Summer Student Research

Spending a summer as a research assistant is an important part of an undergraduate education in physics and astronomy. It gives you a chance to experience cutting-edge research first hand, working under the mentorship of an experienced scientist on a problem where the answer is not yet known.

On-campus: Research opportunities are available on campus. If you wish to do research in the Physics & Astronomy department this summer, you should speak with the professor you would like to work with, and apply for a position through the Calvin College Science Division Office. Student applications are typically available at the beginning of February and due mid February. Award notifications are made mid March. Click here for positions available and application forms.

Off-campus: Undergraduate research opportunities also exist off-campus, often at national labs or observatories. These positions offer a stipend and often a travel or housing allowance. Positions are advertised in late fall, with many applications due in January and February. Follow the links below to learn more about available opportunities (please send an email to dhaarsma at calvin.edu if you have suggestions for other links here).

• The National Science Foundation funds Research Experiences for Undergraduates programs at institutions around the country in physics and astronomy.
• List of many positions in physics and astronomy compiled by Sonoma State University
• Searchable list of many positions from American Institute of Physics
• List of astronomy related positions from American Astronomical Society
• National Radio Astronomy Observatory
• National Optical Astronomy Observatory - Kitt Peak
• Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy
• NASA Undergraduate Summer Research Program
• National Institute of Standards and Technology
• Department of Energy
• Department of Homeland Security
• Applied Physics Lab at Johns Hopkins
• MIT Lincoln Laboratory
• Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy
• University of Chicago
• California Institute of Technology
• German Academic Exchange Service
• Canadian Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics (for Canadian citizens)
• The IAESTE Placement Program matches U.S. university students majoring in technical fields with paid internships abroad.

• Summer Fellowship program from the Council for Undergraduate Research (provides money for students to do research here at Calvin)
• Registry of Undergraduate Researchers and Graduate Schools from the Council for Undergraduate Research (sends your name to graduate schools which are recruiting)
• the Apker Award from the Americal Physical Society for outstanding undergraduate research