Interested in joining? Opportunities are available for undergraduate and graduate students to join and carry out exciting research using high-powered lasers, intense magnetic fields, and cutting-edge diagnostics to explore exotic states of matter. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including women, members of the LGBT+ community, members of underrepresented minority groups, and first generation students. Please contact Prof. Schaeffer (dschaeffer@physics.ucla.edu) for any questions about research opportunities.
Undergraduate Students
There are a wide variety of opportunitues for undegraduate research in my group. For students at UCLA, consider the Physics & Astronomy Department REU summer program, UCLA LAEP research work study program, or independent research courses (Phys 199). Students from outside UCLA can participate through the PFURO summer research program.
Graduate Students
There are currently several openings for graduate students in my group in projects on magnetized shocks, magnetospheres, magnetic reconnection, particle acceleration, and advanced diagnostics, among others. Projects are primarily experimental in nature, but there are also opportunties for students to focus on numerical simulations or theory in support of these experiments. Opportunities exist to carry out experimetns both at local facilities at UCLA and at large national laboratories throughout the US. Prior experience in plasma physics is not required.
Postdoctoral Researchers
There are currently no openings for postdoctoral researchers, but if you are interested in working with us, please contact me for possbile opportunities.