The Physics and Astronomy Department at Union College offers a vibrant research program for students. This Summer is set to be no different as the department has already revealed many potential research opportunities for students. It is a long-standing tradition of the department to hold weekly colloquiums (typically on Thursdays of every week) where speakers from other institutions or Union College present their research to students and faculty alike. In one such session held in early January, the department introduced students to the research projects that would be available in the summer. 

The potential projects span across a diverse range of sub-fields. From Quantum Mechanics to Astrophysics to Biophysics. Most students likely ought to find something that piques their interest. Furthermore, the projects also vary between Theoretical and Experimental work in the respective sub-fields. For instance, one project is aimed at modeling the dynamics of rotating stars while another one is aimed at exploring the relationship between Classical Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics. The research experience is further deepened by the requirement of drafting a research proposal which must be approved by a committee. Most research programs have a duration of six weeks but some of them go about to eight weeks. During this time, the research students hold regular meetings with their research supervisors, work with Laboratory Equipment, work with software, or perform elaborate calculations. Many of these projects result in the publication of a paper in an established journal.

In addition to College research fellowships, there are also several external Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) to which upper-class students usually apply. This allows undergraduates to apply to prestigious institutions such as Los Alamos in New Mexico. Thus, there are several opportunities to gain headway into research in the upcoming Summer Break.