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Just wondering, where can a person like me with only knowledge of calculus up to differential equations and who has only taken Ap physics C/AP chem find research to do? I always wondered what kind of research one would do with only 1 or 2 years of Physics/Chem.

By Webhappy2 (Webhappy2) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 04:46 pm: Edit

Are you into math contests? IMO, the most reasonable projects are in math or CS, where you can easily do them from home. Also, some theoretical physics projects can be done without a lab.

By Thermodude (Thermodude) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 05:07 pm: Edit

Where could I assess of these projects? I live in the Northwest....so there aren't too many colleges around.

By Collegeboarders (Collegeboarders) on Tuesday, June 01, 2004 - 10:40 pm: Edit

What kind of research are you interested in, Thermodude??

For most internships for high schoolers, you are definitely not expected to come in with any more knowledge than physics,chem, basic math, etc. In fact, you have much more school knowledge than I did when I did my first internship.
It all depends on what area you want to research in -- if you want to do a CS project or CS stuff, you oughta have programming knowledge or be willing to learn. The "Willing to Learn" attitude is what is most important for internships at this level.
Also important is just your drive and interest in the field or project -- many times, professors are willing to take you on as an intern if you demonstrate drive, curiosity, motivation, etc. and make that first effort in contacting them with your interests. You shouldn't necessarily expect to get paid for your internship but I'm sure you know that it's not about the money but rather, about the research experience, etc.

I live in the Northwest also and even though there aren't really any "Good" colleges around where I am (there's U of Washington in Seattle but quite far for me), I still was able to do research in both industry as well as academia and have it help me significantly in terms of research experience, doing big science fairs/contests, and getting into and merit/research $$ at good research universities.

What are your specific interests and where are you located (generally)?? I could recommend places and/or labs that you can check out, if you'd be interested.

By Paul_Dirac (Paul_Dirac) on Thursday, June 03, 2004 - 12:57 am: Edit

Hi!

I'm also a Northwesterner and living in Redmond, WA. I'm going to take a summer course at the University of Washington this summer, so this pretty much closes all research opportunities this summer (Though I'm only a 9th grader; I doubt that 9th graders are allowed to conduct research unless the 9th grader is truly exceptional). Do you know of any great UW research programs? I'm interested in whatever science there is to offer, though physics is preferred (though unfortunately, I cannot take a physics class until the 11th grade).

By Joshjmgs (Joshjmgs) on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 10:30 am: Edit

Paul_Dirac, even though you wont be able to conduct your own research, you can be a lab assisntant and help a professor or student with his research. This will get you acquainted with the lab and the college. After working there for a good month the people at the college will start trusting, as long as you don't do something stupid like pour water into acid...

By Texas137 (Texas137) on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 01:15 pm: Edit

there was a big thread on this a couple of months ago on the parents' board. See if you can find it; there were some good suggestions.

By Thermodude (Thermodude) on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 11:25 pm: Edit

collegeboarders...i live around the vancouver/portland area in Oregon and stuff

By Backhandgrip (Backhandgrip) on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 09:24 am: Edit

Good Luck Thermo, so they gave you this also? I started a long thread about this in the parents forum. We came up empty in so many places. First, no college prof in the Phila. area would answer our email or got redirected nowhere by secretaries. Then, no teacher in our high school could give any suggestion other than go to a science camp.They thought a high school student doing reserach at a university was bizarre including a prof. who wrote into the forum, and gave the opinion our post was 'bogus' and said any university is busy finding research for their our grad students let alone high school kids.One exception to this was a parent who wrote in and said if you have a specific problem or need specific data and can approach the university this way you have more of a chance of getting their help.We printed up flyers like,' high school student needs to do research for grad student in math or physics'- no response yet.So, we are at the point now of finding a local science business interested in having my son 'hang around'. There were all kinds of great suggestions on the thread, and many skeptical, but it looks more and more my son may simply apply to a several state universities where his chances for a merit scholarship are good.(planning to major in I.T.)He is interested in working in industry and not doing research the rest of his life. Fabulous school Cal Tech, but not right for everyone, and many demands. It's like, you want in? how high can you jump?The new SAT in 2005 may change all this. Please post again and let us know how you made out.(by the way, were you also an athletic recruit?)

