October 28, 2009
Due to a NASA policy decision regarding funding for K-12 programs, we anticipate that the High School portion of our Summer Research Program will be discontinued. In the case that funds from a non-NASA source become available, we will post that information on this website.

October 15, 2009
Please bookmark this page and check back later, we anticipate having more information available for applicants to the the Summer 2010 program available in early 2010.

Through an educational grant awarded by NASA to Northwestern University through the Illinois Space Grant Consortium we anticipate being able to offer a College Summer Research Program for outstanding undergraduates and a High School Summer Research Program for exceptionally gifted high-school students, providing students in both programs the opportunity to work closely with a professor in one of several areas of space sciences and astrophysics. Participants in our program perform real research, not cookbook activities or lessons. This program is open to students who are currently in high school or in college. It is mandatory that all participants are U.S. Citizens.

Please send any questions to William Finney, Research Program Coordinator.

All our projects here at Northwestern can provide the students with extensive computer experience with a variety of computing facilities on campus and/ or via electronic access to several off-campus supercomputer centers. We also have projects that will provide laboratory experience.

Some of the areas of current research are:

• Theoretical work on the physics of pulsars and black holes in the centers of galaxies
• Modeling of extrasolar planetary systems
• Supercomputer simulations of sources of gravitational waves
• Radio maps of the Galactic Center and star formation regions
• Optical observations related to the study of the cosmic microwave background and the intergalactic gas
• Gamma-ray observations of high energy phenomena near black holes and neutron stars
• Laboratory work to develop mirrors which can reflect X-rays
• Observations of interstellar magnetic fields
• Development of astronomical instruments for infrared and submillimeter wavelengths.