Building and Fire Research Laboratory

Summer Undergraduate
Research Fellowship Program

---

More Information about  the SURF Program Summer Undergraduate  Research Fellowship SURF Application

SURFing the Building and Fire Research Laboratory

Application Deadline: February 17, 2009
(Applications will be accepted pending availabilities of funds.)

The Building and Fire Research  Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology offers a 11-week Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF).

The SURF program is designed to provide hands-on research experience in building and fire research technologies. This program builds on the phenomenal success of the three other SURF programs at NIST. NIST is located just outside Washington, DC. [directions...]

Research Opportunities in BFRL

The research opportunities within BFRL include a wide range of topics from: working in nanotechnology and MEMS, measuring the performance of full scale building structures and determining the economic benefit of building choices. This work requires a diversity of specific professional background training spanning all disciplines in the physical and computer sciences. A partial list of disciplines includes: chemistry, physics, materials science, mathematics, computer science, fire science, computer engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, fire engineering, environmental engineering, economics…. For a detailed list of current research interests, please browse the Building and Fire Research website (http://www.bfrl.nist.gov)

BFRL's 2008 SURF Students                    (SURF students past...)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fellowship will include a stipend, travel, and housing allowances. Applications should be submitted by an official representative of the school.  If you have questions, contact Chris White or Chiara Ferraris.

There are SURF programs in every area of NIST.  Check out their web pages as well! Please indicate your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice of the seven programs on your application.  It will be considered by all seven, with a preference to the program applied to.  Please clearly indicate the type of research you are interested in.  This will allow us to find the best match with our mentors/projects.

Student Eligibility Criteria

• Intent to pursue a Ph.D.
• GPA of 3.0/4.0, or better.
• Must be U. S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Two letters of recommendation into the program by physical science or engineering professors/department chairs, student transcript, and letter of intent/personal statement.

Plan of Operation

• SURFers work directly with NIST Research Advisors
• SURFers participate in weekly seminar program, during which Fellows and Advisors present their research projects; SURFers also participate in extramural group activities intended to enrich the fellowship experience
• Fellows are encouraged to present their research results at National Meetings
• SURFers are encouraged, but not required to pursue their Ph.D. through NIST collaborative programs with local universities.
• Research advisors will be encouraged to visit the host colleges to discuss NIST research

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. Chris White      
NIST
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8621
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8621
Phone: (301) 975-6016
E-mail: christopher.white@nist.gov

OR

Dr. Chiara Ferraris
NIST
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8621
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8621
Phone: (301) 975-6711
E-mail: chiara.ferraris@nist.gov

Privacy Policy / Security Notice / Accessibility  |  Disclaimer  |  FOIA NIST is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce