We encourage all students to gain research experience in Physics, regardless of their specific academic focus. Gaining insights into research methodology affords a unique perspective into how only how "the scientific method" operates in practice, but also into how Physics operates as an enterprise in critical thinking.
Student Research
- Isaac Robbins '18: "Creating Educational Aids Using Engineering Processes."
- Joseph Schnaubelt '18: "Rubidium Spectroscopy and Applications in Laser Optics."
- Ichiro Narita '18 and Nasir Ellison '18: "Using Seismic Analysis to Find Structural Designs Against Earthquakes."
- Jordan Couttien '18: "Exploring the Limitations of a 3-D Printed Acoustic Violin."
- Jon Snyder '15 and Mara Zimmerman '16: "Determining Physical Parameters of Eclipsing Binary Systems Containing Delta Scuti Pulsating Variable Stars."
Research Possibilities
- On-campus over the summer with Juniata faculty - Laser physics; Optical trapping; Observational astronomy; Microfluidics
- Off-campus at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona - Observational astronomy research with the 31-inch NURO telescope
- Off-campus with Juniata faculty at Pacific Northwest National Laboratories (PNNL) in Hanford, Washington - Radiological detection supporting national security efforts
- Off-campus research at other sites. Recent students have conducted research at:
National labs, including Jefferson Labs, Virginia; National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland; Pacific Northwest National Labs (PNNL) in Hanford, Washington and Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Academic sites, including Rochester, the Pennsylvania State University, Duke University and University of Washington. - Students with interdisciplinary interests coupling Physics with a second academic area have earned prestigious summer internships at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI); and other sites.
- Students may also do research during the academic year, either on a volunteer basis or for credit. We encourage students to propose projects investigating a problem of interest to them in physics or engineering.
- To develop their speaking and professional skills, we strongly encourage students who conduct research to present their research work publicly. We offer a number of opportunities to do so, including our Physics Seminar course; local, regional and national physics and astronomy conferences; and the annual National Conference on Undergraduate Research.
Available Projects
- Dr. Matthew M. Beaky - observational astronomy
- Dr. James D. Borgardt - radiological detection
- Dr. Mark Pearson - optical trapping
- Dr. James D. White - laser spectroscopy and quantum optics