2016 TUNL/Duke REU Program

Undergraduate Research in Nuclear and Particle Physics at TUNL/Duke University

The 2016 TUNL REU program dates are Tuesday, May 31, 2016 to August 6, 2016.

This year's application deadline was February 5, 2016. The online application process is now closed. We will accept recommendation letters through Wednesday, Feb. 10.

The Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs provide opportunities for students to participate in science and mathematics research at institutions throughout the country. REU programs are especially valuable for students attending academic institutions with very limited research activities. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the REU program at TUNL/Duke enables students to participate in research at the frontiers of nuclear and particle physics.

Students participate in a 10-week summer program combining research experience, lectures, and social activities. The REU program dates for 2016 are May 31, 2016 - August 6, 2016. Students applying to this program have a choice of selecting to participate in one of two research components: (1) nuclear and particle physics at TUNL or (2) high-energy particle physics with the Duke High-Energy Physics (HEP) group. Students who are selected to work with the Duke High-Energy Physics program will spend about 6 weeks of the 10-week summer program at CERN. The REU students will conduct research under the supervision of professors from the TUNL consortium universities: Duke University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Each student is fully integrated into a research group and works closely with graduate students, postdocs and other undergraduate students in the group and has opportunities to interact with other groups at TUNL and the High-Energy Physics group at Duke. The students are assigned well-defined projects that are often part of a larger research project or program.

The program provides a lecture series for undergraduate students that covers a wide range of topics. Subjects include an introduction to nuclear physics concepts, historical reviews of physics, and the relationship between physics and everything else (for example, medicine, art, society).

In addition, various social activies on and off the research site allow for comfortable interaction between undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral research staff, and faculty. The TUNL Informal Lunch Talks (TILT) gatherings every week involve pizza and a presentation by either a grad student or postdoc. Attended by only students and postdocs, the TILT meetings are a great atmosphere for discussions both of physics and anything else.

REU students will receive a stipend of about $5000. Housing and partial board are provided to promote interaction among the program participants. Airfare is provided for students who travel to CERN for research with the Duke HEP group. A limited amount of funds are available for travel reimbursement for students conducting research at TUNL.

We are interested in bringing together a diverse group of undergraduates and encourage students from a variety of backgrounds to apply to our program.

Please direct any questions or inquiries to the TUNL REU Program Coordinator at reu@tunl.duke.edu . This research opportunity is supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (Grant No. NSF-PHY-1461204).

Qualifications:

  • Students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program.
  • Preference will be given to students who have completed the sophomore level physics courses or the equivalent by June 2016.
  • Outstanding freshmen students and senior students who will not graduate by June 2016 will be considered on an individual basis.
  • The National Science Foundation requires that NSF-funded students must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents.

The REU Online Application process is now closed.