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Internships and Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Student involvement in faculty research projects is strongly encouraged. This emphasis on applied knowledge provides a unique learning opportunity which is very different from the traditional classroom or laboratory experience. Typically, students work on a part-time basis for a semester or two with a faculty member in their area of specialty.

For example, students can work in the Far Infrared (FIR) Laser Laboratory, photographed on page (), which houses several homemade lasers including a 13-foot direct discharge molecular laser and an optically pumped molecular laser system, consisting of either a 4.5 and a 6.5 foot Carbon Dioxide (CO2) laser and FIR cavity. Many students, working with Drs. Jackson and Sudhakaran have received valuable training in laser technology. The wavelength of the laser light is fixed and depends on the source gas. Projects in this vary from recording high resolution spectra of molecules in the FIR region using the Stark effect technique to discovering new optically pumped laser emissions and their properties. By analyzing the results from this work, new information pertaining to the molecules under investigation is obtained.

Students interested in astrophysics can work with Dr. Sallmen on a variety of projects. All are currently related to the interstellar medium (ISM). One uses data obtained for the SETI@home project to search for neutral hydrogen shells in our galaxy. A related project involves follow-up optical observations of these shells using the 0.9m Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO). A separate project uses analysis of archival radio pulsar data to investigate the properties of the ISM. Finally, several related projects use NASA's Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) satellite to study hot gas in the ISM. Further information may be found here.

Students can work with Dr. Colton. He conducts experimental research using optical methods to probe properties of electrons in semiconductors.

Students can investigate wave propagation and scattering in Composite Materials with Dr. Pillai. This research involves both computational and experimental studies of composite materials using air coupled ultrasonic waves. Currently the modeling of defects and their influence on elastic wave scattering are being developed using 3 networked Ultra 10 Sun Solaris Workstations.

Students can work with Dr. Ragan. He conducts theoretical research on spin transport in quantum fluids and solids, and computational research in biomechanics. Further information may be found on his home page.

Working with faculty mentors, undergraduate researchers have received research grants and fellowships, co-authored journal articles, and presented at national conferences. The University and College of Science and Allied Health strongly support undergraduate research by providing summer research stipends, travel and supply funds, and by publishing an undergraduate research journal.

Students can also work in the UW-La Crosse planetarium, where numerous presentations are conducted throughout the year. Several UW-L graduates have become planetarium directors.