Physics Undergraduate Research
One of the great strengths of an undergraduate degree at MSUM is the opportunity to conduct faculty-mentored research. Many faculty maintain active research that involve undergraduate collaborators. With faculty permission, you can get involved in research as early as your freshman year.
Why get involved in research?
- Formulate questions, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions
- Present the results of your research to other scientists
- Strengthen your critical thinking and time-management skills
- Gain experience working as a member of a group
- Learn a variety of laboratory skills
- Learn how to teach others what you've learned
- Gain confidence in your academic and career goals
- Get to know your professors (and they will get to know you!)
What areas of research are available at MSUM?
- Astrophysics: In addition to observing the night sky at the MSUM Paul P. Feder observatory, you may use astronomical data from the national observatories located throughout the world to investigate galaxies, galaxy formation and galaxy evolution. You may also learn how to develop a computer model for the universe or galaxy formation.
- Physics: The MSUM Department of Physics and Astronomy conducts ongoing research projects in microscopy, medical imaging, robotics, nuclear magnetic resonance and studies of the Earth’s ionosphere/magnetosphere.
- Physics Education: Students with a special interest in teaching may learn how to evaluate teaching materials, such as lesson plans and simulations. You may also participate in outreach projects, develop planetarium shows and create outreach equipment kits needed by local schools.