Getting Involved in Research
Overview
Dr. S. is active in several areas of astrophysics. See the
Main Website for Dr. S. for an
overview and links to further details.
Interested students can work on a variety of projects.
All are currently related to the interstellar medium (ISM).
How do I get involved
That's easy! Come talk to Dr. S. and say you're interested!
What would I be doing?
UW-L undergraduate students have done the following, receiving
credit and/or grant funding for their efforts:
- Searched for neutral hydrogen shells in the 21-cm radio data, making
basic measurements of newly discovered objects.
- Measured the expansion velocity and distance for shells.
- Put together all available information on particular shells to
learn about their history.
- Reduced and analyzed H-alpha images of interstellar shells
- Accompanied me to Kitt Peak National Observatory to acquire
H-alpha imaging data
- Wrote software to simulate planetary transit light curves
- Worked on using pulsars to probe the ISM
- Analyzed FUSE far-UV spectra to study the hot gas in our Galaxy
What would I gain?
Undergraduate research gives you the opportunity to learn about the
process of research -- it is rarely as linear as course-based learning.
Participating in research provides the opportunity to really "sink your
teeth" into something.
During these projects, you will:
- become familiar with the astronomer's operating system (Linux), and
other computer skills appropriate to the
project.
- gain deeper knowledge of certain astronomy/astrophysics topics
- develop the ability to independently trouble-shoot and learn new skills
on your own and figure out the next step based on how things are going.
- improve your organizational skills as you manage a large, long-term project
Eventually, you'll have the opportunity to communicate your project - its
goals, procedures and results. Students have presented at:
- events for the College of Science and Health
- the UW-L Celebration of Research and Creativity
- the Wisconsin Space Conference
- the Seven Rivers Undergraduate Reesearch Symposium
- the National Conference on Undergraduate Research
- American Astronomical Society national meetings
These are all skills that will serve you well in your future, no matter
what you end up doing!
And if that wasn't enough, you can receive course credit for research
during the school year, and can often obtain a stipend for summer research
activities.
Most of my students who were interested have successfully
applied for and received funding.
I can get credit for this?
Undergraduate research students are encouraged to enroll in PHY 498 --
Astronomy Research, a course designed to introduce and incorporate students
into some of the research opportunities described here.
Yeah, credit is nice, but Show Me the $$$!
Funding for research is available from a variety of sources.
Students may apply for funding through various UW-L, College, and External
programs. For example:
Certain projects may, at times, also be funded through external agencies.
Astronomy Research Opportunities away from UW-L
For those wishing to pursue astronomical research elsewhere, related
opportunities are available through:
Note that this list is likely to be incomplete.