This REU program was funded through NSF PHY-1852581.
The UC Davis Physics REU had fourteen students in summer 2021. It was one of the first in-person events at UC Davis since the pandemic began. Travel restrictions meant that one student wound up participating remotely.
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 2021 trips were to the Crocker Cyclotron, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, McClellan Nuclear Research Center, and Lick Observatory.
Other Activities
The group's weekly lunch meetings included informal research talks by students, virtual visits by REU alumni discussing their education and career paths, and an overview of graduate school and the admissions process.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, several of which led to refereed publications.
Housing
The students lived in four apartments at Sol at West Village, one shared with students from the Math REU program. Sol is technically on the UC Davis campus, but about two miles from the Physics Building. Students commuted by bicycle. Unlike our previous housing arrangement, the complex had a pool, fitness room, and air conditioning. The REU students maintained a cooking rotation for five nights of the week, with each student cooking once per week in a team of 2-3 students.