ARC Summer Studentships 2024

Overview

The QUB Astrophysics Research Centre (ARC) is offering two paid summer internship positions to work on research projects with members of the group. The goal of this scheme is to allow undergraduate students to gain some experience of working on a research project, which will be of particular value to those who are considering applying for a PhD degree program in the future.

This studentship program is open to undergraduate students. Preference will be given to those who have already completed three years of study of a four-year MSci/MPhys degree course, or equivalent, although students who have completed two years of a four-year degree will be considered. Students who have not had previous extensive research experience in astrophysics will be given priority.

Available projects

Projects are available for exciting new research into the Solar System, the Sun, exoplanets and transients, as well as for public engagement. A list can be found here.

Timing and duration

The studentships are expected to be 8 weeks. Projects should be completed in the timeframe 3 June 2024 – 13 September 2024. Specific start and end dates are to be agreed by mutual consent between the student and the supervisor(s).

Student support

The 8-week studentships are funded for £2,000, based on 20 hours per week.

How to apply

Please fill out the Word form and, together with 2-page CV and a copy of your transcript of all the assessed marks to date, send it to e.demooij@qub.ac.uk with the subject ARC Summer Internship Application 2024. The application deadline is Sunday April 28, 2024.

Selection criteria

Selection will be based on academic excellence, with priority given to students who will benefit from gaining research experience before applying to an astrophysics PhD program and have not previously had similar research project experience. Accordingly, these projects are well suited to undergraduates about to start their final year of a MSci/MPhys program (or equivalent), although applications will be considered from students who have completed at least two years of such a degree course.

Applicants should have in place the right to study in the UK. Please contact us via mp.research@qub.ac.uk if you are unsure.

Further information

For further information about the studentship scheme please contact Dr Ernst de Mooij (e.demooij@qub.ac.uk), or if your query is related to administration/eligibility, please contact the School research office (mp.research@qub.ac.uk).

Note for QUB applicants

Students who are accepted onto the summer studentship program will not be disadvantaged when it comes to selecting an MSci Level 4 project in astrophysics (or any other topic) at QUB in their final year. Of course, a student cannot do the same specific project for their MSci project module (PHY4001) as they did for the summer project. However, all the projects above have been designed to be self-contained summer projects, and we will ensure that students allocated summer projects are not working on that area in their MSci project. Any student doing both a summer project and MSci Level 4 project will gain experience in two different areas of astrophysics.