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2008 Research Experience for Undergraduates

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2007 REU participants with Professor Rich Galik.

Cornell University Laboratory for Elementary-Particle Physics
Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source
CLEO Collaboration
Wayne State University

Download the 2008 REU Brochure
Download the 2008 REU Poster

No longer accepting new applications as of 1 February 2008

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has renewed our grant for a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program in the Cornell University's Laboratory for Elementary-Particle Physics (LEPP), running the summers of 2006/07/08. Such a program has been run at LEPP since 1998. View the details for the 2008 program, which are still being developed, but which willl be similar to the details for the 2007 program.

Under this program, up to ten science and engineering students from around the country will be invited to participate in research at the Laboratory. The program is enriched substantially by contributions from the Physics Department at Wayne State University, the CLEO Collaboration, and the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS). In addition there are several other REU programs on campus with whom we share housing and programs.

The ten-week program will start Monday, 2 June 2008 and end Friday, 8 August. In addition to participation in research, the program will include informal seminars, formal lectures, tours of research facilities, social and recreational events, and a forum at summer's end in which participants present the results of their research.

Participants will receive a stipend of $4200, a housing allowance, and a travel allowance for a round trip to/from Ithaca. Group housing will be available through Cornell University Campus Life and it is hoped that all the students can participate in this arrangement. Cornell Dining also has meal plans available at its various dining facilities.

Each student will work in a research group which typically involves a professor, postdoctoral research associates, and graduate students. These mentors will define the nature of the research project, organize access to the resources necessary to carry out the research, and guide the participant's effort through frequent interaction. The student projects are always important elements of the overall research program of the Laboratory. The areas of research in recent years have included:

  • Experimental Elementary Particle Physics
  • Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics
  • Accelerator Physics
  • Microwave Superconductivity
  • Instrumentation for Scientific Research
  • Synchrotron Radiation in Scientific Research

LEPP operates the CESR electron-positron storage ring which provides a rich collection of data on the fundamental constituents of matter, particularly, in the present running, the charm quark. They are studied through their decay products which are observed in the CLEO detector. The CLEO detector was built and is operated by a collaboration of over 120 physicists from 20 universities and colleges. CLEO physicists utilize these data to study some of the most fundamental questions in elementary particle physics. CLEO collaborators from other institutions often participate in the REU program, by providing additional financial support, research projects, and mentoring.

LEPP is also heavily involved in the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the new Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. This project is at an exciting time with first data to be collected in 2008! LEPP staff are also involved in detector development for the future International Linear Collider (ILC).

An active program in accelerator physics research is aimed at further improving CESR performance and developing ideas for future higher luminosity electron-positron colliders, especially the ILC, for which CESR will serve as a prototype in some key areas. The accelerator physics program also includes research and development of microwave superconducting cavities, devices for more efficiently delivering energy to particles in accelerators. Research opportunities in developing instrumentation are also possible.

The LEPP theory group's faculty study a wide range of fundamental phenomena in areas including weak interactions, strongly coupled theories, extra dimensions, new forces and symmetries, string theory, and lattice gauge calculations.

The Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) provides facilities to utilize the high energy x-rays (synchrotron radiation) produced by CESR for a wide variety of research projects in biology, chemistry, engineering, materials science, and physics. Members of the CHESS staff develop state of the art instrumentation to support users of the facility and utilize the x-ray beams for their own scientific research.

The Laboratory is engaged in developing a new form of x-ray facility known as an Energy Recovery Linac (ERL), which could improve the capabilities of synchrotron radiation science by orders of magnitude. Recent years' programs have had projects on aspects of the ERL as varied as ultra-high vacuum technology, electron gun design, superconducting RF cavity performance, and beam dynamics via simulation.

Good oral and written communication of results are essential elements of scientific research. To develop these communication skills, each student will:

  • present an oral statement of the goals early in the program
  • present an oral report on results at the end of the program, and
  • write a report describing final results of the research

In order to enhance the educational value of these efforts, mentors will assist students in preparing these reports. The written reports will be included in a proceedings of the program and will be available on World Wide Web. The reports for 2004-2007, which can give one an idea of the types of research opportunities available, are found at:

The REU program is open, by NSF regulation, only to US citizens and permanent residents. The LEPP program is intended primarily for sophomore and junior students in science and engineering. In exceptional cases first year students could have enough familiarity with physics, engineering, or computer science to profit from their research experience. Students who have not yet enrolled as undergraduates and students who will have a Bachelors degree by the summer of 2008 are not eligible according to NSF regulations. Consideration of completed applications will begin 1 February, with first offers being made by 15 February.

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Monica Wesley
(607) 255-4952 (ph)
(607) 254-4552 (fx)
man5@cornell.edu

This grant is restricted to supporting US citizens and permanent residents (NSF requirement). If accepted you will be required to show proof of citizenship or permanent residency.

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Supported by the National Science Foundation.