I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend. This is the last email for the quarter and we will resume on January 5 when winter quarter begins. Note that the office is open during the break so feel free to ask any questions or stop in to say hello.
Career Workshop: Not sure that you want to go straight to astronomy grad school or even go to grad school at all? Let's do some career exploration! Thank you to everyone that responded! We are pleased to offer this event which will be organized by Dr. Julie Lutz. We will ask for rsvps next quarter, but be sure to mark your calendars now.
What: A Saturday event Jan. 24 from 10 am to 2 pm (includes morning refreshments and lunch)
Where: C520 in Physics/Astronomy Building
Who: Astronomy majors plus speakers who are high school teachers, museum/science center staff, community college instructors, observatory support staff. Others? Your suggestions are welcome. Lots of informal discussion and advice.
Colloquium: This Thursday at 4pm in PAA A102, Robert Smith (Univ. of Calgary) will give a talk on "The Expanding Universe: Remaking Cosmology in the 1920s and 1930 and the Nature of Discovery". Join us at 3:45pm in the foyer for coffee, tea and cookies. This is the last one of the quarter!
Astro Lunch: Tuesday at 2:30pm in PAA A118, Tori Hoehler (NASA Ames Research Center) will give a talk on "Quantifying Habitability as Organism/Environment Energy Balance'.
Enjoy the winter break and we'll see you all on January 5.
Thanks,
Sarah
Monday, December 1, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Astronomy Career Exploration Workshop
Not sure that you want to go straight to astronomy grad school or even go
to grad school at all? Let's do some career exploration!
What: A Saturday event Jan. 24 from 9 am to 2 pm (includes morning
refreshments and lunch)
Where: Somewhere in Physics/Astronomy Building
Who: Astronomy majors plus speakers who are high school teachers,
museum/science center staff, community college instructors, observatory
support staff. Others? Your suggestions are welcome. Lots of informal
discussion and advice.
If I get sufficient response to this idea, I'll arrange the event. Please
let me know by December 10 if you think you might be interested in
attending. It's not a commitment on your part to come at this point, I
just want to see how many majors might like to do this.
Julie Lutz (jlutz@astro.washington.edu)
Emeritus Research Professor of Astronomy
to grad school at all? Let's do some career exploration!
What: A Saturday event Jan. 24 from 9 am to 2 pm (includes morning
refreshments and lunch)
Where: Somewhere in Physics/Astronomy Building
Who: Astronomy majors plus speakers who are high school teachers,
museum/science center staff, community college instructors, observatory
support staff. Others? Your suggestions are welcome. Lots of informal
discussion and advice.
If I get sufficient response to this idea, I'll arrange the event. Please
let me know by December 10 if you think you might be interested in
attending. It's not a commitment on your part to come at this point, I
just want to see how many majors might like to do this.
Julie Lutz (jlutz@astro.washington.edu)
Emeritus Research Professor of Astronomy
Monday, November 24, 2008
November 24, 2008
We have a short week and I hope that you get to spend the days off relaxing and being with family and friends. Here are some events to look forward to: * Note the info session today!!*
NASA Summer Opportunities (TODAY!): Nov. 24, Washington NASA Space Grant will hold an information session on summer internships at NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and our local industry partners. Student interns are being recruited for these internships from all fields of science,technology, engineering and math.
WHEN: 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24.
WHERE: More Hall Room 220 from 3:30-5pm.
Former interns will talk about their experiences and offer insights into the application and interview process. Internships
opportunities are located throughout the United State. Applicants must be US citizens. Snacks will be provided. Excellent opportunity to hear about paid summer research work.
Astrobiology Seminar: Tomorrow (Tuesday) at 2:30pm in Phys/Astr A118, Dale Winebrenner (UW) will give a talk on "Ice Dynamics in the Martian North Polar Layered Deposits: Implications for Basal Temperatures and Astrobiology".
