TREND Fairs and Publications
Program Introduction
The University of Maryland's Institute for Research in Electronics and
Applied Physics, with support from the National Science Foundation and the
Department of Defense, is offering exciting research opportunities for
undergraduate students in the broad area of nonlinear dynamics. Students
from a variety of universities and backgrounds typically work in teams of
two or three for 11 weeks during the summer and are supervised jointly by
faculty members and graduate students.
Research projects will be theoretical, experimental, or both. Examples of
research topics are: nanophotonic devices for quantum information processing and opto-electronics; experimental studies of nonlinear singularities in fluids and solids; magnetic reconnection and the dynamics of energetic particles; nonlinear dynamics in charged particle beam systems; nonlinear dynamics in optical systems; nonlinear processes in gyroklystron systems; the dynamics of soft matter - granular matter and biomaterials; theoretical and computational studies of chaos and nonlinear dynamics; and the experimental study of nonlinear and chaotic microwave circuits.
A number of events will be sponsored during the summer to enhance the
learning experience, including a weekly seminar series on a wide range of
topics and a research fair at the end of the summer where the students
will present the results of their investigations.
Purpose of TREND
- Involve talented students in a diverse research program
- Introduce undergraduates to team-based and cross-disciplinary research
- Provide the opportunity to sharpen oral and written communication skills
- Help students prepare for graduate school and define career goals
- Help students prepare for research and teaching positions
throughout industry and academia
During the 11-week summer program, students develop their research
projects, attend technical seminars, visit local industry and government
organizations, and meet with leaders in the field. The summer program
culminates in the TREND Research Fair, a half-day program during which
student teams demonstrate their accomplishments and are evaluated by a
panel of experts. The top prize for the best paper competition will
normally be travel expenses so that the students can present their
research results at a suitable conference.
TREND students receive a $4,000 stipend for their work in the summer plus
on-campus room and board in designated UMCP-owned and operated facilities
(if they reside outside the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area).
The program begins May 28 and ends August 8, 2008.
TREND Projects 2008
The TREND projects that will be offered during the summer 2008 session are
listed below. Project names are linked to their respective descriptions.
Faculty members and project directors' names are linked to their home
pages where available. You are encouraged to contact the project directors
directly, or Prof. W. Lawson (lawson@eng.umd.edu), if you would like more
information about a particular project.
Academic Credit
Students of the University of Maryland may receive up to 3 academic credits for their work during the summer. Students from institutions other than the University of Maryland may request transfer credit from home institutions subject to the constraints imposed by their degree program.
Qualifications and How to Apply
The TREND Program is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents only. Students must be currently enrolled in a college or university and have an anticipated graduation date of December 2008 or later. The minimum preferred GPA is 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. (Motivated students without the recommended GPA may apply, but such applications will only be considered if special mitigating circumstances exist.) The application form and instructions for applying to the TREND Program can be downloaded from http://www.ireap.umd.edu/TREND/form.htm. The deadline for receipt of the completed application, essay, and supporting documentation is February 29, 2008. Applications completed after the deadline will be considered only on a space-available basis. For further information about the TREND Program, please contact Prof. Wes Lawson at (301) 405-4972 or lawson@umd.edu.
Submit the application form, essay, and supporting documentation to:
Prof. Wes Lawson
Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland 20742-3511
