determination of proteins and in cryopreservation and recovery of biological tissues.

Each of these projects is reasonably self-contained and should lead to journal publications. Good hands and/or good computer skills, good organizational skills, and a good work ethic are the key requirements.

Please contact Prof. Thorne (ret6) for more information.

Research with Professor Jane Wang

Professor Wang’s research focuses on insect flight, as a means to understanding principles governing the living organisms.

Project 1: Computer simulation of insect flight

If you love physics and computer simulations, you can play with bugs flying on the computer. Explore and optimize. Computer skills: Matlab, C++, Genetic Algorithms, and Machine Learning. Please contact Prof. Jane Wang ( [email protected] ) with a brief description about your background and a resume.

Project 2: Art and physics

If you have a background in music or in visual art, we have lots of new small projects.

Contact Professor Wang

Undergraduate Research

Rice Natural Sciences professors are among the most distinguished researchers in the world. With a small student body and a recognized commitment to teaching undergraduates, each Rice student has the opportunity to work side-by-side with our outstanding research faculty, learning how to solve challenging problems.

Even as freshmen, all Natural Sciences students have access to mentored research opportunities with our faculty and our partners at the Texas Medical Center . In fact, more than 75% of Natural Sciences students are involved in research before they graduate.

Benefits of undergraduate research

Work closely with a faculty mentor, benefit from their knowledge and experience
Increase your confidence in your understanding of the subject material and in your research skills
Apply the knowledge you've gained in the classroom to solve actual real-world problems
Clarify your interests and post-graduation goals, confirm your desire to go to into medicine or attend graduate school
Develop communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will serve you well competing for top job placements and spots in grad and med school

Whether you're a first-year student whose only research experience is in high school lab or an upperclassman who already has some research experience, there is an undergraduate research opportunity that is the right fit for you.

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Whether it's conducting groundbreaking research in state-of-the-art laboratories or engaging in hands-on labs that bridge theory with practice, students are empowered to explore the frontiers of knowledge. Through collaborative endeavors and mentorship from esteemed faculty, they nurture their creativity, pushing the boundaries of what is known and uncovering new insights that shape our understanding of the world. Creation flourishes in this dynamic environment as curiosity fuels the drive to innovate, ultimately propelling students toward transformative discoveries that makes us Penn State.

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Develop a broad, deep, and rigorous knowledge of the quantitative problems that govern the natural world.

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Intellectually challenging and exciting graduate research alongside leading physics faculty full of talent, enthusiasm, and imagination.

According to a multi-year study released by the National Research Council (NRC) in 2010, we are in the top echelon (10-15) of physics departments in the United States.

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Featured Faculty

I am interested in the theory of quantum mechanics and its consequences to systems of many particles, in particular how topology, entanglement and strong interactions lead to fundamentally new phenomena in condensed matter systems.

Stephanie Wissel

My group focuses on detecting the highest energy neutrinos through radio detection experiments like PUEO, BEACON, ARA, and RNO-G.

Zoltan Fodor

The main goal is to solve quantum field theory in the non-perturbative, strongly interacting regime. To that end, analytic and numerical techniques are applied on space-time lattices.

PULSE Undergraduate Research Webinar: Effectively Communicating Your Findings | Mastering the Art of Research Communication

The session covers practical tips on structuring your presentation, crafting compelling visuals, and delivering your message with clarity and conviction.

The APS Physics Undergraduates Learning and Sharing Experiences (PULSE) series is proud to present "Effectively Communicating Your Findings: Mastering the Art of Research Communication." The session covers practical tips on structuring your presentation, crafting compelling visuals, and delivering your message with clarity and conviction. Whether you're presenting in-person or virtually, our expert guidance will help you navigate the intricacies of academic communication.

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If you embrace scientific discovery, truth and integrity, partnership, inclusion, and lifelong curiosity, this is your professional home.

