PDF versionJob Summary
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking enthusiastic undergraduate students to serve as guest researchers forthe premier Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program. The SURF Program is designed to inspire undergraduatestudents to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) through a unique research experience that supportsthe NIST mission. To learn more about the program, visit https://www.nist.gov/surf.
MajorDuties
The SURF Program provides research opportunities for students to work with internationally known NIST scientists, to expose them to cutting-edge research and promote the
pursuit of graduate degrees in science and engineering. SURF gives students an opportunity to:
- Gain substantive career experience related to your academic interests,
- Acquire lifelong leadership, management, and analytical skills,
- Learn about a career in public service,
- Build professional relationships, contacts, and networks, and
- Observe the daily operations and working environment of a premier federal laboratory.
Imagine Yourself in the NIST Laboratories
NIST seeks students from a broad range of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines including (but not limited to) biochemistry, biology, biophysics,
chemistry, computer science, engineering, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron research, physics, and/or statistics. Students work under the guidance of a
research mentor in the NIST operating units (OU). The following OU's participate in the SURF program at Boulder: Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL), Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), Material Measurement Laboratory (MML), and Physical
Measurement Laboratory (PML). As part of the application process, all students are required to identify and select the top six research opportunities where they would like to be considered for a possible placement. For
a detailed description of the research opportunities, students are encouraged to review descriptions at https://www.nist.gov/surf/surf-boulder/research-opportunities.
While duties and responsibilities may vary by laboratory, all accepted students must:
- Attend a weekly technical seminar series
- Participate in extramural group activities intended to enrich their fellowship experience
- Compose and submit an abstract half-way through the program summarizing research accomplishments
- Deliver an oral presentation during the final week of the program
Qualifications
We are looking for students who are interested in gaining valuable, hands-on experience, working with cutting edge technology inone of the world’s leading research organizations. Additional preference will be given to students who possess the followingqualities: Interest in conducting hands-on scientific research.
Current enrolled undergraduate (freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior) at a 2-year or 4-year institution of higher education in the U.S.or its territories at the time of application. Graduating seniors may apply to the program and must be a registered undergraduate at thetime of application.
Pursuing a STEM related major including but not limited to biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, materials science,mathematics, nanoscale science, and/or physics.
Considering pursuing a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) graduate degree (M.S. or Ph.D.).
Commit to eleven (11) full continuous weeks, or a minimum of nine (9) full weeks (Monday through Friday) from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,during the summer of 2020, to participate in the SURF Program. Due to the length of the program, students are not permitted to takevacation.
Pay Range
$5,500.00 - $5,500.00