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 before February 15, 2008. 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@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.
• Listing of many positions in physics and astronomy (compiled by Sonoma State University)
• Astronomy related summer positions listed by AAS
• 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
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• Applied Physics Lab at Johns Hopkins (or this link)
• MIT Lincoln Laboratory
• American Association of Physicists in Medicine
• Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy
• University of Chicago
• California Institute of Technology
• German Academic Exchange Service
• Canadian Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics (for Canadian citizens)
• APS/IBM summer internships (for women)
• 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
• the Vanderbilt Prize for Undergraduate Research in Physics and Astronomy