GIVING: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS’ LIVES We are grateful for the support of our many friends who help us make a real difference in our students’ lives. 2011 Physics Undergraduate Summer Research Scholars Every summer, physics undergraduates have an opportunity to work in the leading-edge research labs of some of the country’s top physicists, made possible by the generosity of donors Robert P. Caren and Family, David C. DeMartini, Edward R. Grilly, Harold McMaster, Carl Nielsen, Alpheus W. and Adah B. Smith, Alva W. Smith, and Jack C. and Charlotte D. Smith. This summer’s Caren Scholars (Patrick Belancourt, Edward McCary, and Paul Schellin) DeMartini Scholars (Michael Bettencourt and Christian Schnaible) McMaster’s Scholars (Mitra Kinshuk and Aleksandr Shkayev) and Neilson Scholar (Mark Guseman) had a variety of unparalleled research experiences.
They joined the hunt: Third-year students Aleksandr Shkayev (left) and Christian Schnaible (right) sifted through data that could help find the universe’s most fundamental--and elusive—particle, the Higgs-boson. Advisors: Richard Hughes and Brian Winer
Live on the Edge: Fourth-year student Edward McCary (right) produced neutrons and made ions for fusion, while fourth-year student Patrick Belancourt (left) detected and characterized neutrons in the Laser Lab. Advisors Rick Freeman and Linn Van Woerkom
Tackle Math: Fourth-year student Mike Bettencourt solved and translated tricky math problems to make computers work better computationally. Advisor Richard Furnstahl
Learn about Life in the Lab: Thirdyear student Mark Guseman acquired precision and patience while slicing monolayers in Advisor Ezekiel Johnston-Halperin’s lab.
Test-drive Instruments for Antarctica: Third-year student Paul Schellin made and tested circuit boards that will help search for neutrinos in Antarctica. Advisor Amy Connolly
Track Relics from the Big Bang: Firstyear student Kinshuk Mitra wrested with what neutrinos can tell us about the life of the universe. Advisor Terry Walker
14 Department of Physics