Summer research: Interdisciplinary Research Experience in Computational Sciences

I recently received an announcement about a summer research opportunity that brings together students from many disciplines to work on issues in the computational sciences.  From the announcement:

The Center for Computation & Technology (CCT) at Louisiana State University (LSU) provides an ideal setting for the REU student to become familiar with interdisciplinary research. With research groups exploring gravitational waves, complex emergent phenomena in material science, or computational music, the participants work on cutting edge research in Computational Sciences.

The students learn how to use the most current cyberinfrastructure tools with individually designed training sessions targeted to their specific degree of preparation. In addition, since most CCT research groups collaborate with international researchers, REU students are exposed to how international collaborations work.

One of the possibilities is to work in computational astrophysics!

For details, navigate your way to the program website.  The deadline for applications is February 15.

Graduating this semester?

If you have not already done so, please make an appointment with me to receive a Major Program Form, which lists the courses we list as counting toward you degree.  You’ll need this form when you file for graduation.  This also applies to those who are in a minor program in Astronomy and Astrophysics.

And … most importantly … congratulations!  I’d be delighted to hear in the comments below what you are planning (or hoping for) after you graduate.

 

 

Summer research in the astronomical sciences

The National Science Foundation provides support for undergraduate research at many institutions across the country.  At their site, you can see a list of supported programs for 2019.  There is a great variety of programs in all sorts of areas, from imaging and computation, solar and stellar physics, planetary sciences, to extragalactic astronomy and cosmology.

Undergraduate research is increasingly a must-have for graduate school, and many employers in STEM fields or the data sciences want you to have a solid research-oriented internship.

Please carefully check out the various programs before applying to see any eligibility criteria, what materials are required, and (above all) when the application deadlines are!  (Some of these are pretty soon….)

These are typically highly competitive programs, but don’t talk yourself out of applying.  Most places look for people from all sorts of backgrounds and experience, and don’t just rank people by GPA.  And somebody has to give you your first chance!

I would be very happy to use the comment thread on this post for people to ask questions about application strategies, how to write a good application letter, how to select people to write letters of reference.  I have lots of opinions (and experience!) about those matters, but I would rather the discussion be student-driven than to come down to you from on high.

In case you missed it, Astronomy recently announced the competition for our summer research program.

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) at Ohio State

The Department of Astronomy and the Center for Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics are pleased to announce the 2019 Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Astrophysics (SURP).

This program provides a 12-week paid internship in research or education under the supervision of a faculty member or postdoctoral fellow.  The 2019 program will run from May 8 until July 26.

Full details, including criteria for eligibility, are included in the above link.  The application deadline is Monday, February 11, 2019.  (Note that the deadline is earlier than it was in previous years.)

Write to me any time if you have questions about the program.

 

Happy New Year!

I hope it’s a happy, peaceful, and healthy year for all of you!

As for me, I spent about half the break nursing a shocking cold.  Well, forced rest is still rest, I figure.

Coming shortly, announcements for summer research opportunities!