Undergraduate Pacific Physics and Astronomy Conference in Vancouver, BC: Students interested in going to this may want to setup carpooling and accommodations for a night or two.
The Undergraduate Pacific Physics and Astronomy Conference is an
opportunity for undergraduates from across British Columbia and Washington
to meet, share their research, and learn about career and research
opportunities in physics and astronomy.
This year's conference is hosted by the University of British Columbia in
Vancouver, on 14 March 2009. It is an all-day event, free of charge to
undergraduate participants. The conference will include presentations of
student research, a talk by a distinguished researcher, tours of lab
facilities, and opportunities for attendees to meet and network.
We hope that students from the University of Washington will be able to
attend the conference. For more information, check the UPPAC 2009 website
at http://www.physics.ubc.ca/physsoc/uppac/ or email
jcosman@physics.ubc.ca.
Cheers,
Jacob Cosman
Chair, Planning Committee
UPPAC 2009
University Disciplinary Committee: This may be an interesting opportunity for those of you curious about how the University functions. The University Disciplinary Committee is comprised of both students and faculty and is one of the formal hearing bodies for student misconduct. Students can learn more about the Student Conduct process and the UDC at http://depts.washington.edu/cssc. Students must be available from Jan 2009 - Dec 2009, although summer quarter cases are rare. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please email me and I will nominate you.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Sarah
NASA Summer Opportunities (TODAY!): Nov. 24, Washington NASA Space Grant will hold an information session on summer internships at NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and our local industry partners. Student interns are being recruited for these internships from all fields of science,technology, engineering and math.
WHEN: 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24.
WHERE: More Hall Room 220 from 3:30-5pm.
Former interns will talk about their experiences and offer insights into the application and interview process. Internships
opportunities are located throughout the United State. Applicants must be US citizens. Snacks will be provided. Excellent opportunity to hear about paid summer research work.
Astrobiology Seminar: Tomorrow (Tuesday) at 2:30pm in Phys/Astr A118, Dale Winebrenner (UW) will give a talk on "Ice Dynamics in the Martian North Polar Layered Deposits: Implications for Basal Temperatures and Astrobiology".
Undergraduate Pacific Physics and Astronomy Conference in Vancouver, BC: Students interested in going to this may want to setup carpooling and accommodations for a night or two.
The Undergraduate Pacific Physics and Astronomy Conference is an
opportunity for undergraduates from across British Columbia and Washington
to meet, share their research, and learn about career and research
opportunities in physics and astronomy.
This year's conference is hosted by the University of British Columbia in
Vancouver, on 14 March 2009. It is an all-day event, free of charge to
undergraduate participants. The conference will include presentations of
student research, a talk by a distinguished researcher, tours of lab
facilities, and opportunities for attendees to meet and network.
We hope that students from the University of Washington will be able to
attend the conference. For more information, check the UPPAC 2009 website
at http://www.physics.ubc.ca/physsoc/uppac/ or email
jcosman@physics.ubc.ca.
Cheers,
Jacob Cosman
Chair, Planning Committee
UPPAC 2009
University Disciplinary Committee: This may be an interesting opportunity for those of you curious about how the University functions. The University Disciplinary Committee is comprised of both students and faculty and is one of the formal hearing bodies for student misconduct. Students can learn more about the Student Conduct process and the UDC at http://depts.washington.edu/cssc. Students must be available from Jan 2009 - Dec 2009, although summer quarter cases are rare. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please email me and I will nominate you.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Sarah
Monday, November 17, 2008
November 17, 2008
I hope you were all able to get out and enjoy some of the sun we had this weekend. Here are some things to keep in mind this week.
Colloquium: This Thursday at 4pm in Phys/Astr A102, Crystal Brogan (NRAO) will give a talk on "Searching for the Secrets of Massive Star Birth". Join us at 3:45pm for coffee, tea and cookies in the foyer.
