P H Y S I C S
R
E U
2 0 0 6 Research Experiences for Undergraduates
University of Washington, Seattle
June 19 - August 25, 2006
P H Y S I C S R
E U
2 0 0 6 |
Research Experiences for Undergraduates University of Washington, Seattle June 19 - August 25, 2006 |
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The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program of the National Science Foundation (NSF) provides opportunities for talented undergraduate students to participate in research projects during a 10-week period each summer. REU "sites" are established by the NSF in all fields of science, mathematics, and engineering at host institutions throughout the US. The University of Washington REU Physics site was established in 1995, and has been co-hosted annually by the Department of Physics and the Department of Energy's National Institute for Nuclear Theory. The program directors are Jerry Seidler and Alejandro Garcia. The REU Physics program at the University of Washington differs from some others in that it covers most subfields of physics. All of the major groups in the department are participating: astrophysics and cosmology, atomic physics, condensed matter physics, nuclear physics, particle physics, physics education and biological physics. Our Department of Physics is famous for "table-top" experiments that push the bounds of precision. We also have vigorous theory groups, including the Institute for Nuclear Theory, which brings large numbers of visiting faculty to the UW year around. Thus there are many opportunities for students to do exciting work. Each year approximately 14 students have been accepted from institutions across the US. Student selection is competitive and preference is given to students who will have completed physics studies through the junior year by the time our program begins. However, in some cases, seniors and highly qualified sophomores have been accepted. The University of Washington is located in Seattle, a city that combines excellent outdoor recreational opportunities with the amenities of a major metropolitan center. The city is dramatically situated between the Cascade and Olympic Mountains, freshwater lakes, and Puget Sound. The Physics/Astronomy building provides state-of-the-art laboratories for precision experiments and many superbly equipped shops, including a large student shop which participants in the program will use. |
The main goal of this program is to provide an exciting and nurturing research experience for students, one that will encourage them to pursue careers as research scientists. Each student is paired with a faculty advisor, who is often supported by interested postdocs and advanced graduate students. Students are required to engage in a 10-week research project and complete a machine shop course. In addition to the work with their faculty advisors, students attend two weekly meetings: a faculty lecture series on research opportunities in physics, and a meeting for informal discussions on physics and questions. Towards the end of the program, students are asked to give a short talk and to provide a written summary of their summer research. Several social activities are organized to help students get acquainted. |
How
to Apply |
Research projects will reflect the current research interests among the faculty. Students accepted into the program select several projects of interest; the program directors then match each student to the most appropriate research project. The project list is representative but not inclusive and students are encouraged to make any special requests known to the program directors - often, a new project can evolve. Please refer to our current list of research projects . |
| Past Years | |||
| REU 2004 |
REU
Directors:
Prof.
Jerry
Seidler, Associate
Professor of Physics, University of Washington
Prof.
Alejandro Garcia,
Professor of Physics,
University of Washington