Information for current and prospective undergraduate researchers interested in the JHU CARE program
For JHU undergraduates interested in summer research opportunities in astronomy:
— Do not wait until the summer! Do: Explore the website for the Center for Astrophysical Sciences. Contact faculty and postdoctoral advisors whose research you are interested in. Discuss with them possible research projects and summer funding opportunities well in advance of the summer. It is common for students to explore their research opportunities in the fall semester, start the actual research project in the spring semester, before committing to continuing over the summer.
— Do: explore internal funding opportunities listed here https://research.jhu.edu/hour/, such as STAR, a new funding opportunity which is specifically designed to support summer internships at JHU for JHU undergraduates. Research groups in Physics and Astronomy have excellent track record of receiving PURA and DURA awards.
— Do: explore external funding opportunities. Remember that many applications are due 6 months or more before the internship can begin, so plan accordingly. For example, we successfully obtained funding from the Maryland Space Grant Consortium to support two research internships. (These particular applications cannot be made by the students directly; they have to be made by the research advisors. Therefore, in successful cases, students were matched to advisors in winter, well in time to enable a successful funding application).
— Do: ask your prospective summer advisor what skills you may be able to develop before the summer begins to have a more successful research experience. For example, many students working in observational astronomy would find it very useful to get advance training in the python computing language.
For undergraduates at universities that are members of the Maryland Space Grant Consortium:
— JHU CARE hosted several students from the member institutions of the Maryland Space Grant Consortium in Summer 2017, funded by the MD Space Grant. Applications should be made by the students directly to the Maryland Space Grant Consortium, and applicants indicate that they are interested in holding their internship at JHU. Successful applicants are then matched to JHU advisors based on their preferences and availability of projects.
For undergraduates at other universities:
— 80% of undergraduate physics majors at JHU graduate with research experience, many of them in astrophysics. Therefore, the demand for undergraduate research projects and funding by JHU students is extremely high in our department. As a result, in general we are unable to accept requests to participate in JHU CARE.
— That said, on occasion we have hosted externally funded students from other universities. Students who have external support for the summer and an interest to conduct their research at JHU should contact their prospective advisor directly, indicating external funding availability. In most cases a recommendation or an endorsement by their current academic advisor is highly desired.