NRAO SUMMER STUDENT RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS

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What and Where is the NRAO?

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by scientists from around the world. We are also involved in cutting edge astronomical research, and in the design, development and manufacture of radio astronomy instrumentation and telescopes; NRAO receivers are deployed from the South Pole to beyond the Moon. We are also involved in cutting edge astronomical research, and in the design, development and manufacture of radio astronomy instrumentation and telescopes; NRAO receivers are deployed from the South Pole to beyond the Moon. The NRAO manages facilities for radio astronomical research in New Mexico, Virginia, and West Virginia, and is involved in building the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. Our site in Socorro, New Mexico, hosts the NRAO Very Large Array (VLA) and ALMA Test Interferometer, and is the operations center for the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). Green Bank, West Virginia, is the site of the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT), the world's largest fully steerable single aperture telescope. Charlottesville, Virginia, is the site for both the North American ALMA Science Center, located on the Grounds of the University of Virginia (UVa), and the NRAO Technological Center, which is heavily involved in radio instrumentation and radio telescope design. Maps and directions to NRAO sites are found at http://www.nrao.edu/directions/.

Radio astronomy is the study of astronomical objects through radiation emitted at radio wavelengths (wavelengths longer than about 1mm, or frequencies lower than about 300 GHz). For more information, the NRAO has an introduction to Radio Astronomy; JPL has produced a useful Primer, and MIT Haystack Observatory has an instructive Radio Astronomy Tutorial. Two on-line courses on Radio Astronomy are available: Essential Radio Astronomy by J.J. Condon and S.M. Ransom of NRAO and Physics728, Radio Astronomy by Dale Gary (NJIT dept. of Physics).

The NRAO has conducted a summer student research program since 1959, with over 930 participants to date. Each NRAO summer student conducts research under the supervision of an NRAO staff member at one of three NRAO sites ( Socorro, New Mexico; Green Bank, West Virginia; Charlottesville, Virginia), on a project in the supervisor's area of expertise. The project may involve any aspect of astronomy, including original research, instrumentation, telescope design, astronomical site evaluation or astronomical software development. Supervisor's choose their own student candidates from all applications received, and the site to which a summer student is assigned depends on the location of the NRAO supervisor who chose them. Students are encouraged to review the webpages of NRAO staff for an idea of the types of research being conducted at the NRAO. On their application, students may request to work with a specific staff member or to work on a specific scientific topic, or to work at a specific site.

The program runs from 10-12 weeks over the summer, from early June to mid-August. At the end of the summer, participants present their research results in a student seminar and submit a written report. Often, these projects result in publications in scientific journals. Financial support is available for students to present their summer research at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society, generally at the winter meeting following their appointment.

Besides their research, students take part in other activities, including a number of social events and excursions (Socorro students travel to Apache Point Observatory and Sunspot; Green Bank and Charlottesville students swap visits), as well as an extensive summer lecture series which covers aspects of radio astronomy and astronomical research. Students also collaborate on their own observational projects using the VLA, VLBA and/or GBT. Information on pervious summer student research projects are available at the following links:

• Table of past summer students, projects, and NRAO advisors (available for 1991-present)
• Brief Summaries of Research Projects (text only) (available for 1994-present)
• Program Reports (project summaries, activities, lecture series, photos from each of the sites): 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995
• Bibliography for NRAO summer students (from 1991 on)
• Many former NRAO summer students have gone on to distinguished careers in astronomy and the physical sciences. Our listing of former NRAO summer students who remained in astronomy, 1959-2006 (pdf) includes such notable people as Space Shuttle Astronaut Steve Hawley (1973/1974) and Cornell Astronomer Martha Haynes.

• The NRAO Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program is for undergraduates who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. It is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program.

• The NRAO Undergraduate Summer Student Research Assistantship program is for undergraduate students or graduating college seniors who are citizens, are from an accredited U.S. Undergraduate Program, or otherwise eligible to work in the United States. This program primarily supports students or research projects which do not meet the REU guidelines, such as graduating college seniors, some foreign undergraduate students, or projects involving pure engineering or computer programming.

• The NRAO Graduate Summer Student Research Assistantship program is for graduate students who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States, enrolled in an accredited U.S. Graduate Program, or otherwise eligible to work in the United States.

Students who are interested in Astronomy and have a background in Astronomy, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, and/or Math are preferred. The same on-line application form (available November 2008) and application process is used for all three programs.

Students based in Green Bank live in on-site Observatory housing. At the other sites, students are expected to arrange their own lodging, with assistance from the NRAO if needed. Housing resources are listed in the site specific information available from the "Information for Prospective Students" website. Travel expenses to and from the NRAO site will be reimbursed, up to a maximum of $800. Up to seven days lodging will be reimbursed, up to a maximum of $200, while the student is looking for a place to live.

1. Completed application form using the on-line application form.
2. Copies of transcripts (official or unofficial) from all colleges or universities you attended. Please send copies (via email or regular mail) of your transcripts to us at sstudents at nrao dot edu or NRAO Summer Student Program, SAA, 520 Edgemont Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903-2475. Transcripts sent via email in PDF format are preferred.
3. Letters of recommendation from three people who can evaluate your ability, experience, and potential, using the form at http://www.nrao.edu/php/students/references.php.

All questions should be directed to: sstudents at nrao dot edu

• Other NRAO Student Programs: These include the NRAO pre-doc program, co-op programs, and graduate student internships.
• Other NSF REU programs: NSF maintains REU programs for a broad range of disciplines.
• "Summer Employment Opportunities" list from the AAS Career Services page , including their Summer Opportunities page. This list will serve as a comprehensive source of all summer employment opportunities, especially for observatory programs, undergraduate opportunities, and graduate fellowship positions.
• A more general list of Undergraduate Research Opportunities, including a listing of summer research positions, is maintained by Dr. Joe Tenn of the Sonoma State University Department of Physics and Astronomy.
• NASA Undergraduate Student Research Program
• Summer Astronomy Camp Sponsored by the University of Arizona Alumni Association.
• High School Astronomy Programs: The NRAO does not have a formal program for high school students. Here is a brief list of High School programs we are aware of:
  • The Thacher School Summer Science Program.
  • Earthwatch/Durfee Foundation Student Challenge Awards Program.
  • MIT & Caltech's Research Science Institute.
  • MIT's Educational Studies Program.
  • MIT's Minority Introduction to Engeineering program.