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Undergraduate Research at UNH

The first step to joining a research group is finding out what positions are available. The UNH research groups often have openings for undergraduates. Feel free to contact any of the professors to discuss opportunities available in their groups; simply email them, and let them know that you are a physics undergrad interested in doing research. Talk with upper classmen to find out what research they are doing and how they got started.

UNH research groups

There are a variety of ways to work with research groups. Both during the school year and in the summer, for pay or for credit. There are funding opportunities at UNH through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, or through the professors research grant.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

You may wonder how an undergraduate can do research. Typically, you will be given a small part of a larger project (e.g. writing computer code to analyze data or building and testing a piece of a bigger instrument). You will work closely with others (your advisor, more senior undergraduates and graduate students). Expect it to take a semester or two to feel comfortable with the new tools you have to use (e.g. a new programming language) and with physics ideas, but with time, you will become more expert. Your research can end in a senior thesis, a presentation at the Undergraduate Research Conference, and perhaps even a publication.

Research differs from classroom work in many ways. You are working on a problem for which the answer is not known, and the process may be unclear. You will be far more independent and will have more opportunities for problem solving and creativity.

Undergraduate Research off-campus

There are also research opportunities outside of UNH that you could participate in over the summer. Here are some leads:

The Department of Energy SULI Internship program at JLab and other national labs. Deadline for application typically in January.
The ODU Research Experience for Undergrads at JLab. Deadline for application is typically in February.
The INFN summer research program in Italy. Deadline for application is typically in May.
The National Science Foundation sponsors several Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Go to web sites of universities and government laboratories (e.g. Los Alamos, Jefferson Lab, Fermi Lab) to look for opportunities
Go to the web sites for American Institute of Physics, American Physical Society, American Association of Physics Teachers and browse their resources
The Physics Department often receives brochures about research opportunities; these are posted on the bulletin board across from the Physics Office.

SULI Internship

ODU Research Experience for Undergrads

INFN summer research program in Italy

Research Experiences for Undergraduates

American Institute of Physics

American Physical Society

American Association of Physics Teachers

Undergraduate Research Highlights

Undergraduate Research Conference

Every year, many physics majors present their work at the Undergraduate Research Conference. This is a great opportunity to learn about what others are doing, and to present your own work.

Senior Theses & Projects

Following are explanations of undergraduate research projects from past years.

Andy Greten

Andy says that at first it was a lot of computer work—but as the project developed and the more he worked with the graduate students, faculty and other research scientists, he was able to learn something about the astrophysics which lay behind the numbers.

Bill spent three years in the UNH solid state laboratories. He worked on the pulsed laser deposition technique. Pulsed laser deposition is a method of building very thin layers of material on a substrate. Each pulse puts down a layer which is about ten atoms thick on a sapphire substrate. Bill controlled thickness and the composition of these layers to a great accuracy. Bill intends to go on into material science, and thinks the time he has spent in the laboratory has given real focus to his study of physics.

Kim worked for several years calibrating ion detectors to be flown a board a satellite called FAST. This involves measuring efficiency and effective gathering size of the detectors by exposing them to ions from accelerators before being launched into space. FAST is now in orbit. Kim has also worked with the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium, on science education.

Dan worked with the Nuclear Physics Group on a scintillator fabrication project for the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) CLAS large angle time-of-flight system. More recently, Dan tested the time-of-flight device for the Hall A spectrometers at TJNAF and developed high resolution gamma-ray detectors for the gamma-ray laser project.

The University of New Hampshire had a very active role in the designing and building of the satellite Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO). Since its launch aboard the space shuttle, UNH has also been involved in the daily maintenance and control of the telescopes on that satellite. Dan Pinard monitored the flow of data down from GRO to the scientists on the ground, as well as uploading to the satellite the daily lists of control commands. He said that one of the more interesting parts of this was his work as a filter -- as the data came in he flagged interesting events, and passed over the more mundane. Dan found that he was involved with a great deal of computer and control work and that his experience was very interesting, unique and beneficial to his future work as an engineer.

