Multiple Undergraduate Research Projects

Statement of Purpose: Program for Multiple Undergraduate Research Projects Faculty Participants: Melville Ulmer, Michael Smutko, David Meyer, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Northwestern University (NU), Evanston, IL The stipend for the 5 full time and one part time selected astrophysics students will be $5,000. The exact period the students must be available to work is flexible, but period should be between approximately June 15 and September 25. All our projects here at Northwestern can provide tasks that will give the student extensive computer experience with a wide selection of mini-computers on campus or via electronic access to several off campus super-computers. Some of the areas of current research are: (1) Theoretical work on the physics of pulsars and black holes in the centers of galaxies (2) Radio maps of the Galactic Center and star formation regions; (3) Optical observations related to the study of the cosmic micro-wave background and the intergalactic gas; (4) Analysis of X-ray satellite data (5) Laboratory work to develop techniques for making mirrors which reflect X-rays or are light weight optical mirrors (6) Planetary system Formation and Evolution. The roles and responsibilities vary but typically require computer programming, running computer programs, downloading and analyzing satellite data sets, designing and machining pieces for the laboratory, running equipment such as vacuum systems and electroforming baths, and attending research team meetings and seminars. This past year we had 3 out of the 5 full time positions were female (one Hispanic). Thus in terms of funding the summer of 2014 we were above target for the females and nearly on target for underrepresented minorities. We anticipate the same mix for this coming summer of 20145 Last summer in the astrophysics program, we had: 3 females out of 5 participants (at our target for female participation without the Materials Research Center (MRSEC) participation); 5 were fr