UGR is a program created by the Gravity Group that is aimed at increasing the participation of undergraduate students in research. The MSU gravity group involves undergraduate students in cutting-edge research, several of whom have published their work in major international journals and have gone on to pursue doctoral studies in physics, chemistry and mathematics at institutions such as Berkeley, Penn State, and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 

The UGR program works as follows. Undergraduates are assigned a Professor in the gravity group that acts as a research mentor. Under his/her mentorship, the students carry out a research project in gravitational wave theory, data analysis, black hole theory, experimental relativity, or cosmology. A detailed description of these research topics can be found on the Research Projects page. The student then writes up the research project as a scientific paper in LaTeX. In most instances, the paper is then submitted to a peer-reviewed scientific journal. In turn, this research can be used as the topic of the student's Capstone Project. 

Research in gravitational physics and General Relativity is extremely challenging, so much so that students sometimes require advanced training in graduate studies prior to beginning any research. For this reason, students are required to meet with their mentors at least once a week. Moreover, undergraduate projects usually extend beyond one year, so students are encouraged to start early, ideally during their Sophomore year. Ideally, students interested in the UGR program will have completed at least the equivalent of Classical mechanics (PHSX 320), Methods of Computational Physics (PHSX 331), Modern Physics (PHSX 343), Honors Multivariate Calculus (M 283Q), Honors Introduction to Differential Equations (M 284), and Linear Algebra (M 333). 

The UGR program is limit to 2-3 students at a time. Interested students should contact Asst. Prof. Nicolas Yunes or Professor Neil Cornish.

Updated: September 2, 2014 15:22