Two satellites which carry UNH detectors and are presently in orbit are WIND and POLAR. James Wang was a Computer Science major who enjoyed seeing the data stream down from these satellites into his software. He found it interesting to decode the NASA data stream. He had worked on software which builds a massive database which keeps track of the raw data, so that scientists could get to the parts of the data sets which would help them understand the world of the magnetosphere (which is a thousand miles up).

Jon was working on an ion gun which injected ions into Endohedral Fullerenes. A Fullerene is a unique configuration of carbon which has recently stimulated a great deal of interest in solid state physics and material science. The carbon lattice has arranged itself into a ball -- giving rise to the nickname Bucky Balls (named after Buckminster Fuller who promoted the geodesic dome buildings). Fullerenes are very stable and can be used to hold an ion. In Jon's research he wanted to implant an ion into a Fullerene. He was interested in studying the energy dependence for efficient and effective implantation -- for future studies of these ions.

Mark Osgood

Mark's desire to see many sides of active physics led him to work in solid state physics and on a satellite project. Mark received a grant from the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program to build a scanning tunneling microscope. This microscope is used in our solid state laboratories to image Folleianear, a new configuration of carbon. Mark designed and fabricated all the parts of the microscope. He then assembled, tested and used the apparatus. Mark was also involved in designing a very small polarimeter to fly aboard a satellite. The polarimeter will measure the polarization of high energy gamma-rays.

Ron Pilotte

CATSAT is a small UNH satellite which is presently being built and will be launched in 1998. It is specifically designed to look at x-ray bursts. Ron Pilotte was involved in the testing of x-ray sensitive photodynodes for CATSAT. Several dozen photodynodes will be mounted on this small satellite and pointed in several directions simultaneously -- which will help to pinpoint the source of these x-ray bursts. Ron found it interesting to be inside a research project and see not only how an instrument is built, but also how an international collaboration can work together to build a scientific experiment.

Tim Streeter

Tim worked on the development of a polarized helium gas system for two very different projects. The first project used 3He gas as a source of polarized neutrons for a target for a high-energy accelerator. Experiments were designed to probe the quark structure of the neutron. In the second application, polarized helium was used to enhance the resolution of magnetic resonance images (MRI) of parts of the human body for medical and scientific uses. In Tim's spare time, he fabricated unique metals which will be used for an experiment to study parity violation in nuclear forces. These experiments tested the left/right symmetry of nuclear forces.

Abby Pierson

Abby joined a research group as soon as she entered the University of New Hampshire. She worked in the Nuclear Physics Group on two projects. She has modeled the production of rubidium when a proton beam with several million electron volts of energy hits a krypton target. The rubidium will be the heart of a novel gamma ray laser. Abby was also involved in the construction of a phase-shifter for the control of polarized 3He gas. The 3He will be used as a target for experiments looking at the quark structure of the neutron. It is also being used to enhance the resolution of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Abby's group worked in collaboration with Harvard and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston to use minute quantities of polarized helium to enhance the imaging of lungs and other organs.

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May 30, 2024

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

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peer-reviewed publication

Virtual lab meetings found to improve undergraduate research experience and foster diversity in academia

by Maria Gebhardt, Auburn University College of Sciences and Mathematics

Virtual lab meetings improve undergraduate research experience and foster diversity in academia

Moisés A. Bernal, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University, is collaborating with researchers Kathleen Lotterhos (Northeast University), Megan Phifer-Rixey (Drexel University), and Torrance Hanley, (Sacred Heart University) to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual lab meetings in demystifying the hidden curriculum in academia, incentivize primary research among students without previous experience, and foster participation of underrepresented groups in STEM.

The "Biological Practices" article, titled "A virtual lab meeting training program mutually benefits mentees and host labs" and published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences , dives into the specific details that are needed to develop a virtual meetings program from scratch, and reports on the experiences by both mentors and mentees.

