PHYS4370 Research Participation

Fall 2009

Instructor: Prof. Jim Napolitano

Course Overview

This course provides the "capstone" experience for physics and applied physics majors. It is typically taken by first semester seniors who have not yet satisfied their out-of-classroom research requirement for graduation. If you have already met this requirement, then you do not need to enroll in this course. If you have questions as to whether or not you have already met the requirement, please check with Prof. Wayne Roberge, Degree Clearance officer for the Physics Department.

The student's first order of business is to identify a research project. In order to help you, some faculty have offered up projects which may appeal to you. Students are also encouraged to contact Physics faculty (or faculty in other departments) on their own, in order to identify a project. In any case, there must be mutual agreement between a faculty member and a student regarding any specific project which the student may take on. Make whatever appointments you can as soon as possible, to make sure that you have identified a research project on which both you and the faculty member agree. Do not take any such agreement for granted.

Deadlines

  1. Monday 7 Sep 2009: Identification of faculty member supervisor and project title, after consultation with faculty member. This information must be sent by email to Prof. Napolitano.
  2. Friday 11 Sep 2009: Email to Prof. Napolitano including a one-page project description (approximately 300 words) including the title, student's name, project supervisor, and text giving background physics information, the experimental and/or theoretical techniques involved in the project, and specific goals to be achieved by the end of the semester.
  3. Wed 21 Oct 2009: Midterm progress report. This is approximately eight pages long, single spaced including figures, written in consultation with the project supervisor. The report should include an abstract, introduction, description of the work done so far, results so far, and plans for future work. Email to Prof. Napolitano.
  4. Mon 7 Dec 2009: Final report. This is approximately ten pages long, single spaced including figures, written in consultation with the project supervisor. The report should include an abstract, introduction, description of the work done, and results so far. Email to Prof. Napolitano.
  5. Week of 7 Dec 2009: We will schedule a fifteen-minute oral presentation for you to describe your work and results. Prof. Napolitano will attend, along with any of your colleagues who would also like to join us. Your research supervisor will be given a special invitation.

I prefer to receive reports as PDF files. You are welcome to use whatever document preparation system (LaTeX, html, MS Word, etc..) that you would like. Simpler communications can just be included in the body of the email.

Grading

Your course grade will be assigned by the course instructor, not your research supervisor, although your supervisor will be asked for input in order to help assign the grade. In rough terms, 50% of your grade will be from the course instructor, and 50% from the research supervisor.

The course instructor portion of the grade will be based on your mid term report (10%), your final report (20%), and your final oral presentation (20%).

Your research supervisor is asked to fill out a form (PDF or MS Word) which will be used to determine how to weight the second half of your grade.

Resources