Astr 322 winter 2009: We have a large number of students taking Astr 322 this winter and are considering switching to a larger room. If you have not registered for the course, but intended to, please send me an email and I can help get you registered (you will need an add code). Also, I wanted to clarify that this course is on stars, not galaxies as stated in my previous email.
REUs: Now is the time to consider applying for a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). Browse through the REU list here: http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/list_result.cfm?unitid=5045. Most deadlines fall in January or February, but double check with each program you are interested in.
Undergraduate Research Conference Travel Awards: Did you know you could receive funding to travel to a professional conference and present your research? Applications for this award are taken on a continuing basis and need to be submitted at least 3 weeks before departure. The application typically includes unofficial transcripts, letter of recommendation from your research mentor, short statement of importance of research, research abstract and a brief budget. Find out more info here: http://www.washington.edu/research/urp/students/urcta.html
Page O'Announcements: Always updated: http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/
Have a great week!
Best,
Sarah
Colloquium: This Thursday at 4pm in Phys/Astr A102, Crystal Brogan (NRAO) will give a talk on "Searching for the Secrets of Massive Star Birth". Join us at 3:45pm for coffee, tea and cookies in the foyer.
Astr 322 winter 2009: We have a large number of students taking Astr 322 this winter and are considering switching to a larger room. If you have not registered for the course, but intended to, please send me an email and I can help get you registered (you will need an add code). Also, I wanted to clarify that this course is on stars, not galaxies as stated in my previous email.
REUs: Now is the time to consider applying for a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). Browse through the REU list here: http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/list_result.cfm?unitid=5045. Most deadlines fall in January or February, but double check with each program you are interested in.
Undergraduate Research Conference Travel Awards: Did you know you could receive funding to travel to a professional conference and present your research? Applications for this award are taken on a continuing basis and need to be submitted at least 3 weeks before departure. The application typically includes unofficial transcripts, letter of recommendation from your research mentor, short statement of importance of research, research abstract and a brief budget. Find out more info here: http://www.washington.edu/research/urp/students/urcta.html
Page O'Announcements: Always updated: http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/
Have a great week!
Best,
Sarah
Monday, November 10, 2008
November 10, 2008
Tomorrow is a holiday so no classes, but a great opportunity to catch up on sleep, homework etc or enjoy doing something fun. Read below for talks happening this week as well as some tips for winter quarter.
Colloquium/Undergrad Meet and Greet: Jill Knapp (Princeton) will give a talk this week on "High-Velocity Stars in the Galaxy". The talk is on Thursday and begins at 4pm in Phys/Astr A102. Coffee, tea and cookies will be served at 3:45pm in the foyer. Dr. Knapp is also interested in meeting with senior undergraduates interested in graduate school. This meeting will take place on Thursday, at 3pm in C341. Please send me a quick note if you are interested in attending so we know how many students to expect.
Astro Lunch: Wednesday at 12:30 in B356A, Wenjin Huang (UW) will give a talk on "Witness Evolution of Rotation of Massive Stars". Please bring your lunch!
Winter quarter registration tips: Trying to put your winter schedule together? Remember to use DARS (found on your MyUW page) to help determine which classes you still need to complete for University and Departmental requirements. If you need help finding a general education requirement course use this course search tool: http://www.washington.edu/students/timeschd/genedinq.html. There is also a list of interesting general courses provided by central campus advising found here: http://www.washington.edu/uaa/gateway/advising/registration/sgec.php.
Winter Astronomy courses: Here is a list of winter classes that are applicable to Astronomy majors:
Astronomy 300- astro computing offered winter quarter, is a highly recommended course if you are planning to take Astr 480- data analysis in the spring.
Astr 322- Galaxies is part of the core Astronomy requirements.