The first step on the Virtual Lab Meeting Program (LaMP) was to match research mentors (i.e. faculty in research intensive institutions) with students in STEM fields (i.e. at institutions with limited research support), Bernal indicated

"The program matched mentors and mentees based on affinity of research topics, and mentees were provided with a $500 stipend if they participated in at least 10 meetings," Bernal said. "This is important because the students had an incentive to participate at the meetings and actively exchange ideas with a research lab."

The team collected data that shared insight of the value of the LaMP experience.

"When we analyzed the data, we saw a gap that exists between the current mentors and the mentees," he said. "The mentees were a much more diverse group then the mentors."

The data included racial and sexual diversity among mentees participating. However, the faculty did not exhibit as much diversity, which highlights the need for this type of program among undergraduate and graduate students.

"Our results clearly show that this program worked to extend the professional networks of traditionally under-represented groups in the sciences, with little extra time commitment on the part of the participating labs," said Lotterhos. "We hope these results will stimulate similar efforts across STEM disciplines."

And those efforts can be easily integrated into a lab.

"For faculty, this is a small-time investment, because we are already conducting regular lab meetings and we can simply bring on a new mentee into this experience," Bernal added. The results from the study show that the mentees learned new information on specific techniques and study systems, while developing a broader network of personal connections in academia.

Further, the mentees learned how to discuss and present research as well as how to discuss a manuscript and the overall writing process. Meanwhile, mentors indicated it was beneficial to gain novel perspectives on how to discuss peer-reviewed manuscripts, and gain knowledge on other study systems presented by the mentees.

Overall, the survey results indicate that the program was useful for staff and students in the mentor's lab as well as the mentees, and participants strongly recommend this program to future participants.

Bernal spoke about his time with a virtual student in his lab.

"It was a positive experience because I was able to have someone in my lab with a novel perspective on how to discuss manuscripts and to look at research problems from a new angle," he explained. "This program helps to develop and expand professional networks for participants. It also helps them prepare to apply to graduate school and learn how to build their CVs over time."

Overall, the LaMP initiative represents an effective way of connecting researchers with students in STEM, while fostering the participation of underrepresented groups in academia.

Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Provided by Auburn University College of Sciences and Mathematics

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University of Notre Dame

Department of Physics and Astronomy

College of Science

Home ›
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Events ›

Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium

Time: Wed Jul 24, 2024, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Location: TBA

At this event, students from the NDnano and several other summer undergraduate research programs will showcase their projects in poster format during two morning sessions. Following the poster sessions, a select group of students will compete in the 3MT competition, where participants will "effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience."

PHYS4398 - Senior Research Project for BA Degree

PHYS 4398 Senior Research Project for BA Degree (3 semester credit hours) Individual instruction course for students seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree designed to develop skills for clear, precise and accurate scientific writing. The Bachelor of Arts degree is designed as a strong base in physics to pursue graduate studies or work in fields other than physics. The requirement involves research in a topic of the student's choice that the shows the physics involved and the application of the physics background to the field and the development of a plan for implementing such a program. Possibilities include other sciences, medical fields including radiology and diagnostic tools involving physics principles, economics, finance, accounting, patent or high technology law and education at the primary or secondary school level. The research culminates in a minimum of a 12 page paper submitted to the faculty mentor, critiqued and rewritten by the student incorporating the suggestions from the mentor and resubmitted. Instructor consent required. Please consult advisors for more detailed information. (3-0) S

IMAGES

Undergraduate Research in Physics: Experiments and Experience
Undergraduate Physics Research
Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate Physics Research
Physics Undergraduate Research Lab
Undergraduate Physics Research

VIDEO

Department of Physics Undergraduate Diploma Ceremony
Former UR researchers awarded Nobel Prize
Physics at the University of Stuttgart
Undergraduate Research in Physics at K-State
Undergraduate Physics Student David Tran
What is research and how to get a position as an undergraduate

