Williams College

Summer Research Program

Information

For decades, the Williams College physics department has had a tradition of providing summer research experiences for undergraduates. In 1991, Williams College became the first undergraduate institution in the country to be awarded a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) grant in physics from the National Science Foundation. Through a series of such grants, we provided research opportunities for students from a variety of institutions for eight summers. In recent years, with an increase in the number of Williams College students seeking such opportunities at Williams, we have shifted our focus so as to better serve our own students. We now have several research grants which together with College funds allow us to offer research positions to around ten Williams students each summer (but no longer to non-Williams students). These students, who work closely with their faculty advisors, are among 150 undergraduates doing research on campus each summer in the natural sciences and mathematics. The physics students work on a variety of projects, both experimental and theoretical, and give occasional talks on their work within the department. At the end of each summer there is a joint poster session in which all the science and math students present their results.

January 5th, 2001 Questions/Comments Webmaster