Astr 421- Stellar Observations and Theory taught by Ana Larson http://www.astro.washington.edu/astro421/
Astr 425- Cosmology taught by Andrew Connolly (example from winter 07 class with Eric Agol: http://www.astro.washington.edu/agol/astr425.html)
Enjoy the week,
Sarah
Colloquium/Undergrad Meet and Greet: Jill Knapp (Princeton) will give a talk this week on "High-Velocity Stars in the Galaxy". The talk is on Thursday and begins at 4pm in Phys/Astr A102. Coffee, tea and cookies will be served at 3:45pm in the foyer. Dr. Knapp is also interested in meeting with senior undergraduates interested in graduate school. This meeting will take place on Thursday, at 3pm in C341. Please send me a quick note if you are interested in attending so we know how many students to expect.
Astro Lunch: Wednesday at 12:30 in B356A, Wenjin Huang (UW) will give a talk on "Witness Evolution of Rotation of Massive Stars". Please bring your lunch!
Winter quarter registration tips: Trying to put your winter schedule together? Remember to use DARS (found on your MyUW page) to help determine which classes you still need to complete for University and Departmental requirements. If you need help finding a general education requirement course use this course search tool: http://www.washington.edu/students/timeschd/genedinq.html. There is also a list of interesting general courses provided by central campus advising found here: http://www.washington.edu/uaa/gateway/advising/registration/sgec.php.
Winter Astronomy courses: Here is a list of winter classes that are applicable to Astronomy majors:
Astronomy 300- astro computing offered winter quarter, is a highly recommended course if you are planning to take Astr 480- data analysis in the spring.
Astr 322- Galaxies is part of the core Astronomy requirements.
Astr 421- Stellar Observations and Theory taught by Ana Larson http://www.astro.washington.edu/astro421/
Astr 425- Cosmology taught by Andrew Connolly (example from winter 07 class with Eric Agol: http://www.astro.washington.edu/agol/astr425.html)
Enjoy the week,
Sarah
Monday, November 3, 2008
November 3, 2008
Here are some things to keep in mind this week:
* Colloquium: This Thursday at 4pm in Phys/Astr A102, Shawn Domagal-Goldman (UW) will give a talk on "Organic Sulfur Gases as Biosignatures for Anoxic Planets". Join us at 3:45pm in the foyer for coffee, tea and cookies.
* REU Programs: Research Experience for Undergraduates are great opportunities to go to another institution, do some research and get paid. The applications are due usually the beginning of January through the end of March. Check out the REU page on the Wiki: http://librarian.phys.washington.edu/astro/index.php/Undergraduates:REU or start looking for an REU directly at http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm.
* NASA Paid Internship Info Session: On Nov. 24, Washington NASA Space Grant will hold an information session on summer internships at NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and our local industry partners. Student interns are
being recruited for these internships from all fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
WHEN: 3:30-5 p.m. Nov. 24
WHERE: More Hall Room 220 from 3:30-5pm.
Former interns will talk about their experiences and offer insights into the application and interview process. Internships
opportunities are located throughout the United State. Applicants must be US citizens. Snacks will be provided.
* Winter Quarter Classes: Registration is approaching, so sit down and take a minute to review what you should take next quarter. Use DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) to find out which requirements you still need to complete. If you questions please let us know.
* Graduate Program at UT Austin: The Department of Astronomy at Texas is looking for good graduate
students. We are writing to you because you may know students who would enjoy and benefit from the graduate school experience we offer.
Students at Texas can join active programs in most areas of astronomical research including exoplanet searches, star formation and evolution, the ISM, the structure and evolution of galaxies, and cosmology.
Those interested in observational astronomy have access to the 9.2-m Hobby-Eberly Telescope, the 2.7-m and 2.1-m telescopes of McDonald Observatory, and the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory on Mauna Kea. Many of our astronomers use space observatories such as the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. Texas also offers excellent opportunities for students to learn how to build instruments for optical and infrared astronomy. The size of our faculty working on theoretical astronomy has grown substantially in the past few years, greatly expanding opportunities for students interested in theory.
Historically all our graduate students have had financial support as research assistants, teaching assistants, or from fellowships.
