Summer studies
The Division of Particle and Nuclear Physics participates in several programmes for undergraduate students during the summer. Typically, the programmes offer students paid or subsidised internships to work on research projects, accompanied by lecture or seminar series.
Three major programmes are offered by the CERN, DESY, and FAIR-GSI laboratories. They are carried out at the places of the accelerators in Switzerland and Germany. The students in these programmes follow lectures in particle and nuclear physics and conduct a project under the supervision of a scientist or engineer at the respective laboratory. The Division also participates in Google Summer of Code, which often offers coding projects with particle physics content.
For all summer student programmes it should be noted that the application process can be somewhat time consuming. It often involves the student either developing a project together with a senior scientist, or at least get letters of recommendation. If you are interested in summer studentships, you are therefore advised to prepare well in advance of deadlines, which are given at the pages below. Note, for example, that for letters of recommendation, you should allow time for the letter to be written.
CERN Summer Student Program
The CERN summer student programs offers unique opportunities for undergraduate students in physics, computing and engineering to join in the day-to-day work in research teams participating in experiments at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. Deadline for application is typically in January, and students need a recommendation from a senior scientist they know well.
DESY summer student programs
Each summer DESY offers undergraduate students in physics and related science disciplines the possibility to participate in the research activities of the laboratory. These activities and programs are held in the place of DESY corporation in Hamburg, Germany. Deadline for application is typically in January, and students need letters of reference from a senior scientist.
The GSI-FAIR summer student programme
Each summer FAIR-GSI offers undergraduate students in physics and related science disciplines the possibility to participate in the research activities of the laboratory. These activities and programs are held at the FAIR-GSI centre in Darmstadt, Germany. Deadline for application is typically in January, and students need recommendation letters from a senior scientist.
The Google summer of Code program
Each summer, Google offers a program where students can contribute to Open Source code projects. Google provides a stipend for selected students. The HEP software foundation offers projects around high energy physics and related areas. Students are encouraged to develop their applications together with potential supervisors.