The University of Maryland’s Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, with support from the National Science Foundation, is offering exciting research opportunities for undergraduate students in the broad area of nonlinear dynamics. Students from a variety of universities and backgrounds typically work in teams of two or three for 10 weeks during the summer and are supervised jointly by faculty members and graduate students. The program begins June 4 and ends August 10, 2018.
Research projects will be theoretical, experimental, or both. Examples of research topics are: experimental studies of nonlinear systems – turbulence and flows; theoretical and computational studies of magnetic reconnection and the dynamics of energetic particles; nonlinear dynamics in charged particle beam systems; synchronization patterns in optoelectronic networks; the dynamics of soft matter, granular matter, and biomaterials; theoretical and computational studies of emergence in nonlinear dynamics; optical nonlinearity in topological systems; motion guidance for underwater vehicles using autonomous control and oceanographic models with forecast uncertainty; and dynamics of living cells.
A number of events will be sponsored during the summer to enhance the learning experience, including a weekly seminar series on a wide range of topics, the production of a multimedia communication piece for a general audience, and a research fair at the end of the summer where the students will present the results of their investigations.
Purpose
- Involve talented students in a diverse research program
- Introduce undergraduates to team-based and cross-disciplinary research
- Provide the opportunity to sharpen oral and written communication skills
- Help students prepare for graduate school and define career goals
- Help students prepare for research and teaching positions throughout industry and academia
During the program, students develop their research projects, attend technical seminars, produce a multimedia piece, visit local industry and government organizations, and meet with leaders in the field. The summer program culminates in the TREND Research Fair, a half-day program during which student teams demonstrate their accomplishments and are evaluated by a panel of experts. The top prize for the best paper competition will normally be travel expenses to a suitable conference where the students can present their research results.
TREND students receive up to $5,400 for the 10-week period. This includes a $4,800 stipend for their work in the summer, as well as $600 for incidental daily expenses. In addition to the stipend, on-campus room and board in designated UMCP-owned and operated facilities is covered by the program (if the student resides outside the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area). Married student housing is not available.
Research Projects 2018
The TREND projects that will be offered during the summer 2018 session are listed below. Project names are linked to their respective descriptions. Faculty members and project directors’ names are linked to their home pages where available. You are encouraged to contact the project directors directly, or Prof. Raj Roy (trend-reu@umd.edu), if you would like more information about a particular project.
- Theoretical and Computational Studies of Emergence in Nonlinear Systems — Michelle Girvan, Edward Ott and Thomas Antonsen
- Nonlinear Dynamics in Charged Particle Beam Systems — Rami Kishek, Brian Beaudoin, and Eric Montgomery
- Theoretical and Computational Studies of Magnetic Reconnection and the Dynamics of Energetic Particles — James F. Drake and Marc Swisdak
- Optical Nonlinearity in Topological Systems — Mohammad Hafezi
- Experimental Studies of Nonlinear Systems: Turbulence and Flows — Daniel P. Lathrop
- Dynamics of Granular Matter and Biophysics — Wolfgang Losert and Derek Richardson
- Synchronization Patterns in Optoelectronic Networks — Rajarshi Roy and Thomas Murphy
- Data-Driven Modeling and Estimation of Dynamical Systems — Derek Paley
http://ireap.umd.edu/education/trend for more info and links to apply