We hope you will help prospective graduate students become aware of the exciting opportunities for research at Texas and of our strong commitment to graduate education. They can learn more about us by visiting our web site at
http://www.as.utexas.edu/astronomy/education/gradstudies.html.
* Colloquium: This Thursday at 4pm in Phys/Astr A102, Shawn Domagal-Goldman (UW) will give a talk on "Organic Sulfur Gases as Biosignatures for Anoxic Planets". Join us at 3:45pm in the foyer for coffee, tea and cookies.
* REU Programs: Research Experience for Undergraduates are great opportunities to go to another institution, do some research and get paid. The applications are due usually the beginning of January through the end of March. Check out the REU page on the Wiki: http://librarian.phys.washington.edu/astro/index.php/Undergraduates:REU or start looking for an REU directly at http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm.
* NASA Paid Internship Info Session: On Nov. 24, Washington NASA Space Grant will hold an information session on summer internships at NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and our local industry partners. Student interns are
being recruited for these internships from all fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
WHEN: 3:30-5 p.m. Nov. 24
WHERE: More Hall Room 220 from 3:30-5pm.
Former interns will talk about their experiences and offer insights into the application and interview process. Internships
opportunities are located throughout the United State. Applicants must be US citizens. Snacks will be provided.
* Winter Quarter Classes: Registration is approaching, so sit down and take a minute to review what you should take next quarter. Use DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) to find out which requirements you still need to complete. If you questions please let us know.
* Graduate Program at UT Austin: The Department of Astronomy at Texas is looking for good graduate
students. We are writing to you because you may know students who would enjoy and benefit from the graduate school experience we offer.
Students at Texas can join active programs in most areas of astronomical research including exoplanet searches, star formation and evolution, the ISM, the structure and evolution of galaxies, and cosmology.
Those interested in observational astronomy have access to the 9.2-m Hobby-Eberly Telescope, the 2.7-m and 2.1-m telescopes of McDonald Observatory, and the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory on Mauna Kea. Many of our astronomers use space observatories such as the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. Texas also offers excellent opportunities for students to learn how to build instruments for optical and infrared astronomy. The size of our faculty working on theoretical astronomy has grown substantially in the past few years, greatly expanding opportunities for students interested in theory.
Historically all our graduate students have had financial support as research assistants, teaching assistants, or from fellowships.
We hope you will help prospective graduate students become aware of the exciting opportunities for research at Texas and of our strong commitment to graduate education. They can learn more about us by visiting our web site at
http://www.as.utexas.edu/astronomy/education/gradstudies.html.
Monday, October 27, 2008
October 27, 2008
We have been having some great weather and I hope you have been able to get out and enjoy some of it! Here are some things to keep in mind this week:
* CDO Networking Day Oct 29-30: You may have seen these fliers in the elevators for the CDO Physics and Astronomy Networking Day. Networking Day has can be a great way to meet representatives from the industry (Siemens, Los Alamos National Lab, Intel, Lawrence Livermore National Lab and more) as well as listen to student research projects, have lunch, and attend lab tours. Note: the employer meeting will take place on Oct. 29 5:30-9pm in Phys/Astr C520 and the student research portion on Oct. 30 from 8:30-5:30pm in the HUB 106B. Please see the CDO website for details: http://students.washington.edu/cdophys/ND/index.shtml.
* Summer internship info sessions: On Nov. 24, Washington NASA Space Grant will hold an information session on summer internships at NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and our local industry partners. Student interns are being recruited for these internships from all fields of science,
technology, engineering and math.
WHEN: 3:30-5 p.m. Nov. 24
WHERE: More Hall Room 220 from 3:30-5pm.
Former interns will talk about their experiences and offer insights into the application and interview process. Internships opportunities are located throughout the United State. Applicants must be US citizens. Snacks will be provided.
