Undergraduate Program
Junior Matters
Senior Matters
Important Dates - Jr & Sr
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Research Opportunities for Undergraduates
The Princeton system of independent study lends itself very well
to the Physics Department, where
faculty outnumber undergraduate students
and where exciting opportunities are always available in world-renowned
research groups. Princeton physics majors do research in their independent
work and, if they want, over the summer.
Formal Research Requirements for the Physics Major
In each semester of the junior year, physics majors write a
junior paper" on a topic of current interest. These papers are
often the first exposure to journal articles in physics and
academic research. Each junior paper is prepared under the close
supervision of a faculty member and provides an opportunity for
stimulating discussions on the topic chosen by the student. For more details, see
Junior Matters.
In the senior year, each physics major does a senior thesis: an
original research project on a topic chosen by the student in
consultation with a faculty adviser. Senior thesis projects span
the range of activities in physics research from constructing
experimental apparatus, to running an experiment, to analyzing
data, to developing computer simulations, to theoretical
analyses. Thesis topics on science teaching, history of science, and
philosophy of science are also encouraged, as well as interdisciplinary
projects with the other science departments. Projects are often done
in the research areas of the Department - from particle physics
to astrophysics. A student wishing to do an interdisciplinary thesis
may need an adviser in another department to provide the expertise in
the related field, as well as a physics department adviser to oversee
the physics aspects of the thesis. Each thesis culminates with a written
document (sometimes submitted for publication) and an oral
examination covering the main points of the thesis. For more details, see
Senior Matters.
Other Physics Department Research Opportunities
You may become involved with research as early as
you want. The summer between the
first and second years finds several students in Princeton
working with research groups in the department. More students
become involved in later summers, and some students continue
during the academic year.
Undergraduate researchers contribute in
just about all the labs in the department. Students design
optical pumping systems, analyze
the data from high energy physics experiments conducted at
CERN,
SLAC,
KEK and
Fermilab, explore the physical mechanisms of high
temperature superconductivity, build probes of the cosmic
microwave background, help
design solar neutrino experiments (projects which can involve
trips to research facilities in Italy), and conduct theoretical
research.
Summer research positions are arranged informally, with students meeting
with individual faculty members. If you are interested, don't hesitate to
ask! Start with any faculty member to get leads. You should prepare a brief
summary of your background to bring with you. It should contain information
useful to a potential employer: how to reach you, relevant courses you have
taken, and any skills or experience (programming, etc.) you may have.
You are also required to fill out an online application and bring a copy of your CV to the department office.
Consider also research opportunities elsewhere -- many
national laboratories run summer internship programs. Check out their websites.
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