Continuing the Connecting of LSST Undergraduate Internships with the CIERA REU Program

We request a total of $11,880 to fund two undergraduate students to perform LSSTrelated research, mentored by CIERA faculty and researchers, for the 2020 summer. This proposals builds on past highly successful Enabling Science grants that have propelled many of our students into PhD programs in astrophysics. The students we intend to fund through this LSSTC grant are already working with Northwestern faculty and have the skills needed to complete these projects; therefore they will be able to begin immediately, and will easily be able to work remotely (as will be required due to the COVID-19 shutdown). Broadly, the students will research (i) host galaxies of energetic transients and (ii) rapid identification of stellar variable stars. During the summer, these students will be fully integrated into our vibrant NSF-funded REU program, including the many professional development workshops and trainings our REU students participate in (which will be provided online). We anticipate that the LSST students funded through this grant could present their work at an upcoming LSST Community Workshop or a AAS meeting. Integrating these LSST students within our REU program will expose them to astrophysics in its interdisciplinary context and train them in a variety of additional skills, preparing them for a wide range of professional paths.