COMMENTS

Undergraduate Research
Through research, you will strengthen your physics background knowledge by applying it to real problems and develop crucial skills needed for careers in science and industry, such as collaboration, independent problem-solving, and communication. Though your role will vary from lab to lab, as an undergraduate, you can typically expect to assist ...
Undergraduate Research
The Summer Research Program offered by the Departments of Physics, Applied Physics and SLAC provides Fellowships to Stanford undergraduate Physics and Engineering Physics majors, plus undeclared first-year students who are considering Physics/Engineering Physics as a major, who wish to dedicate ten weeks to the Summer quarter to join a physics research group under the guidance of a faculty member.
Summer Research Opportunities for Undergraduates
Summer is a great time to get involved in research, whether it's in a field you intend to study seriously, or in one you just want to try out. There are many opportunities for funding, as you'll see below, and you are encouraged to take advantage of these. Note that most REU application deadlines run from mid January to early March, so you should get started in early January (or late in the ...
Undergraduate Research
Engaging in research is the most effective way of learning how real science is performed, and undergraduate research has become an increasingly important component of graduate school applications. Working in a lab is a great way to develop the experience and skills necessary for both graduate school and industry. The UW Physics Department aims to provide research opportunities for all Physics ...
Research Opportunities
The Physics Department participates in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) by providing positions for undergraduates with our faculty and in our research labs.
Research Areas
Research Areas. The MIT Department of Physics is recognized as a worldwide leader in physics research, providing students with opportunities across a wide range of fields. We strive to be at the forefront of many areas where new physics can be found. While we often study the simplest things, such as individual atoms, we study the most ...
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
The University of Chicago Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program in Physics, supported by the National Science Foundation, offers undergraduates the opportunity to gain research experience working in the laboratory or research group of a Physics Department faculty member. The program is open to all and we encourage applications from those underrepresented in physics.
Research
Research Highlights. Illinois Physics is ranked among the top 10 physics departments in the U.S. by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. We are best known for our top-ranked condensed matter physics program, which has made transformative advances in materials research, NMR, conventional and unconventional ...
Undergraduate Studies
Starting physics research at Harvard as FGLI students: PANEL video. The Harvard Physics Department has a large and very active undergraduate program, graduating 50-60 majors (concentrators) a year (including those in the Chemistry and Physics concentration, also administered by the department). The hallmark of the undergraduate program is ...
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Research is a key aspect of almost any physics major's undergraduate experience. It is one of the best ways to explore your academic and career interests, develop marketable skills, and prepare yourself for your postgraduate pathway. Two great institutions offering resources that help students get involved include The National Science ...
Physics: Directory of Internships, Research Opportunities, Scholarships
Physics Opportunities: browse internships, summer research, scholarships, graduate programs, fellowships, and postdoc positions.
Undergraduate Research
Active Research in the Yale Physics Department 2023 Slide Deck Astrophysics and Cosmology Charles Bailyn, Charles Baltay, Paolo Coppi, Marla Geha, Larry Gladney, Steve Lamoreaux, Reina Maruyama, Chiara Mingarelli, Daisuke Nagai, Priya Natarajan, Laura Newburgh, Nikhil Padmanabhan, Meg Urry, Frank van den Bosch, Pieter van Dokkum.
Prospective Undergrads
Prospective Undergrads. An undergraduate degree in physics at MIT, with its emphasis on learning to solve problems, provides an excellent basis for graduate study in physics and related fields; it is also a great foundation for careers in industry, research, finance, management, law, medicine, or public policy.
Department of Physics Undergraduate Research
There are two parallel goals for undergraduate research: 1. For you to acquire training in experimental or theoretical approaches of physics research that will benefit a future career in the sciences. 2. Work on a novel research project that may reveal new information about how a physical system works. Some possible research projects that are ...
Undergraduate Research
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics or Engineering Physics are encouraged to consider an undergraduate research position on campus. Students in our program who choose to participate in research normally choose research projects in the Department of Physics, but research in other fields such as Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Geological Sciences, and Medicine ...