By Webhappy2 (Webhappy2) on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 01:22 pm: Edit

"He is interested in working in industry and not doing research the rest of his life"
Is he prepared to move out of the country? Academia provides a layer of protection against outside changes, such as drastically lower wages leading to outsourcing.

By Backhandgrip (Backhandgrip) on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 04:22 pm: Edit

You are so right. My brother has seen the demise of the manufacturing industry in the U.S. Gone from top engineering firms to a paycheck at a small company that bounced. And that's what he does now, bounce from company to company.We are thinking here I.T. Any suggestions appreciated. (colleges, programs, etc.)

By Webhappy2 (Webhappy2) on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 04:40 pm: Edit

Well, that's why I'm going to Caltech. I plan to go to a PhD program, hopefully in a future growth field (biotech--although a definition of what biotech really consists of is unclear--seems fairly safe at this point). So that's at least 4+4 years before I'm out in industry (if ever).

Then again, a lot of people say that the time as a PhD candidate or postdoc is essentially working for peanuts while really only helping the advisor.

By Backhandgrip (Backhandgrip) on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 05:32 pm: Edit

Caltech is a fabulous university for an academic. It will really open doors. Biotech is really where it is and will be for years. Of course you will work for cheap while getting the phd ! But after that you will have a looong future! A growth field. Congrats.
Also, go meet some doctors, because the best inventors are doctors. They know what they need and that's where you will come in.

By Baronwolfnstein (Baronwolfnstein) on Thursday, June 24, 2004 - 02:03 am: Edit

I managed to snag an internship at Case Western Reserve this summer in biological research. However, there are only two high school students doing this (me and some other girl), all the others are undergrads and I know I only got it because my dad's patient runs a lab there.

I'm sorry to say it, but I guess it's all about connections. People knowing people will open doors for you at these universities that would otherwise be slammed in your face. Case though is more open to this than most places, it just that they are swamped with actual college students wanting to do research. It was all I could do to get my foot in the door, even with my dad's help.

By Backhandgrip (Backhandgrip) on Thursday, June 24, 2004 - 08:09 am: Edit

I also think you may have more luck in your part of the country or a smaller college. I think some thought in Phila. may be if they say yes to one kid then they may be swamped.There are a lot of bright high school kids here.So they just let in the kids who have connections, like faculty and staff kids, as the parents have to be there anyway.

By Bookworm (Bookworm) on Thursday, June 24, 2004 - 10:47 am: Edit

Did you take any classes at a local CC? Some profs there can be looking for assistants. My S offered data entry, but would have given him a chance to be part of a team, and maybe expanded work capacity.
Our state has classes in summer for engineering, or sci & research. One needs to talk to guidance counselors in HS to learn what is available

By Kyshantry (Kyshantry) on Saturday, July 24, 2004 - 07:04 pm: Edit

Thermodude (and anyone else in the Northwest): Check out a program called ASE (Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering). The summer after my junior years I moved to Eugene (200 miles from where I lived) and worked in a physics lab (with a gentleman named Professor Mossberg) for the summer. It was a wonderful experience - I'd encourage anyone who is interested in going to a serious science/engineering school to look at doing an apprenticeship/internship. The number one thing that Caltech looks for in admissions is research experience.

Galen

By Thermodude (Thermodude) on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 12:36 am: Edit

Galen, just wondering, what did you research at your internship? I'm interested in Physics myself (love working problems in the K & K book), but I really don't know what I could "research" with only having taken AP Physics C.

By Kyshantry (Kyshantry) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 08:26 pm: Edit

I worked on developing a container for a fiberoptic bragg grating that would counteract temperature changes with stress changes in order to keep the grating at the same resonant frequency. It was more engineering, perhaps, than physics, but it had both and was done in a physics lab

Galen

By Devious (Devious) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 11:51 am: Edit

What about people who are mathematically-inclined, what research is available for them?