73:I[245983,["$2","$3","$1a","$1b","$1c","$1d","$1e","$1f","$9","$20","$21","$22","$23","$a","$24","$25","$26","$27","$28","$29","$49","$4a","$4b","$4c","$4d","$4e","$4f","$50","$51","$52","$53","$54"],"default"] 74:T459,LIGO SURF, run by the California Institute of Technology, supports undergraduate research that contributes to the development of gravitational-wave astronomy and LIGO’s research and development program. Fellows work with faculty, senior scientists, and engineers, receiving individual guidance on projects in physics, astronomy, and engineering. Research opportunities include gravitational physics and astrophysics, metrology, optics, lasers, mechanical systems, controls, and electronics, with work spanning detector development, modeling and analysis, operations, observing, and data analysis. Research takes place at Caltech or the LIGO observatories in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana. Projects emphasize significant intellectual and creative content and the potential for publication in refereed literature. The program receives partial support from the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. Caltech’s Student-Faculty Programs Office provides administrative support, while fellows on campus join a larger community of undergraduate researchers.75:T1c68,

[California Institute of Technology](https://www.caltech.edu)

November 1, 2026 (2027 application opens) | March 1, 2027 (Application and recommendations) | April 1, 2027 (Award notification)

Ten-week summer research fellowship

LIGO SURF supports undergraduate research in gravitational-wave astronomy, detector development, and related physics and engineering.

Fellows must conduct research in person, commit to the full ten weeks, and take no courses or other jobs.

