Conducting research and/or being an intern as an undergraduate student is an excellent way to build experience to add to your resume or CV. You may create conference presentations or be listed as an author on scientific publications, which will make you more attractive to graduate programs. It is is also a great way to discover what you want to use your degree for after graduation. 

Check out the CU APS undergraduate research, internship, & scholarship opportunities page and CU Physics undergraduate research page in addition to this page for more advice and information.

Areas of Physics and APS

Opportunities in APS and physics are categorized under many subareas and types. Before looking for research and internship opportunities, it is a good idea to think about what you want to study in your field.

Physics subareas

Physics is broadly divided into theoretical and experimental categories. Theoretical physicists use mathematical and computational tools to make physical predictions, while experimental physicists conduct experiments and analyze data to probe the physical world. When exploring opportunities, consider whether you would prefer to spend the majority of your time programming and/or solving problems by hand (theoretical physics) or performing laboratory experiments and/or analyzing large sets of data (experimental physics). While many groups only study theoretical physics or experimental physics, some groups do both.

Under the theoretical and experimental categories, there are many more subareas that describe the type of physics researched. To learn more about these subtypes, check out the list and descriptions on the CU Physics research page. It is also a great idea to attend some CU Physics colloquia to get a sense of the current research going on in different subareas.

APS subareas

APS, like physics, is categorized by subarea. Check out the CU APS topics of research page to read about the subareas that are being actively researched at CU. It may also be useful to attend some CU APS colloquia to learn more about the active research going on in the subareas of APS.

Opportunities

Research groups at CU

At research universities like CU Boulder, many professors lead research groups in addition to teaching. These research groups are generally comprised of undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. Undergraduate students in the group can contribute to research projects by conducting laboratory experiments, analyzing data, computationally simulating processes, performing calculations, and more. There are opportunities to work flexible hours during the school year and part-time or full-time opportunities during the summer.

The CU APS faculty page and CU Physics faculty page are excellent places to find research groups. The physics page has filtering options by theory/experiment and subarea. There are also lists of groups by research subarea on the CU APS topics of research page and the CU Physics research page. Also, check the CU APS research Opportunities page for faculty that are currently looking for undergraduate researchers.

If you find a research group that you are interested in joining, send the professor a formal email to inquire about research opportunities for undergraduates in the group. Include information about your interests and why the group might be a good fit, and attach your transcript and CV.

If a professor is interested in hiring you after you contact them, they will probably schedule an in-person meeting. To prepare, read some recent publications from the professor and look through their research website (usually linked from the faculty webpages). Building knowledge on the research projects in the group can show initiative and enthusiasm. The professor may also consider your grades and any special skills that could be useful (for example, shop experience or programming experience). If your GPA is under a 3.0, APS strongly recommends that you focus on improving your grades before attempting to take on a research position.

Opportunities on campus outside of aps/physics

In addition to the many research groups hosted by the APS and physics departments, there are many research and internship opportunities in other on-campus programs and departments. Some major affiliated programs include:

Some other departments to consider include:

For a complete list, see the CU APS affiliated institutions and organizations page and the CU Physics undergraduate research page. 

Funding and credit options for on-campus opportunities

Course credit

If you join a research group, you can earn course credit for the research. You can fill out a form to take an independent study course (ASTR 4840/4841 or PHYS 4840/4850) to earn 1 course credit per semester for 5-6 hours of research work per week. This is a good option if you need additional elective course credit to graduate, as it can ease the burden of taking an extra class; however, you cannot be paid for your research if you are earning course credit in this way. Be sure to check the CU course catalog to verify that an independent study will fill the credit requirements that you need.

Funding/income

If you need income to support yourself and/or have enough course credits, you should try to be paid for your research. One great option is applying for a University Research Opportunities Program (UROP) assistantship or individual grant. The deadline is in mid-February. If you aren't able to get a UROP grant, talk to the professor that you are working with or are interested in working with- they may have funding available for the undergraduates in their group.

Honors thesis

Students with GPA's above a 3.3 can use their research to complete an undergraduate honors thesis while being paid or earning course credit (although the actual writing process is not paid). If you choose to do this, you will have to write a thesis (a large paper summarizing your research) and defend your thesis orally in front of a committee of professors. In physics, you will also need to take the honors course PHYS 4610/4620/4630. If you succeed in writing and defending your thesis, you will earn Latin Honors based on your grade-point average, which looks great on a resume or CV. Note that in physics, students with a GPA above a 3.0 can do an honors thesis, but must have a 3.3 in most cases to earn Latin Honors.

Local opportunities

In addition to the on-campus programs at CU, there are local programs that may hire undergraduates. Some major local programs include:

For more, see the CU APS affiliated institutions and organizations page and the CU Physics undergraduate research page. 

External Opportunities

Many students participate in research opportunities outside of Colorado, especially during the summer. Applying to summer programs is a great way to build connections and learn about the research going on beyond CU. Some institutes and organizations to consider include:

As always, see the CU APS affiliated institutions and organizations page and the CU Physics undergraduate research page for more programs.

National Science Foundation- Research Experience for Undergraduates

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. Through the REU program, NSF supports undergraduate students (room and board included with additional stipend) to conduct research at one of many institutions around the United States and beyond. The NSF REU search site has links and information about these many programs. Most programs require the following to apply:

  • Letter of Recommendation (2-3)

  • Short essay about your career goals and interests

  • Official Transcript

Applications for REU programs are typically due in January-March for the following summer.

While we work hard to keep this website up to date, some details may slip through the cracks, so always verify important information (e.g. requirements, deadlines) with the source websites linked. If you find anything false or outdated, please send an email to brittney.washington@colorado.edu