Summer Physics Opportunities
Summer undergraduate physics opportunities are available in basic research, applied research, engineering, public science policy, and more. Many of these programs have common traits:
- Work alongside faculty, senior researchers, and graduate students
- 8-12 week program lengths
- $3,000-$6,000 summer stipends
- Open to students that have not yet graduated
- Social activities and field trips to other facilities
- Application due dates ranging from October through February
Most applications are online and require at least the following:- A statement about your future plans and how the program will benefit you
- College transcript
- One or more letters of recommendation
The possible opportunities listed below are definitely NOT exhaustive. There are certainly many more programs and internships you can find by searching the internet. Also note that some of these sites may not yet be updated for the upcoming summer.
Help!
Programs, internships and other undergraduate physics opportunities
National Science Foundation (NSF):
- Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
- Research in all areas of science and engineering
- Hundreds of locations, separate application necessary for each program
- NSF-REU
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST):
- Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
- Research in physics, engineering, electronics, information technology, and more
- Two locations (Gaithersburg, MD and Boulder CO), with separate applications
- SURF-NIST Gaithersburg
- SURF-NIST Boulder
Department of Energy (DOE) programs:
- Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (DOE-SULI)
- Research in particle, nuclear, plasma, applied physics; also environmental science, materials science, chemistry, mathematical modeling, and science policy.
- 17 host locations at National Labs and facilities, single application site for all
- DOE-SULI
- Several DOE labs have their own programs in addition (but very similar) to the DOE-SULI program.
- Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) Summer Internships in Science and Technology
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) [email protected]
- National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Professional Internship Program
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Research Participant Program
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) National Undergraduate Fellowship
- Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) internship page
- Department of Energy (DOE) Scholars
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) The ORAU page has multiple listings of internships at DOE labs and facilities, as well as other government agencies
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA):
- Internships in astronomy, instrumentation, engineering, and more
- Several locations across the country
- NASA Internships and Fellowships
Other programs (not part of NSF-REU, NIST, NASA, or DOE):
- Research Experience in Solid Earth Sciences for Students (RESESS)
- Big 10 Student Research Opportunity Program (SROP)
- Society of Physics Students (SPS) Summer Internships Public policy and science outreach
- Caltech Student-Faculty Programs Caltech, in Pasadena CA, has several of their own summer programs, similar to REUs
Industry related programs:
- American Association of Physicists in Medicine
- IBM Research Internships
- 3M Internships
- Medtronic Student Opportunities
- Honeywell Career Center for Graduates and Students
- MHTA SciTechsperience – internship program for small and medium-sized Minnesota companies
Programs that might have openings for non-US citizens
There are definitely more possibilities than just the list below – be sure to look at other programs as well (especially the REUs). If a website is not clear on citizenship requirements, try sending an email to the program’s contact person for clarification.
- http://students.llnl.gov/
- National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Professional Internship Program
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Research Participant Program
- IBM Research Internships
- Caltech Student-Faculty Programs
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) There is a link to the “Zintellect” catalog with an option to narrow the search to programs that allow non-US citizens to apply.
More lists worth looking through for other options:
College of Saint Benedict
Saint John’s University
Jim Crumley
Chair, Physics Department
SJU PEngl 107
Physics Department
320-363-3183