The LIGO Project is an NSF-supported endeavor to design, build, and operate an astrophysical observatory for the detection and study of gravitational radiation. The observatory includes two sites (Hanford, Washington and Livingston Parish, Louisiana) with laser interferometric detector systems. (More information on LIGO can be found on the LIGO home page, and from "LIGO: The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory," A. Abramovici, et al., Science, 256, 325, 1992.)   The aim of the LIGO Summer Undergraduate Research Program is to organize the participation of undergraduate students in research associated with the LIGO Project.

All continuing undergraduate students (i. e. who will be students next year) may apply to the LIGO Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Different projects require different skills and background, and we typically have some projects that are suitable for students who have just completed the freshman year.

Students in the LIGO Summer Program reside either at Caltech or one of the LIGO sites in Washington and Louisiana.

LIGO research projects may cover many areas of science and engineering related to the detection of gravitational radiation, including:

• Laboratory projects in mechanical, laser, optical, and electronic systems
• Modeling and analysis of optomechanical systems
• Software development projects
• Modeling of astrophysical sources of gravitational radiation

Preliminary 2012 LIGO REU/SURF Projects

Past projects:

1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011

Students should apply for the LIGO Summer Program using the application procedure below. Although the LIGO program is run as part of the SURF Program at Caltech, applications for the LIGO Summer Programs are submitted directly to LIGO. This is because some amount of coordination of projects within LIGO is necessary, and also because many of our summer students are from outside institutions.

For further information on the LIGO Undergraduate Research Program, contact:

Professor Kenneth G. Libbrecht
Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
Caltech 264-33
Pasadena, CA 91125
kgl@caltech.edu

Apply here

The LIGO Summer Program runs from approximately June 18 through August 24, 2012 (exact dates are not yet known, but will be posted here shortly). These dates are somewhat flexible, depending on a student's particular circumstances. It is also possible to work longer than the standard 10 weeks of the program (for more pay), if this is arranged in advance.

If I am graduating in the spring of 2012, am I eligible for the LIGO summer program?
No. We only accept continuing undergraduate students.

Can I start working before the start date?
Probably not at Caltech; maybe at the LIGO sites. Caltech is on a quarter system, and the dorms are fully occupied the end of the academic year. Thus we usually cannot house summer students before the program start date.

Can I work longer than 10 weeks?
Possibly; this needs to be worked out with your mentor after you've been accepted, and depends on your project. If you work longer than 10 weeks, you will be paid accordingly.

If I don't have both recommendations letters in time, can I still send in my application?
Partial applications will be considered, as long as they arrive before the application deadline. It's better to send us something on time than a complete application late. Late applications will not be considered except in special circumstance.

Do you take rising sophomores (who will be sophomores next year) into your program?
We usually take one or two rising sophomores each year. Most projects benefit from having a more extensive physics background, however, so we tend to give preference to rising juniors and seniors.

Do you take international students?
Yes. Some of our funding is restricted to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, but some is not. We typically take several international students each year.

Students in the LIGO Summer program receive a $6,000 stipend. The schedule of stipend payments will be communicated prior to the start of the summer.

Students in the LIGO Summer Program assigned to Caltech may live in Caltech housing during the program. The total cost is roughly 30% of the stipend, although exact rates will not be finalized until late spring. There is no board contract but there is a cafeteria on campus. Non-Caltech students cannot move into Caltech housing before mid-June. More information on Caltech housing is available here. Housing at LIGO's Hanford and Livingston sites will be provided, at a charge that is approximately the same as Caltech housing. Also, arrangements will be made for daily transportation to and from the sites.

Transportation to and from Caltech/Hanford/Livingston at the beginning and end of the program can probably be provided in full for all students. If there are insufficient funds for this, partial funding will be provided to cover transportation costs.