* UK Undergrad Research School Dec. 15-19: There is a great opportunity for junior/senior level undergraduates interested in astrophysical research. The Royal Astronomical Society and University of Central Lancashire are offering this as a fully funded (accommodation, meals and UK travel) school that includes research talks and activities as well as discussion of research study and career prospects and advice. The application deadline is November 12. Information is available at http://www.star.uclan.ac.uk/researchschool/. I encourage anyone interested to apply.
* Colloquium: This Thursday, Miller Goss (VLA, NRAO) will give a talk on "Very Long Baseline Array Observations of Pulsars: Distances and Proper Motions". The talk is at 4pm in Phys/Astr A102. Coffee, tea and cookies will be served at 3:45pm the foyer. Everyone is welcome to attend.
* Page O'Announcements: http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/ Updated with some interesting campus events that are coming up.
Have a great week,
Sarah
* CDO Networking Day Oct 29-30: You may have seen these fliers in the elevators for the CDO Physics and Astronomy Networking Day. Networking Day has can be a great way to meet representatives from the industry (Siemens, Los Alamos National Lab, Intel, Lawrence Livermore National Lab and more) as well as listen to student research projects, have lunch, and attend lab tours. Note: the employer meeting will take place on Oct. 29 5:30-9pm in Phys/Astr C520 and the student research portion on Oct. 30 from 8:30-5:30pm in the HUB 106B. Please see the CDO website for details: http://students.washington.edu/cdophys/ND/index.shtml.
* Summer internship info sessions: On Nov. 24, Washington NASA Space Grant will hold an information session on summer internships at NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and our local industry partners. Student interns are being recruited for these internships from all fields of science,
technology, engineering and math.
WHEN: 3:30-5 p.m. Nov. 24
WHERE: More Hall Room 220 from 3:30-5pm.
Former interns will talk about their experiences and offer insights into the application and interview process. Internships opportunities are located throughout the United State. Applicants must be US citizens. Snacks will be provided.
* UK Undergrad Research School Dec. 15-19: There is a great opportunity for junior/senior level undergraduates interested in astrophysical research. The Royal Astronomical Society and University of Central Lancashire are offering this as a fully funded (accommodation, meals and UK travel) school that includes research talks and activities as well as discussion of research study and career prospects and advice. The application deadline is November 12. Information is available at http://www.star.uclan.ac.uk/researchschool/. I encourage anyone interested to apply.
* Colloquium: This Thursday, Miller Goss (VLA, NRAO) will give a talk on "Very Long Baseline Array Observations of Pulsars: Distances and Proper Motions". The talk is at 4pm in Phys/Astr A102. Coffee, tea and cookies will be served at 3:45pm the foyer. Everyone is welcome to attend.
* Page O'Announcements: http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/ Updated with some interesting campus events that are coming up.
Have a great week,
Sarah
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
October 22, 2008 - Science Career Fair
Tomorrow is the Science and Engineering Career Fair at the HUB Ballroom from noon -5 pm. There are ~150 companies planning to attend like consulting firms, IBM, GE and even Facebook. View the whole list and other details here: http://www.uwseba.org/career-fair.html.
Even if you still have some time before you graduate, attending a career fair can be a great way to get an idea of the types of companies you might work for in the future. Some companies are also at the career fair recruiting for summer internships.
Be sure to bring an updated resume with you.
Best,
Sarah
Even if you still have some time before you graduate, attending a career fair can be a great way to get an idea of the types of companies you might work for in the future. Some companies are also at the career fair recruiting for summer internships.
Be sure to bring an updated resume with you.
Best,
Sarah
Monday, October 20, 2008
October 20, 2008
Hi Everyone,
Here are some things to keep in mind this week:
* REU Tips: Research Experience for Undergraduates is a great way to spend some time doing research in a different location and get paid! One of your grad students, Ferah Munshi has put together some great information on the Undergrad WIKI that can be very helpful in searching for and applying to an REU. http://librarian.phys.washington.edu/astro/index.php/Undergraduates:REU If you have trouble reading this site, please let me know. The wiki can be accessed when you are on a computer in the Astro Lab and most pages are accessible from home, but if you would like to edit the wiki you will need an account.
