Northwestern University Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics

January 2012
We are now accepting applications for the Summer of 2012, but at this time no NASA funding has been committed for the Summer of 2012

In anticipation of continued funding of an educational grant awarded by NASA to Northwestern University through the Illinois Space Grant Consortium, we are now accepting applications for our College Summer Research Program for outstanding undergraduates. The program provides an opportunity for college students to work with a professor in one of several areas of space sciences and astrophysics. It is open to students who are currently in college and who are U.S. Citizens (mandatory).

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

No application form is required; instead the applicant should submit contact information including telephone, e-mail and a postal address, a transcript, a 1-2 page letter describing his/her interests and science-related experience outside the formal college program, and have two letters of recommendation sent to:

Prof. M.P. Ulmer College Summer Program Department of Physics and Astronomy	Fax: 847-491-3135
Northwestern University	E-mail inquiries to: Raymond Bailey
2131 Tech Drive	Web site:
Evanston, IL 60208-2900	http://ciera.northwestern.edu

The application deadline for the Summer of 2012 is Friday, February 17^th, 2012.

Summer stipends for selected students are anticipated to be $5,000 for college students. This is for a minimum of ten weeks of work. The exact period is flexible, but it should be between approximately June 15 and September 15. Travel expenses to and from Evanston are also anticipated to be covered, but housing costs are not covered.

January 2012
Due to a NASA policy decision regarding funding for K-12 programs, we regret to inform you 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.

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.