ROFU
Research Opportunities for Undergraduates
Research Opportunities:
This page will provide undergraduates with information on research positions, as described by U.F. faculty who are looking for students.
Why should I do research?
Not only is research fun and rewarding, but it provides the other half-spectrum of education:
the education not found in textbooks or in the classroom. You get to nourish your practical problem solving ability as you build a close relationship with mentors. A higher percentage of students with undergraduate research experience stay in physics, and graduate schools want research experience more these days. Lastly, funding for your research can be made easy with domestic and overseas scholarships.
Ways to get involved in research include:
 Paying attention to current research activity (not just in exams)!
Join SPS (get free "Physics Today" magazine to read)
Come to the Department colloquia
Come to ROFU meetings
Don’t be shy to directly talk to professors
 Research with Dr. David Micha:
Two undergraduate research positions are open in the group of Prof. David
Micha, to work on theoretical and computational methods and applications
in Chemical Physics. The present focus is on the calculation of
properties of new materials useful in the capture and conversion of solar
energy. Systems of interest are nanostructured semiconductor surfaces.
More information may be found in his web pages (www.qtp.ufl.edu/~micha)
Interested students should have knowledge of mathematical methods and
computational utilities as needed to do modeling with quantum mechanics.
Ideally the students should have had an introduction to quantum theory and
some knowledge of molecular structure. Some of the needed subjects could
be learned during research.
A student joining the group will register for Individual Research (CHM
4905 or PHY 4905) and will receive partial support for tuition and for
travel to research conferences. In addition it would be possible for
him/her to work as a student assistant with an hourly pay. The student
should be able to commit to at least two semesters (coming Summer and
Fall) of work.
If interested, please contact by e-mail, phone, or stop by in person.
- Contact info:
Dr. David Micha, University of Florida, NPB 2318
Email : micha@qtp.ufl.edu
Fax : 352-392-6977
 Research with Dr. Heather Ray:
The following information must be submitted by the start of December:
- Three letters of reference from past professors or employers. Letters are intended to show that you are a mature, responsible person, who takes pride in their work, works hard, and can be relied on. They should also convey some sense of enthusiasm or interest in research/physics. You can submit letters of reference from professors in non-physics classes. You can also submit letters of reference from a class in which your letter grade was not stellar, but your interaction with the professor indicated you were highly motivated and interested in the topic at hand.
- You do not need to submit transcripts or grade reports.
- Submit a 1 page statement of interest. I want to know what types of things interest you in physics, what you find interesting about neutrino physics (why you want to work for me vs. someone else), and what your long term plans are in general. These points will help me to determine which project/analysis is best for you. Answers like: " I don't know what I want to do yet as a career; I'd like to try several things out." are perfectly acceptable and will not remove you in any way from consideration for a position. I prefer you be straightforward and honest, above all else.
- Positions start in Spring 2008 semester (i.e. January '08).
- You will be paid the standard student rate.
- You are expected to work 10 hours a week (if you are not taking independent study), or 20 hours a week if you are.
- Summer employment is contingent upon the students performance during the Spring '08 semester (this means the students enthusiasm/work ethic, not your class scores).
 Research with Dr. Ivan Furic:
Information coming soon.
Contact info:
Dr. I. Furic / University of Florida
Email : ikfuric@phys.ufl.edu
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