* CDO Networking Day Oct 29-30: You may have seen these fliers in the elevators for the CDO Physics and Astronomy Networking Day. Networking Day has can be a great way to meet representatives from the industry (Siemens, Los Alamos National Lab, Intel, Lawrence Livermore National Lab and more) as well as listen to student research projects, have lunch, and attend lab tours. Note: the employer meeting will take place on Oct. 29 5:30-9pm in Phys/Astr C520 and the student research portion on Oct. 30 from 8:30-5:30pm in the HUB 106B. Please see the CDO website for details: http://students.washington.edu/cdophys/ND/index.shtml.
UK Undergrad Research School Dec. 15-19: There is a great opportunity for junior/senior level undergraduates interested in astrophysical research. The Royal Astronomical Society and University of Central Lancashire are offering this as a fully funded (accommodation, meals and UK travel) school that includes research talks and activities as well as discussion of research study and career prospects and advice. The application deadline is November 12. Information is available at http://www.star.uclan.ac.uk/researchschool/. I encourage anyone interested to apply.
Winter Classes: The winter time schedule is available online. It was pointed out that those students taking Phys 334: Circuits will also have a conflict if taking both Astr 322: Galaxies and Astr 300: Astro Computing. If you have this conflict please let me know and we can discuss some alternatives.
Physics offers an interesting course on issues of ethnic minorities and women in science and engineering if anyone is interested. Physics 451, Tues/Thurs 12:30-2:20 (3 or 5 credits).
Spring Classes: I met with Physics regarding the spring schedule to try to avoid any potential scheduling conflicts. The one conflict we see is Physics 228 which cannot be taken if you are planning to take Astr 323 or Astr 480. Please send me a quick email or let me know if you are planning to take Phys 228, Astr 323 and/or Astr 480 this spring.
Colloquium: This Thursday at 4pm in Phys/Astr A102, John Wisniewski (UW) will give a talk on "High Contrast Imaging of Circumstellar Disks". Join us at 3:45pm in the foyer for coffee, tea and cookies. The quarter schedule can be found here: http://www.astro.washington.edu/pages/colloquium.html
Astro Lunch: Tomorrow at 12:30 in B356A, Ian Dobbs-Dixon (McGill) will give a talk on
"Radiative Hydrodynamics of Short Period Planets". Please bring your lunch. The quarter astro lunch schedule can be found here: http://www.astro.washington.edu/nms/astrolunch.html
Astrobiology Seminar: Tomorrow at 2:30pm in Phys/Astr A118, David Caitling (Univ. of Bristol) will give a talk on "Initial results from NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander". The quarter AB seminar schedule can be found here: http://depts.washington.edu/astrobio/research/seminars.html.
Page O'Announcements: http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/
Have a great week!
Best,
Sarah
Here are some things to keep in mind this week:
* REU Tips: Research Experience for Undergraduates is a great way to spend some time doing research in a different location and get paid! One of your grad students, Ferah Munshi has put together some great information on the Undergrad WIKI that can be very helpful in searching for and applying to an REU. http://librarian.phys.washington.edu/astro/index.php/Undergraduates:REU If you have trouble reading this site, please let me know. The wiki can be accessed when you are on a computer in the Astro Lab and most pages are accessible from home, but if you would like to edit the wiki you will need an account.
* CDO Networking Day Oct 29-30: You may have seen these fliers in the elevators for the CDO Physics and Astronomy Networking Day. Networking Day has can be a great way to meet representatives from the industry (Siemens, Los Alamos National Lab, Intel, Lawrence Livermore National Lab and more) as well as listen to student research projects, have lunch, and attend lab tours. Note: the employer meeting will take place on Oct. 29 5:30-9pm in Phys/Astr C520 and the student research portion on Oct. 30 from 8:30-5:30pm in the HUB 106B. Please see the CDO website for details: http://students.washington.edu/cdophys/ND/index.shtml.
