Summer Undergraduate Research Experience at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland
- Participate in the renowned CERN Summer Student Lecture Program
- Join active researchers at CERN
- Receive stipend and travel reimbursement
The Institute of Particle Physics was recently awarded funding to support Canadian citizens participating in the CERN summer student programme.
In 2007 and 2008 we ran pilot programmes. From 2009 on we support 5 students at CERN each summer. To get some idea of what our student are doing during their time at CERN have a look at our list of past recipients with links to their research reports.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2013 programme.
Program
Students selected for the program will spend nine weeks at CERN from late June to the end of August working with active research groups at CERN, one of the world's premier international laboratories. However we require students to spend a minimum of 15 weeks on research over the course of the summer. The additional period may be supported by an NSERC USRA position or a summer studentship at TRIUMF (see below) and/or the IPP will endeavour to find a suitable project/supervisor where the student can begin their research term in Canada before traveling to CERN.
A good idea of the kinds of possible research projects students may be involved in can be gained from viewing student research papers from previous years.
CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, is the home of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the birthplace of the World Wide Web.
Eligibility
At the time of application students must be registered in an undergraduate programme at a Canadian (or similar) university, leading to a Bachelor of Science or Engineering degree. They should be within two years of graduation by the beginning of the summer they are applying to spend at CERN. They must be majoring in physics, engineering, or computer science. Students who have previously spent a summer at CERN (whether part of this program or not) are not eligible.
The program is open to Canadian Citizens and permanent residents. The program is administered by the Insitute of Particle Physics with funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
We have arranged the selection process and financial support for these positions to allow students at Canadian universities, who may also be awarded NSERC USRA summer positions to hold them concurrently. Students can also hold these positions concurrently with a TRIUMF summer student position.
NB: The IPP does not have NSERC USRA positions to award and does not administer the TRIUMF positions. Students wishing to pursue these optionis must also apply for an NSERC USRA position at a Canadian university or directly to TRIUMF.
Students who are awarded an NSERC USRA position to work with a Canadian group involved in a research project at CERN can use the IPP funding to travel to CERN and spend the two months of the CERN summer student programme in Geneva. Subject to negotiation with and additional financial support from their USRA supervisor they may be able to spend the entire summer at CERN. Successful candidates for the IPP programme will be notified in late January, in time for them to identify a suitable USRA supervisor/project. However they are encouraged to apply for an NSERC USRA fellowship at potential host universities in parallel as the local deadlines may be earlier.
Applications
Applying for the IPP CERN Summer Student programme is easy. You just have to complete these 3 easy steps:
- Fill in the NSERC USRA application form.
- Verify that the information you have entered is correct and submit the form. A PDF file (Adobe Portable Document format) sent by email is preferred.
- Arrange to send to us:
- i A copy of your undergraduate transcript, and
- ii One or two letters of recommendation. (Please do not return these to CERN but directly to the IPP (see below), and
- iii A curriculum vitae.
The mailing address for these materials is:
Ms. Winnie Kam
IPP CERN Summer Student programme
The Institute of Particle Physics
60 Saint George St.
Toronto, ON
M5S 1A7
You can also email your materials to us at kam AT physics DOT utoronto DOT ca .
Deadline
Review of applications will begin on January 7, 2013. You are encouraged to have your application and all supporting materials submitted before this date, but we will continue accepting applications after that date until all positions are filled.
We will notify the recipients of these positions before the end of January in time for them to be able to factor them into any decisions they may need to make in February concerning possible NSERC USRA offers.
Questions?
Questions should be directed via e-mail to william AT physics DOT utoronto DOT ca