This REU program was funded through NSF PHY-1560482.
Fifteen students participated in the UC Davis Physics REU in summer 2018, shown here with a faculty mentor.
Research Projects (more details)
Projects involved theoretical, computational, and experimental work in Astrophysics, Condensed Matter Physics, Nuclear Physics, and Particle Physics.Field Trips (more details)
Summer 2018 trips were to Shell Beach and Goat Rock Beach on the Pacific coast, a meeting with REU alumnae en route to Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the on-campus Crocker Cyclotron, and Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Other Activities
Most of the group's weekly lunch meetings started with a few GRE physics practice problems. Afterwards about three REU students discussed their separate projects in brief, informal (no slides!) presentations. Two exceptions were the first week, when a former REU student joined us and talked about his path into a software engineering job, and a meeing near the end when a recent chair of the Davis graduate admissions committee held a Q&A.Near the end of the program, each student gave a 15-minute research presentation, open to the entire department. Students also prepared final write-ups about their projects, some of which led to refereed publications.
Housing
The REU students lived in the Davis Student Co-operative on campus, about half a mile from the physics building. They shared meals and cleaning chores. The fact that only the living room was air conditioned naturally led everyone to hang out together there.
