Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program

The newly formed Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology offers a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program. The program is designed to provide hands-on experience with the development and productive use of nanotechnology from discovery to production. Located just outside Washington, DC, available research opportunities include:

Nanomagnetics
Atomic scale characterization and fabrication
Nanoscale measurement and fabrication using laser-controlled atoms
Advanced FIB development
Characterization of nanophotonic devices
Transport in nanoscale devices
Scanned force microscopy
Scanning tunneling microscopy
Diblock copolymers
Nanoparticle assembly
Metrology for electron-beam lithography
Advanced electron-beam resist development
Metrology for directed assembly
Modeling nanostructures in mesoscopic environments
Related theory
  —and many others

For more information about many of these opportunities see the CNST website, the NRC postdoctoral descriptions at NIST, or the NIST publication Guide to NIST.

The Fellowship will include a stipend, and travel and housing allowances. Note that applications for participation in the SURF program are only accepted through participating colleges or universities, and not from individual students.

In addition to the CNST SURF program, there are also SURF programs in the other NIST laboratories (PL, MEL, BFRL, EEEL, ITL, CSTL). Since programs frequently overlap, check out these websites as well. Please indicate your 1st and 2nd choices of the seven programs on your application. Your application will be considered by all seven programs, with a preference to the two programs you indicated.

A list of Frequently Asked Questions is available that may be of assistance in preparing your application package.

Student Eligibility Criteria

• Intent to pursue a Ph.D. in nanoscale science or technology
• GPA of 3.0/4.0, or better.
• Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident at a U.S. academic institution.
• Two letters of recommendation into the program by physics, chemistry or engineering professors/department chairs, student transcript, and letter of intent/personal statement.

Plan of Operation

• SURFers work directly with NIST Research Advisors;
• SURFers participate in a weekly seminar program and in extramural activities intended to enrich the fellowship experience
• SURFers give talks related to their NIST research projects;
• SURFers are encouraged to present their research results at national meetings;
• SURFers are encouraged to pursue their Ph.D. degree.

Visit the main NIST SURF website for more information or to download the application package.

Contacts:

For application materials: Anita Sweigert NIST 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8400 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8400 Tel: 301-975-4200 Fax: 301-975-3038 Email: sweigert@nist.gov

For technical information: John Unguris NIST 100 Bureau Drive, MS 6202 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-6202 Tel: 301-975-3712 Fax: 301-926-2746 Email: john.unguris@nist.gov

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Online: November 2007
Last Updated: November 2007

Website comments: epgwebmaster@nist.gov