Faculty and Student Teams Program

Project Descriptions

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Development and testing of programs to simulate astronomical images on optical and near infrared pixel detectors 

Requesting applications from science or engineering faculty members at institutions serving students underrepresented in science, engineering, mathematics and technology, to work on instrumentation or neutrino source R&D. Fermilab can ONLY host teams with NSF support.

Project Description

Astronomy and Astrophysics are an important component of Fermilab’s Research program, now and in the future. An opportunity has been identified for a FaST Team to participate in the development and testing of programs to simulate astronomical images on optical and near infrared pixel detectors and to implement algorithms to study and compare image analysis techniques. This effort is part of the research and development program for a current ground-based detector and a future space-based detector to study dark energy.

Project Qualifications

This opportunity is suitable for a FaST Team consisting of a faculty member and two students. Students are required to have completed the equivalent of freshman physics for majors and to have computer programming experience, preferably in Java.

Applicants Responsibilities and Relationship to Project

Applicants will receive support under the Department of Energy Faculty and Student Team (FaST) Research Program to work collaboratively with the project research team at the Laboratory. The team will work at Fermilab for up to 10 weeks during the year starting during the summer of 2008. At the conclusion of the summer, students will prepare a paper (similar to that listed in references) that describes their project accomplishments. Using the paper as a basis, the students will give a talk to project team members and laboratory staff.

Faculty will be expected to identify students from their campus to participate in FaST program offered by the Department of Energy at Fermilab. Faculty will mentor, advise, and work together with students as they pursue the project tasks. It is expected that the faculty member will become an integral part of the research team and work hands-on with the students and with laboratory staff members on this project. The faculty member and laboratory staff will attend the student talk with the goal of having the students experience a typical project progress review presentation.

Qualifications of an Ideal Candidate

Faculty: Works well in a collaborative environment with students and other researchers. Currently teaches and collaborates with students in his/her field. Willing to work at Fermilab for an extended period during the summer.

Student: Working toward a BS degree in physics, electrical engineering or computer science. Works well in collaboration with faculty, other students, and researchers. Willing to work at Fermilab for an extended period during the summer.

Support and Financial Commitments

See Financial Information.

Supervisor: Chris Stoughton or designee.