STARTUP:

Summer Training in Applied Research Tools for Undergraduate Physics

Research resources you need to get your foot in the door

We see a growing need within the Purdue Department of Physics and Astronomy to provide experience and training in physics research to curious and ambitious students. Unfortunately, however, formal opportunities for undergraduate physics research can be hard to come by early in a student's career. That's why we are experimenting with STARTUP.

What STARTUP is:

Entirely student-led, powered, and inspired.
Coding-heavy. Commitment-heavy. This is a fast-paced survey program of modern research skills that must be developed in order to pursue a variety of research projects across a variety of fields.
A one-on-one opportunity to learn under senior undergraduate and graduate researchers in a variety of fields.
A chance to develop a personal project and experience with software/simulations/real data that are marketable to internships, labs, and graduate school.

What STARTUP is not:

Funded, affiliated with, or managed by the Purdue Department of Physics and Astronomy; it is an entirely independent pursuit.
An official research program. This is a student-led primer course to mentor curious underclassmen in research and provide them resources/skills.
In-person. All instruction will be conducted in a 11-week online crash course.
Paid or otherwise funded.

How to Qualify

We will take five ambitious and dedicated students for Summer 2024. To be eligible, students must have not received any other research experience opportunity for Summer 2024. Students may take classes and/or work jobs during this program. There is no GPA requirement, coursework requirement, or coding experience requirement (however, expect to learn Python and Bash FAST). This course is primarily designed for underclassmen (students who just finished their freshmen or sophomore year). Students must be dedicated to sticking with the program for all 11 weeks (exceptions can be made for vacations).

Who are we?

This program is led by a team of recent Purdue graduates/seniors who have graciously dedicated their extensive research skills to providing resources to those who are excited to learn.

Amelia Binau

Recent Purdue applied physics graduate (astronomy, applications in data science certificate) and developer of the program.
Incoming physics Ph.D. student at Indiana University.
Former TA for PHYS 323/324: Research in Big Data I/II (high energy cohort)
Three years experience in experimental and computational astroparticle physics (including dark matter direct detection and high-energy particle physics simulation for CERN).
Former president of the Purdue Astronomy Club and vice president of the Society of Physics Students and Gender Minorities in Physics. Dedicated to research, mentorship, and advocacy for mental health in STEM.

Ethan Pinarski

Recent Purdue Applied Physics graduate (application in astronomy) and developer of the program
Incoming astronomy Ph.D. student at [UPDATE WHEN ANYONE WANTS ME]
2.5 years experience as an undergraduate researcher under Prof. Kyoung-Soo Lee (large-scale structures) and Prof. Danny Milisavljevic (supernovae remnants), continuing after graduation under Dr. Lee
Former president of the Society of Physics Students, former vice president and outreach coordinator of the Purdue Astronomy Club
Groovy

Braden Garretson

Senior Applied Physics Major with application in Astronomy and developer of the program
3.5 years of observational Astronomy research studying Core-Collapse Supernovae with Professor Danny Milisavljevic
Author of 3 publications and coauthor on 5 others (published and in prep)
Former TA for PHYS 323/324: Research in Big Data I/II (Astrophysics Cohort)
Upcoming Vice President of the Purdue Astronomy Club

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