Research Experience for Undergraduates

Program Dates: May 27-July 24, 2020
Application Deadline:  March 1, 2020
Apply today!

Overview

Solar electric systems are popping up everywhere and the industry is growing at 30 % per year with sales over $30 billion. At ASU we have an industrial scale pilot line for making solar cells – the energy conversion device at the heart of a solar power system.

The QESST Engineering Research Center offers undergraduates the opportunity to participate in solar energy research. Through work on the pilot line, students will:

• Have access to state-of-the-art facilities and gain experience directly relevant to industry, giving them the opportunity to demonstrate the commercial impact and relevance of their
  ideas by guiding them through the steps required to bring new ideas to commercialization;
• Bridge the gap between the typical “research” devices and commercial solar cells, allowing fabrication and analysis of technologies on commercial-size devices and commercial equipment;
• Work in a facility that allows new equipment or processes to be analyzed and assessed jointly with industry. Students will play a key role in this process.
• Partner with a local student participating in the Fulton Schools’ Solar Energy Research program.

Examples of previously offered projects and their descriptions can be found here.

Program Details

This 8-week program will take place at Arizona State University. Out-of-town participants not currently attending a local Arizona university or college will be provided with a double-occupancy dorm room and round-trip travel funding.  Participants will also receive a $1000 stipend to be paid bi-weekly. The final stipend will be mailed after room check-out and all program requirements are met, to allow all fees/fines to be cleared by the University.

Participants are required to attend the entire eight-week program. No classes will be held on the 4th of July holiday. Any proposed conflicts must be noted in application and will be addressed on an individual basis.

Enrollment Requirements

• Must be enrolled in an accredited college or university with at least one year completed by June and at least one more semester before graduation after the summer. (Graduating seniors are not eligible.)
• Students must be U.S. citizens.
• Participants are prohibited from taking courses or working while participating in the program.
• Students must be available to begin the program on the start date.

Application Requirements

Students interested in participating in the program will need to submit an application, a copy of their transcripts (unofficial accepted), and two letters of recommendation.  Upon acceptance into the program, documentation of U.S. citizenship will be required.

About the application:

• The form will only save a submission for 24 hours in the active browser, so it is recommended that you preview the short answer questions and collect all the necessary documents for uploading prior to filling out the application.
• In the case that a professor refuses to share a Letter of Recommendation with the applicant, the professor may email the letter directly to Tiffany Rybiski ([email protected]). Those having recommendations sent directly should upload a document containing the name of the recommender to the online form.
• All uploaded documents should be named starting with the applicant’s last name (for instance: Smith_Unofficial Transcript.docx).
• The link for the application will close on March 1st and no applications will be accepted after this time.

Apply today!

Please send questions to:

Tiffany Rybiski ([email protected])
Education and Outreach Coordinator