Research Experience for Undergraduates in Physics

University Of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign, Urbana IL

Investigators

Abstract

The University of Illinois Department of Physics Research Experiences for Undergraduates program provides research opportunities in a variety of physics sub-fields. About half of the participants are from colleges and universities other than UIUC, and the other half are Illinois students participating in our senior thesis course sequence, although all participants are involved in the same activities. Activities outside the laboratory focus on communication skills and expose participants to a wide variety of physics disciplines. During the ten-week program, students are required to give oral presentations and write a journal-style paper about their research project. Workshops are conducted on how to give effective presentations, how to write a scientific paper, and ethical conduct of research (new in Summer 2003). Participants attend weekly lunch meetings with a faculty member, who discusses recent progress and open problems in his or her research area. Optional social activities and field trips are also arranged.