Physics & Astronomy

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Astronomy at the University of Wyoming

Program Overview

The University of Wyoming and the National Science Foundation sponsor a 10-week program in 2024, from May 20 through July 26.  Each student will be trained to use our 2.3 meter telescope and to analyze astronomical data.  Frequent seminars will cover recent breakthroughs in astronomy, computational techniques, preparing for graduate school, best practices for written and oral presentations, and responsible research conduct.  A unique aspect of the Wyoming REU program is that all students will work together as a team on a single project.

Support

Each participant will be awarded a stipend of $600/week, housing, a meal allowance, and travel funds for getting to and from Laramie as well as the January 2025 annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society.

Research Project

During the summer of 2024, our program will be focused on: TBD

Nearly every night of the summer, students will use our 2.3 meter telescope on nearby Mt. Jelm to obtain spectroscopy of massive stars to characterize their masses, surface gravities, mass loss rates, and impact on the surrounding interstellar medium.  Students will learn how to process and analyze astronomical spectra and imaging data, learn techniques in scientific programming, and become expert observers.

Location

Situated between two mountain ranges and lying at an elevation of 7,200 feet, Laramie's location provides excellent outdoor opportunities in the Rocky Mountain West. 

Previous REU participants have gone on hiking, climbing, biking, rafting, camping, and nature/wildlife photography excursions.  Destinations typically include Grand Tetons National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and local mountain ranges in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado.  Laramie's unique cultural flavor combines elements of the rugged rural west with the cosmopolitan aspects of an intellectual center.  By car, Laramie is approximately two hours from Denver.

Application Details

Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible.

*Thank you for your interest in our Summer 2023 REU Program, We have selected our participants.

Applications for Summer 2024 will begin: November 1, 2023.

Click Link to apply: Link will be activated 11/1/2023.

https://uwyo.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6LQa0MEoCPCoIEm

We hope you are excited about our REU program, but note that students who apply to multiple programs have a much higher rate of being accepted somewhere.  Here is a link to a list of those sites.

Please have two letters of reference emailed as pdfs to uw.astronomy.reu@gmail.com

Inquiries may be made to Program Director Professor Daniel Dale at uw.astronomy.reu@gmail.com

Application deadline: February 15, 2024

Program offers will be made March 1, 2024