Mathematics/Statistics/Physics Department
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Student Research Opportunities
These are opportunities for undergraduates to do research in the Mathematics, Statistics and Physics Department at Purdue University North Central.
Dr. Chilukuri is involved in experimental laser spectroscopy of atoms and simple molecules. Student involvement is strongly encouraged. The Physics research laboratory is equipped with a high vacuum station to prepare samples, a scanning spectrometer with a photomultiplier detection system, Plasma-therm RF oscillator for plasma generation, a 1 MW Nitrogen laser and a dye laser for laser spectroscopic work and assorted light sources for emission and absorption studies.
Typical student projects would be:
- learning spectroscopic techniques
- study of spectra and structures of atoms, simple molecules, excimers, and plasmas
For further information, contact Dr. Santaram Chilukuri.
Dr. Das' areas of research are Theoretical Solid State Physics and Chemical Physics. He is involved in theoretical investigations of the spectroscopic properties of adsorbed molecules on or near small metal particles and surfaces. Possibilities exist for motivated students to conduct research in this and other areas of physics, including laboratory improvement and experiment design, which may lead to presentations at national and regional meetings and publication in scientific journals. The primary aim is to give the interested students the opportunity to supplement their course work experience with research that supports the positive provides evidence toward the relationship between what they are learning and its application.
Students can be involved in these projects:
- Obtaining numerical results for calculations involving interaction between a molecule and a small particle. The motivation behind the project is to study the effects of the presence of a surface on a nearby molecule in an effort to find novel uses for materials in microscopically small sizes. Some knowledge of scientific programming and graphical analysis of results is helpful but not essential. Participants will learn about numerical techniques in theoretical physics.
- Developing new and innovative laboratory experiments using microcomputer and multimedia tools. Students will gain experience in the use of multimedia tools in education. No specific multimedia experience is necessary.
- Designing and building equipment for carrying out experiments on scattering of light from small particles or liquid samples. Students will gain knowledge in the area of light scattering as a tool for investigating the structure and energy level behavior of particles or molecules. The project does not require any previous training.
For further information, contact Dr. Purna Das.
Dr. Kuhn is involved in applied statistical analyses. Student involvement in this work is strongly encouraged. The primary aim is to give the interested students the opportunity to gain experience with research to show the relationship between what they have learned in statistics and its application to data analysis.
For further information, contact Dr. Jonathan Kuhn.
