Summer Undergraduate Research at LIGO – CS, Electronics, Mechanical – Caltech, USA
Undergraduate students are encouraged to participate in the development of gravitational-wave astronomy through the LIGO Project. This intensive summer program takes place each year at Caltech, funded in part through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program of the National Science Foundation. Undergraduate students from all institutions (both U.S. and foreign) are invited to apply to the LIGO Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Research awards include a summer stipend and some funding for travel to Caltech as needed. First year students may apply too. The last date to apply is 1st February, 2013 – hurry!
About LIGO: – The LIGO Project (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory http://www.ligo.caltech.edu) is an NSF-supported endeavor to design, build, and operate an astrophysical observatory for the detection and study of gravitational radiation. The observatory includes two sites (Hanford, Washington and Livingston Parish, Louisiana) with laser interferometric detector systems.
About Internship: – The aim of the LIGO Summer Undergraduate Research Program is to organize the participation of undergraduate students in research associated with the LIGO Project. LIGO research projects may cover many areas of science and engineering related to the detection of gravitational radiation, including:
- Laboratory projects in mechanical, laser, optical, and electronic systems
- Modeling and analysis of optomechanical systems
- Software development projects
- Modeling of astrophysical sources of gravitational radiation
List of previous years’ research projects can be found at LIGO Previous Years’ Research Proejcts
Who can apply: – All continuing undergraduate students (i. e. who will be students next year) may apply to the LIGO Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Different projects require different skills and background, and there are some projects that are suitable for students who have just completed the 1st year.
Location: – Caltech, Washington, Louisiana, USA
Duration: – 10 Weeks (18th June – 24th August) – there is a chance that you may request to start your project early.
Stipend: – Students in the LIGO Summer program receive a $6,000 stipend. The schedule of stipend payments will be communicated prior to the start of the summer.
How to apply: – Please visit the LIGO page for more details. The last date to apply was 1st February 2013 –hurry!
Editor’s note: – Information above is my interpretation and paraphrasing of what I found on the shared link. If you have any more specific information on this internship or have interned in this program before and would like to share your experience, please leave a comment.
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Logo image credit: – http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/LIGO_web/icons/ligologo_t.gif