--- ## Description Caltech’s LIGO Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships program invites undergraduates in physics, astronomy, and engineering to contribute to the development of gravitational-wave astronomy. Students work with faculty, senior scientists, and engineers, receiving individual guidance while contributing to LIGO’s research and development program. The summer program is funded in part through the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. Research opportunities include gravitational physics and astrophysics, metrology, optics, lasers, mechanical systems, controls, and electronics. Projects span detector development, modeling and analysis, operations, observing, and data analysis. Research takes place at Caltech or the LIGO observatories in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana. Caltech’s Student-Faculty Programs Office provides administrative support, and students on campus join a larger community of undergraduate researchers. --- ## Due Dates - November 1, 2026: Summer 2027 application opens. - March 1, 2027: Application and recommendation letters due. - April 1, 2027: Award decisions announced by email. --- ## Funding Amount The SURF research period lasts ten weeks. LIGO SURF receives partial funding through the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. --- ## Eligibility Eligible applicants must: - Be continuing undergraduates (LIGO invites students in physics, astronomy, and engineering from across the United States). - Be eligible for fall-term registration. - Meet the applicable SURF GPA minimum: 2.0 for Caltech students, 2.5/4.0 for visiting students. - Complete the required coursework period before participation: - Caltech students: third term at Caltech or another school under a Dean-approved program. - Visiting students: second semester or third quarter at their college or university. - Have no academic or disciplinary sanctions. - Conduct research in person for ten weeks, without taking courses or holding another job. Additional requirements: - Caltech students must establish fall-registration eligibility before beginning research and no later than July 1. - Visiting students must matriculate in a degree-granting undergraduate program (co-enrolled high school students are ineligible). - Certain visiting students may apply only through established exchanges: - University of Iceland. - Cambridge colleges: St. John’s, St. Catherine’s, Corpus Christi, and Pembroke. - International students must meet SURF placement and authorization requirements: - International students may participate on the Caltech campus. - JPL placements are restricted to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. - Students coming to the United States receive F-1 or J-1 visa instructions after an award. - Students attending U.S. schools need approved off-campus employment authorization before beginning SURF. - Consult the current institution’s international student advisor when applying. - F-1 authorization may involve institution-approved CPT or USCIS-approved pre-completion OPT. - OPT participants must await approval and the authorized start date (processing can take several months). - J-1 Academic Training requires authorization through the student’s program sponsor. --- ## Application Process - **Submission:** Apply directly to [LIGO SURF](http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/LIGO_web/students/SURF/); SURF documents use the SFP Online system. - **Mentor approval:** SURF applicants need prior faculty approval, project-development assistance, and a mentor’s financial contribution. - **Required documents:** - Online application and student-written research proposal. - Unofficial transcript for visiting applicants (official transcript required if offered an award). - Two confidential recommendation letters, including at least one from a faculty member. - **Recommendations:** A previous research mentor should provide one letter; the prospective Caltech mentor submits a separate evaluation. - **Evaluation:** - Clear proposal demonstrating project understanding, field context, and a work plan. - Intellectual ownership, publication potential, and feasibility within ten weeks. - Relevant preparation and supportive recommendations and evaluations. - Stronger applications expected from returning SURF students. - Awards depend on application strength and available funding. - **Notification:** Award emails include acceptance instructions and forms; selected LIGO students receive additional SFP information. --- ## Additional Information The SURF proposal should explain the theoretical background, experimental techniques, relationship to other research, and planned work. Projects should have significant intellectual and creative content and potential for publication in refereed literature. Upperclass students should seek both recommendations from professors in their field. The prospective Caltech mentor should not provide a recommendation letter because they complete a separate evaluation. Fellows agree to submit two interim reports, an abstract, and a written technical report, all approved by the mentor. They also give a final oral presentation and abide by Caltech’s Honor Code. Students may live on the Caltech campus. Applicants and fellows must consult their mentors or the SFP Office about generative AI policies for applications, proposals, project plans, and reports. Any use not specifically permitted is prohibited. --- ## External Links - [LIGO SURF program overview](https://sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduate-research/programs/ligo_surf) - [LIGO SURF program website](http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/LIGO_web/students/SURF/) - [SURF eligibility requirements and fellowship expectations](https://sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduate-research/programs/surf/eligibility_requirements) - [SURF application information](https://sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduate-research/programs/surf/application_information) - [Research proposal and project-plan guidance](https://sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduate-research/proposal) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | Webpage | |---|---|---|---| | Caltech Student-Faculty Programs Office | | | [SFP Office](https://sfp.caltech.edu/) | | Caltech International Student Programs (employment authorization questions after consulting your institution’s advisor) | [isp@caltech.edu](mailto:isp@caltech.edu) | | | | California Institute of Technology | | (626) 395-6811 | [Contact Caltech](https://www.caltech.edu/contact) |76:T978,## Grant Eligibility Requirements ### Citizenship/Nationality - Open to international students, but placements at JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a NASA center managed by Caltech) are limited to U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents. ### Career Stage - Must be a continuing undergraduate student. - Visiting (non-Caltech) applicants must be matriculated in a degree-granting undergraduate program; high school students co-enrolled in college courses are not eligible. ### Degree Requirements - Minimum cumulative GPA: 2.0 for Caltech students; 2.5/4.0 for visiting students. - Prior coursework threshold: Caltech students must have completed their third term at Caltech (or at another school under a Dean-approved program); visiting students must have completed their second semester or third quarter at their college/university. ### Geographic/Institutional - Two applicant tracks: current Caltech students, and visiting students from other institutions (the program invites undergraduates in physics, astronomy, and engineering from across the United States). - Students from the University of Iceland, or from the Cambridge colleges St. John's, St. Catherine's, Corpus Christi, or Pembroke, may apply only through the established exchange programs with those schools. - Research is conducted in person at the Caltech campus or at the LIGO observatory sites in Hanford, Washington, or Livingston, Louisiana. ### Other Eligibility Requirements - Must be eligible for fall-term registration (Caltech students must establish this before starting research and no later than July 1). - Must not be under any academic or disciplinary sanctions. - Must commit to conducting the research in person for the full ten weeks, without taking courses or holding another job during the fellowship. - International students attending a U.S. school must obtain approved off-campus employment authorization before beginning the fellowship (F-1 students via institution-approved CPT or USCIS-approved pre-completion OPT; J-1 students via Academic Training authorized by their program sponsor), and must consult their current institution's international student advisor when applying. - Applicants are expected to secure a Caltech faculty mentor's approval (and the mentor's financial contribution to the award) before submitting an application; the program states not to submit an application without prior faculty mentor approval.77:T11f3,Funder: California Institute of Technology Due Dates: November 1, 2026 (2027 application opens) | March 1, 2027 (Application and recommendations) | April 1, 2027 (Award notification) Funding Amounts: Ten-week summer research fellowship Summary: LIGO SURF supports undergraduate research in gravitational-wave astronomy, detector development, and related physics and engineering. Key Information: Fellows must conduct research in person, commit to the full ten weeks, and take no courses or other jobs. --- ## Description Caltech’s LIGO Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships program invites undergraduates in physics, astronomy, and engineering to contribute to the development of gravitational-wave astronomy. Students work with faculty, senior scientists, and engineers, receiving individual guidance while contributing to LIGO’s research and development program. The summer program is funded in part through the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. Research opportunities include gravitational physics and astrophysics, metrology, optics, lasers, mechanical systems, controls, and electronics. Projects span detector development, modeling and analysis, operations, observing, and data analysis. Research takes place at Caltech or the LIGO observatories in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana. Caltech’s Student-Faculty Programs Office provides administrative support, and students on campus join a larger community of undergraduate researchers. --- --- ## Funding Amount The SURF research period lasts ten weeks. LIGO SURF receives partial funding through the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. --- ## Eligibility Eligible applicants must: - Be continuing undergraduates (LIGO invites students in physics, astronomy, and engineering from across the United States). - Be eligible for fall-term registration. - Meet the applicable SURF GPA minimum: 2.0 for Caltech students, 2.5/4.0 for visiting students. - Complete the required coursework period before participation: - Caltech students: third term at Caltech or another school under a Dean-approved program. - Visiting students: second semester or third quarter at their college or university. - Have no academic or disciplinary sanctions. - Conduct research in person for ten weeks, without taking courses or holding another job. Additional requirements: - Caltech students must establish fall-registration eligibility before beginning research and no later than July 1. - Visiting students must matriculate in a degree-granting undergraduate program (co-enrolled high school students are ineligible). - Certain visiting students may apply only through established exchanges: - University of Iceland. - Cambridge colleges: St. John’s, St. Catherine’s, Corpus Christi, and Pembroke. --- ## Application Process - **Mentor approval:** SURF applicants need prior faculty approval, project-development assistance, and a mentor’s financial contribution. - **Required documents:** - Online application and student-written research proposal. - Unofficial transcript for visiting applicants (official transcript required if offered an award). - Two confidential recommendation letters, including at least one from a faculty member. - **Recommendations:** A previous research mentor should provide one letter; the prospective Caltech mentor submits a separate evaluation. - **Evaluation:** - Clear proposal demonstrating project understanding, field context, and a work plan. - Intellectual ownership, publication potential, and feasibility within ten weeks. - Relevant preparation and supportive recommendations and evaluations. - Stronger applications expected from returning SURF students. - Awards depend on application strength and available funding. --- ## Additional Information The SURF proposal should explain the theoretical background, experimental techniques, relationship to other research, and planned work. Projects should have significant intellectual and creative content and potential for publication in refereed literature. Upperclass students should seek both recommendations from professors in their field. The prospective Caltech mentor should not provide a recommendation letter because they complete a separate evaluation. Fellows agree to submit two interim reports, an abstract, and a written technical report, all approved by the mentor. They also give a final oral presentation and abide by Caltech’s Honor Code. 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LIGO SURF

LIGO SURF

SURF at Caltech

Off-Campus SURF

SURF@JPL

WAVE Fellows

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships Exchange Programs

SURF at Caltech

Off-Campus SURF

SURF@JPL

WAVE Fellows

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships Exchange Programs