Undergraduate Research Opportunities: Department of Physics and
I have research opportunities for undergraduate students to work on experimental particle physics research on the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment. Specifically, they will work on particle physics instrumentation on silicon trackers. The students will study and test the building blocks --modules-- of large scale silicon detector systems.
Physics Undergraduate Summer Research 2023
Physics Undergraduate Summer Research 2023. The Research Program has weekly Faculty Research Presentations and/or Professional Development Workshops. Except for the Orientation, which will be held on Monday, June 26 at 9:00 AM, all other events will be held in person and are scheduled to take place Wednesdays at 9:00 AM in Physics and ...
Undergraduate Research
The Department of Physics conducts research in four main focus areas of physics: biological and soft matter physics, cosmology, particle, and astrophysics, nanoscale and materials physics, and physics and society.
Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate Research. Summer research opportunities offered by the Physics Department are an excellent introduction to scientific research. Most Physics majors do research during their time at Duke, and many do senior thesis to graduate with distinction. Students are encouraged to contact potential faculty research advisors, to inquire about ...
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
In addition, the UCI Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) awards research grants that can be used to help fund student research projects, as well as other undergraduate research fellowships. They also host workshops and provide resources to help you write and apply for research grants through their program.
Research Opportunities in the Department
One of the highlights of the Cornell physics program is the opportunity for undergraduates to become actively involved in world-leading, cutting-edge research. For students interested in getting involved in research they can look at the research opportunities for undergraduates posted by Cornell faculty below.
Undergraduate Research
Rice Natural Sciences professors are among the most distinguished researchers in the world. With a small student body and a recognized commitment to teaching undergraduates, each Rice student has the opportunity to work side-by-side with our outstanding research faculty, learning how to solve challenging problems.
Department of Physics
Physics graduate program. Penn State physicists are at the frontiers. of knowledge about the natural world. According to a multi-year study released by the National Research Council (NRC) in 2010, we are in the top echelon (10-15) of physics departments in the United States. The physics department is also committed to fostering an inclusive ...
PULSE Undergraduate Research Webinar: Effectively Communicating Your
The APS Physics Undergraduates Learning and Sharing Experiences (PULSE) series is proud to present "Effectively Communicating Your Findings: Mastering the Art of Research Communication." The session covers practical tips on structuring your presentation, crafting compelling visuals, and delivering your message with clarity and conviction. Whether you're presenting in-person or virtually, our ...
Undergraduate Research
The National Science Foundation sponsors several Research Experiences for Undergraduates. Go to web sites of universities and government laboratories (e.g. Los Alamos, Jefferson Lab, Fermi Lab) to look for opportunities. Go to the web sites for American Institute of Physics, American Physical Society, American Association of Physics Teachers ...
UAH
Two researchers at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) have published a paper that demonstrates for the first time that a subluminal warp drive is possible within the bounds of known physics without the need to employ exotic unknown forms of matter or energy, while also advancing our understanding of gravity. UAH alumnus Dr. Jared Fuchs led a team of physicists that produced the ...
Virtual lab meetings found to improve undergraduate research experience
Moisés A. Bernal, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University, is collaborating with researchers Kathleen Lotterhos (Northeast University), Megan Phifer ...
Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium
At this event, students from the NDnano and several other summer undergraduate research programs will showcase their projects in poster format during two morning sessions. Following the poster sessions, a select group of students will compete in the 3MT competition, where participants will "effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist ...
Senior Research Project for BA Degree
The Bachelor of Arts degree is designed as a strong base in physics to pursue graduate studies or work in fields other than physics. The requirement involves research in a topic of the student's choice that the shows the physics involved and the application of the physics background to the field and the development of a plan for implementing ...

Undergraduate Research

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