Jesse and Darrell Summer Research Experience Internships

Two of our seniors received NSF-sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) internships this past summer. These 10–12 week summer internships give undergraduate students an opportunity to work in university research groups, interacting directly with graduate and post-doctoral researchers and delving deeper into different areas of physics.

Darrell Montonera spent his summer at the University of Minnesota working in a low temperature physics group. Along with his mentor Dr. Zimmerman, Darrell examined the influence of electric fields on the amplitude of second sound near the lambda transition in superfluid 4-He. He put his knowledge of quantum mechanics, thermal physics and electronics to good use over the summer.

(Pictured top: Darell's experimental setup for research on the superfluid Helium-4).

Jesse Thompson worked in Professor Wang's research group at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His project focused on measurements of magnetic hysteresis in self-assembled magnetic thin films of biomolecules. Jesse used the technique of MOKE (Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect) to measure hysteresis loops on self-assembled monolayers of Biotin and Streptavidin. In addition to using his knowledge of electromagnetism and materials, Jesse flexed his LabVIEW and MATLAB muscles all summer long as well.

(Pictured second: Jesse’s experimental MOKE setup for researching hysteresis in magnetic monolayers of biomolecules)

Both students enjoyed their experiences, and both intend to continue their physics studies in graduate school next year.

For more information about either our physics major or our 3-2 engineering program, please contact us at: [email protected] or [email protected].

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