The Department of Astronomy and the Center for Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics (CCAPP) sponsor a summer research program for Ohio State undergraduates. This program offers summer research positions in astrophysics with a faculty member of the Department of Astronomy and/or Physics. Application information is at the bottom of this page.
Applications for the 2025 cohort are now being accepted and are due on Tuesday, January 14, 2025!!
2024 Cohort of SURP students
The 2024 SURP cohort. For a list of their projects click here.
Previous Participants
Between the summers of 2007-2024, 151 students have participated in the summer research program. The full list of program alumni provides their projects and advisors.
Who May Apply?
This program is open to undergraduate students currently enrolled at The Ohio State University. The Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) is intended for sophomores or juniors interested in graduate study in astrophysics, careers in science education, or data-driven technical fields. Participants are typically Astronomy & Astrophysics majors who have, or will have, completed Astronomy 2291 and 2292 before they are to begin summer research. These courses provide essential background information for most research projects. Engineering students interested in astronomical instrumentation but who may not have completed any "astronomy" coursework may apply. Exceptions may also be made for physics majors and majors in other closely related fields. Students who have not completed 2291 and 2292 are eligible for and encouraged to apply for education and planetarium positions as offered and will not restrict their involvement in research in subsequent years.
There will be multiple positions available for Summer 2025
General Requirements
The program runs from May through July during Summer 2025. The following is expected of successful applicants
- Working approximately 20-38 hours/week on research during the summer semester depending on the year's requirements. There will be some components of required in-person activities to be announced
- Participating in weekly check-ins and writing weekly summaries
- Participating in all sessions of the Python Bootcamp at the beginning of the program and 80% of the professional development seminars provided and Astro Coffee
- Presenting at the SURP Symposium and Undergraduate Research forums in the following academic year
- A mid-program and ending summary of your work and efforts (writing skills are a key component of SURP)
- Application materials for grad schools or prospective jobs as facilitated by SURP
- Students taking summer classes at any institution including Ohio State are ineligible for SURP
- If any of these requirements cause hardship or should be addressed due to specific circumstances, upon selection you may work out any problems with the SURP organizers.
Participants graduating in 2026 typically commit to completing an Undergraduate Thesis in Astronomy by enrolling in Astronomy 4999 during the following academic year. This is one of the requirements for graduation with Research Distinction (for non-Honors students) or with Honors Research Distinction (for Honors students). This achievement will be noted on a student's degree and permanent academic record. As a guiding rule for the department, students may not work for pay and research credit for the same research project.
Application Information
Applications for Summer 2025 close on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Applications are only open to OSU students enrolled in the current spring semester and the following autumn semester. A complete application includes:
- Your contact information includes your name, name.#, and phone number.
- Expected graduation semester and relevant courses.
- An essay of approximately 1-page, describing why you want to pursue research in astrophysics. Relevant coursework or research experience may be included in this essay.
- 1 to 2 paragraphs describing your specific astrophysics interests. This may include but is not limited to those topic areas covered by researchers within astronomy and CCAPP. For examples of potential research areas, please click here. If you have any interest in astronomy outreach, education, accessibility, or science communication, please include this in your 1-2 paragraphs.
- What do you expect to get out of this program? Be as open, broad, and honest as you wish. Your answer will not be used for selection to the program but will help us match advisors and set goals.
We will do our best to accommodate your preferences, although we can make no guarantees. We plan to select and notify applicants by early March at the latest.
The application is currently open using the button below.
Questions
Please contact Wayne Schlingman or David Zach, with any questions about the application or if you need to turn in your application by a method other than Qualtrics.
Sponsors
This program has been generously supported by the Department of Astronomy, the Center for Cosmology and AstroParticle Physics, as well as grants from the National Science Foundation and NASA to individual faculty and postdoctoral advisors.