Summer Research in Physics and Engineering

Summer research positions in physics and engineering can put you on the right track for a research career. They are also a good way to earn money over the summer. Most programs last about 10 weeks and offer about $3500-4500 stipend plus housing and transportation, though there is some variation. Here are some suggestions for looking at what is available.  It is recommended that you apply for more than one.  Most applications can be done online.

  • Look at the complete list of NSF Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) Programs.  Here are the specific REU programs for physics and engineering.
  • Check out the links to the Web pages for these REU programs.  Note that I have sorted many of them according to region and listed them below.
  • I have additional information, including application forms for some of them.  Let me know if you're interested.
  • The Math/Computer Science Department has resources in the ratiocination room in Olin on the second floor that you might want to use.  They are in colored folders which include Mathematics, Computer Science, Applied Math/Operations Research, and Statistics/Actuarial Science.

Please note that usually the deadline is for receipt of all materials including any reference letters.  Please allow enough lead time for letters of recommendation to be written and submitted.  Click here for a Microsoft Word table of programs, arranged by field.

Illinois and Iowa Deadline
 

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Iowa State University, Ames, IA. Computational Materials Science.

Feb. 1, 2008
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University of Chicago. Summer opportunities in material research/engineering for all undergraduates, and in physics and astrophysics for minorities and women (Condensed Matter Physics, Elementary Particle Physics, Non-linear Dynamics and Chaos, Space and Cosmic Ray Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Nanoscience and Ultracold Atoms)

Feb. 15, 2008
  ● Argonne National Lab, Argonne, IL. Apply online via the Web page. Feb. 1, 2008
  ● Northwestern University, Evanston IL. Material science research. Feb. 15, 2008
  ● Northwestern University, Evanston IL. Nanotechnology research. Feb. 15, 2008
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Coe College, Cedar Rapids IA. Research in optics, materials, acoustics, chemical  and biophysics.

 Feb. 29, 2008
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Fermilab, Batavia IL. Summer opportunities in accelerator physics and computing for all physics students.  Also a program for minority students.

 Feb. 15, 2008
       
Midwest Deadline
  ● Washington University, St. Louis, MO.  Research in structural engineering. Mar. 1, 2008
  ● University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Applications received by Feb. 15  will get early consideration. Those received after that date may be considered, if positions are still available..  Fields of research include Condensed Matter Physics, Particle Physics, Biophysics, Space Physics, Astrophysics, Cosmology, and education.  Juniors and seniors. Feb. 15, 2008
  ● University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.  Research in electrical and computer engineering. Feb. 15, 2008
  ● Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, Minneapolis. Scientific computing and graphics applied to various fields. Feb. 29,  2008
  ● Notre Dame, Indiana. Fields of research: Astronomy/Astrophysics, High-Energy Physics,  Nuclear Physics, Condensed Matter Physics/Biophysics, Education. Feb. 18, 2008
  ● Hope College, Holland, MI. Topics: Structural Engineering, Nonlinear systems control, Semiconductor devices, Chemical property modeling, Nuclear physics, Astrophysics, Blast Damage, Cryogenics. Mar. 3, 2008
  ● Michigan State University. Accelerator physics, acoustics, astronomy, astrophysics, atomic physics, chemical physics, computational physics, condensed matter physics, materials science, high energy physics, low temperature physics, medical physics, and nuclear physics (I happen to know they have a cool superconducting cyclotron accelerator!) Mar. 12, 2008
  ● Indiana University Cyclotron Facility, Bloomington. Biophysics, condensed matter physics, high energy physics, nuclear physics, accelerator and medical physics and nuclear chemistry.  Current sophomores and juniors. Feb. 15, 2008
  ● University of Wisconsin, Madison. Placements will begin Jan. 15, with an absolute deadline of Feb. 15.  Various areas of engineering research.  Current sophomores or juniors. Feb. 15, 2008
       
Outside the Midwest Deadline
  ● American Association of Physicists in Medicine, deadline .  Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Program. Feb. 1, 2008
  ● CERN, Geneva, Switzerland. Review of applicants begins on Jan. 3, 2008, and continues until all positions are filled. Applicants must have completed at least three years of full-time study.  One of the most prestigious high-energy physics labs in the world. Jan. 3, 2008
  ● Penn State University.  Materials research. Mar. 1, 2008
  ● Brigham Young. Optics, computational plasma physics, acoustics, materials, atomic, low-temperature physics, and astronomy. Feb. 12, 2008
  ● University of Washington, Seattle. Astrophysics, cosmology, nuclear and atomic physics, condensed matter physics, physics education, biophysics, nanophysics. Mar. 1, 2008
  ● Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA.  Applicant review is completed by Feb. 1, 2008.  Or investigate other National Labs. Jan. 11, 2008
  ● University of California, San Diego. Observational Astrophysics, Detector for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Biophysics, Elementary Particles and Quantum Field Theory, Non-Linear Dynamics, Experimental and Theory Plasmas and Fluids, Condensed Matter Physics, and Low Temperature Experimental Research. Feb. 15, 2008
  ● University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Atomic, molecular, laser, condensed matter physics, high pressure science, astrophysics. Mar. 3, 2008
  ● NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. Research projects in atmospheric, biospheric, hydrospheric, and solar and space plasma sciences. Feb. 15, 2008
  ● Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA. Astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, and planetary science research for first-year, sophomore, junior, non-graduating senior. Feb. 1, 2008
  ● The Global Change Education Program (click on link on the left, SURE is for undergrads, GREF fro grad students). Research program based at various institutions throughout the country involved in global change research. For current first-year, sophomore & junior students. Atmospheric sciences, ecology, global carbon cycles, climatology, and terrestrial processes. Feb. 4, 2008
  ● Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA. Solid State Physics, Statistical Physics, Biophysics, Atomic, Molecular, and Plasma Physics, Photonics and Nonlinear Optics, Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, Electrical Engineering and Nano-Science, Materials Science. Mar. 7, 2008
  ● Wyoming Infrared Observatory, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY. Astrophysics research. Feb. 15, 2008
  ● University of Oregon.  Hover over a dot for information.  Optics, nano, biophysics, materials, quantum cryptography, ratchets and Brownian motion. Feb. 15, 2008
  ● University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.  Condensed matter, high energy, astrophysics, computer modeling. Feb. 15, 2008
  ● University of Rhode Island.  Physical, Biological, Chemical and Geological Oceanography, Geophysics/Geodynamics, Archaeological Oceanography, Atmospheric Chemistry/Meteorology, Remote Sensing /Ocean Engineering.  Also a link to a program in Astrobiology. Mar. 1, 2008
  ● Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy, research at Kitt Peak Observatory, AZ.  For current first-year, sophomore, junior. Feb. 1, 2008
  ● Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Woods Hole, MA.  Research in ocean sciences, oceanographic engineering, mathematics, or marine policy. Feb. 15, 2008
  ● Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 50 mi E of San Francisco, CA.  Has summer jobs, including high-energy-density physics. Feb. 28, 2008
  ● University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho.  Semiconductors and Nanostructures, Nuclear physics, Relativistic Electron-Atom Collisions. Mar. 1, 2008
  ● UCLA, Los Angeles.  Topics in astronomy, astrophysics, biophysics, condensed matter, plasmas and accelerators, and high energy physics. Feb. 22, 2008

Last modified:  January 13, 2008

Cecilia J. Vogel
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL 61201
ceciliavogel@augustana.edu