What Are Some Feasible Undergraduate Physics Research Projects?

[bjPuckett]

I am currently a sophomore physics student at a relatively small liberal arts college. Research opportunities are extremely limited, but I am applying for a grant of up to $2500 to perform a research project for the school. I am having some trouble coming up with topics/projects that I could work on for the next two years (give or take), and I am looking for any ideas that people might have? I don't have any prior research experience, but I am interested in electronics, mechanics, and materials. I am very open to ideas, so please share any potential research projects that you think might be a good fit. Also, I have a little less than two months to come up with a full proposal including a timeline, budget, etc.

Thanks!

 

[Dr. Courtney]

I am currently a sophomore physics student at a relatively small liberal arts college. Research opportunities are extremely limited, but I am applying for a grant of up to $2500 to perform a research project for the school. I am having some trouble coming up with topics/projects that I could work on for the next two years (give or take), and I am looking for any ideas that people might have? I don't have any prior research experience, but I am interested in electronics, mechanics, and materials. I am very open to ideas, so please share any potential research projects that you think might be a good fit. Also, I have a little less than two months to come up with a full proposal including a timeline, budget, etc.

Thanks!

It's hard to brainstorm ideas unless we have a good idea of your existing skill sets and resources you may have available in the department or elsewhere.

 

[bjPuckett]

It's hard to brainstorm ideas unless we have a good idea of your existing skill sets and resources you may have available in the department or elsewhere.

Like I said before, I do not have any prior research experience. I have basic general physics and chemistry laboratory experience, introductory computer programming skills, and am learning about electronic circuits. As the project progresses, I will be taking more advanced courses that will allow me to gain more skills. As for resources, my school is well equipped with a 3-D printer, hardware for mechanics, radioactive materials, optical units, and electrical circuit building. Hope this helps.

 

[Dr. Courtney]

Like I said before, I do not have any prior research experience. I have basic general physics and chemistry laboratory experience, introductory computer programming skills, and am learning about electronic circuits. As the project progresses, I will be taking more advanced courses that will allow me to gain more skills. As for resources, my school is well equipped with a 3-D printer, hardware for mechanics, radioactive materials, optical units, and electrical circuit building. Hope this helps.

That's a bit limited. Your local faculty can probably help you better connect your skills with the available resources and expertise.

Odds are there is a path forward by working over the next few months to bring your skill set up to allow something, but there are several possibilities and you cannot pursue them all.

When I was an undergrad, my programming abilities opened a lot of doors, but it included instrumentation and numerical analysis coursework and experience.