SURFing the Materials Science & Engineering Laboratory
and the NIST Center for Neutron Research

Application Deadline: February 15

2008 Program Dates are May 27 through August 8

The Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory (MSEL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology offers a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program. This program is designed to provide hands-on research experience in Ceramics, Metallurgy, Polymers, Condensed Matter Science, and Materials Reliability. As part of the MSEL program, opportunities are also available at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR), a premiere user facility in the nation for probing the structure and dynamics of materials with cold and thermal neutrons.  Available research opportunities in the MSEL/NCNR program include:

Structural and Magnetic Properties of Nanomaterials

Processing and Micromagnetics of Thin Magnetic Films

Casting of Multicomponent Aerospace Alloys

Dislocation Imaging

Dental and Medical Materials

Thermophysical Properties of Materials at High Temperatures

Performance of Materials in Corrosive Media

Scanning Acoustic Microscopy

Solder Interconnect Engineering

Ceramic Coatings

Ceramic Processing

Electronic and Magnetic Ceramics

Mechanical Properties of Ceramics

Synchrotron Radiation Characterization

Thin Ceramic Film Characterization

Phase Equilibria Determination
Solid State Chemistry
Theory and Modeling

Electronic Packaging and Interconnection

Intelligent Processing of Materials

Metals Processing

Characterization of Protein-lipid and multi-subunit protein complexes

Characterization of DNA-binding proteins

Structure and dynamics of complex fluids

Characterization of Colloid systems

Characterization of Membrane phases

Properties of Hydrogen in Metals

Computational Chemistry

Neutron characterization of new materials

Polymer Blends and Processing

Polymer Characterization

Polymer Composites

Materials Reliability

Process Sensing and Modeling
...and many others

Further information on many of these opportunities can be obtained by looking at the descriptions of ongoing research in MSEL and NCNR research given by the National Research Council in their announcement of the NRC postdoctoral research associate program at NIST (then click on National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)), as well as the NIST publication Guide to NIST.

The Fellowship will include a $4,000 stipend for the 11 week period, in addition to travel and housing allowances. Applications must be submitted by the school; e.g., by a faculty member or other appropriate administrative staff.

In addition to "SURFing the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory/Center for Neutron Research" program there is also a SURF program in each of the other NIST Laboratories (PL, MEL, BFRL, EEEL, ITL, CSTL). Check out their web pages as well! Also check out the Main NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) homepage.

Student Eligibility Criteria

• Intent to pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering or related field
• GPA of 3.0/4.0, or better
• Must be U. S. citizen or permanent resident
• Two letters of recommendation, student transcript, and letter of intent/personal statement

Program Features

• SURFers work directly with NIST Research Advisors
• SURFers participate in a weekly research seminar program 
• Students are encouraged to present their research results at national meetings
• SURFers are encouraged to pursue their Ph.D. degree

Main NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) homepage.

Download an application and information packet then print out the required forms or call Anita Sweigert at (301)975-4200, e-mail: anita.sweigert@nist.gov.

For more information contact:

Dr. Terrell Vanderah (MSEL)
NIST
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8520
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8520
Phone: (301) 975-5785
E-mail: terrell.vanderah@nist.gov

OR

Dr. Robert Shull (MSEL)
NIST
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8552
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8552
Phone: (301) 975-6035
E-mail: robert.shull@nist.gov

OR

For more information contact:

Dr. Julie Borchers (NCNR)
NIST
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 6102
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-6102
Phone: (301) 975-6597
E-mail: julie.borchers@nist.gov

	2006 MSEL SURF Students
2005 MSEL SURF Students	2004 MSEL SURF Students
2003 MSEL SURF Students	2002 MSEL SURF Students

2001 MSEL SURF Students	2000 NIST SURF Students

1999 NIST SURF Students	1998 NIST SURF Students

MSEL home page

NCNR home page

NIST home page

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For Technical or website comments, contact MSELs webmaster.

Date created: 2/15/2001
Last updated: 11/07/2007