SUMMER 2006

We are seeking highly motivated students for our summer research program that includes both graduate and undergraduate students as well as Junior and Senior High School students.  We have no formal application, but we are happy to consider applicants for a position upon receipt of a one page résumé plus a cover letter and references with a full name, phone and email and additional information about the applicant that might be useful to us in our evaluation.  The résumé should summarize your academic and extracurricular accomplishments, work experience, and other activities related to scientific and technological pursuits. Also indicate your citizenship in the résumé, only US citizens can apply, access onto NASA/GSFC requires extensive paperwork.  The cover letter should describe special interests and the types of opportunities for which the student would like to be considered.

We will arrange personal or telephone interviews with the best-qualified applicants beginning in early January, 2007, with the goal of making initial offers to students by mid- to late-March.  Our selection process will continue until all available positions are filled, often into late May.  Students chosen for this program will be required to supply a college transcript, will be employed as Goddard contractors, and will be expected to work twelve, forty-hour weeks at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.  The start and end dates are flexible to fit the individual student's academic calendar.  While we do not arrange housing or transportation for our students, we can offer some assistance in locating suitable lodging, and local transportation is available by Metro and bus.

Dr. Fred Bruhweiler has recruited and selected summer students for research programs at Goddard for more than ten years.  Dr. Bruhweiler is an Astrophysicist working at CUA in the Department of Physics and is the Director of the Institute for Astrophysics and Computational Sciences (IACS ) at CUA.  He is a member of the Exploration of the Universe Division at NASA/Goddard.  Our research groups, working in close association with other personnel at Goddard, are at the forefront of current research in their fields.  In addition to seeking students for our own research, we are recruiting students for positions throughout the Science and Exploration Directorate which includes: Solar Physics, Heliospheric Physics, Geospace Physics, Climate and Radiation, Atmospheric Chemistry, Ocean Sciences, Hydrological Sciences, Biospheric Sciences, Astroparticle Physics Lab, Planetary Systems Lab and Instrument and Computer Systems, just to name a few divisions.

The types of opportunities available to students are as widely divergent as our research interests.  We expect that positions will be available for theoretical calculations, laboratory measurements, data analysis, computer programming, and electronics design, fabrication, and testing.  We strive to make a mutually satisfactory match of the talents, skills, and interests of the students with the tasks we need to accomplish. Last summer 25 students were employed in our laboratory, about half of whom where brought to the laboratory through this informal program.

During the summer, students will be encouraged to learn from all of the personnel at Goddard, primarily but not limited to their mentors; to learn from each other; and to enhance their career skills by doing real projects.  The Goddard mentors will be available to provide any needed guidance to their students; will learn from their students; and will benefit from the progress the students make toward their personal research goals.

We will schedule a weekly series of seminars for students on a variety of topics.  On one of the seminar dates, after all students have arrived, they will be expected to introduce themselves and to describe, briefly, the work they expect to do during the Summer.  On one of the seminar dates near the end of the summer, the students will each present a brief  summary of their work.  In addition, each student will be expected to provide the equivalent of a one or two page, typewritten report, plus appropriate figures, at the conclusion of the work.  We have scheduled a room for a weekly lunch-time gathering, open to all students and their mentors, and we expect to plan a number of additional group activities.  All students are encouraged to attend other seminars or activities of interest to them (with the approval of their mentor) while at Goddard.

To assure full consideration for a position at Goddard for this coming summer, please submit your résumé via email as an attachment in Word or Adobe format (.doc or .pdf) to our Student Programs Coordinator, Ana Rosas at the address given below.  Again, applications will be accepted until all available positions are filled.  Dr. Bruhweiler will also be happy to discuss any further questions or concerns you may have.