UK Undergrad Research School Dec. 15-19: There is a great opportunity for junior/senior level undergraduates interested in astrophysical research. The Royal Astronomical Society and University of Central Lancashire are offering this as a fully funded (accommodation, meals and UK travel) school that includes research talks and activities as well as discussion of research study and career prospects and advice. The application deadline is November 12. Information is available at http://www.star.uclan.ac.uk/researchschool/. I encourage anyone interested to apply.
Winter Classes: The winter time schedule is available online. It was pointed out that those students taking Phys 334: Circuits will also have a conflict if taking both Astr 322: Galaxies and Astr 300: Astro Computing. If you have this conflict please let me know and we can discuss some alternatives.
Physics offers an interesting course on issues of ethnic minorities and women in science and engineering if anyone is interested. Physics 451, Tues/Thurs 12:30-2:20 (3 or 5 credits).
Spring Classes: I met with Physics regarding the spring schedule to try to avoid any potential scheduling conflicts. The one conflict we see is Physics 228 which cannot be taken if you are planning to take Astr 323 or Astr 480. Please send me a quick email or let me know if you are planning to take Phys 228, Astr 323 and/or Astr 480 this spring.
Colloquium: This Thursday at 4pm in Phys/Astr A102, John Wisniewski (UW) will give a talk on "High Contrast Imaging of Circumstellar Disks". Join us at 3:45pm in the foyer for coffee, tea and cookies. The quarter schedule can be found here: http://www.astro.washington.edu/pages/colloquium.html
Astro Lunch: Tomorrow at 12:30 in B356A, Ian Dobbs-Dixon (McGill) will give a talk on
"Radiative Hydrodynamics of Short Period Planets". Please bring your lunch. The quarter astro lunch schedule can be found here: http://www.astro.washington.edu/nms/astrolunch.html
Astrobiology Seminar: Tomorrow at 2:30pm in Phys/Astr A118, David Caitling (Univ. of Bristol) will give a talk on "Initial results from NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander". The quarter AB seminar schedule can be found here: http://depts.washington.edu/astrobio/research/seminars.html.
Page O'Announcements: http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/
Have a great week!
Best,
Sarah
Monday, October 13, 2008
October 13, 2008
I hope the week is off to a great start so far. Below are some announcements to keep in mind and a recap of last week's meeting.
Astro Lunch: Tomorrow at 12:30pm in Phys/Astr B356A we are holding a department computing meeting rather than the traditional lunch talk. You're welcome to attend if you have an interest in hearing where the department is heading with our computing resources.
Colloquium: Philip Hopkins (UC Berkeley) will be here on Thursday to give a talk on "Galaxy Collisions: A Factory for Quasars, Feedback, Ellipticals and even Disks?". The talk begins at 4pm in Phys/Astr A102, but join us at 3:45pm in the foyer for coffee, tea and cookies. This is a great time to mingle with other members of the Astronomy Department and I have been very impressed by the number of undergrads that attend, so please keep it up!
Meet a Grad: Today was the grad/undergrad pizza lunch, but if you weren't able to make it you can still join a new program designed to connect you with graduate students. The grad students would like to start a new program called "Meet a Grad". Interested in advice on classes, research, graduate school, life in
science, or just life in general? Ever want to tell a graduate student what makes a good (or bad) TA? Do you want to get to know other people in the department in a friendly, non-classroom environment?
The Astro-grads are proud to announce that their Meet-A-Grad program for the 2008-2009 school year is open to all undergrads interested in the physical sciences. If you are interested in taking part please contact Ferah Munshi (fdm@astro.washington.edu).
What is the Meet-A-Grad program (in a nutshell)? Undergraduates majoring (or considering majoring) in a field in the physical sciences will be paired up with a current Astronomy or Physics graduate student. Pairs (or triplets) meet or chat several times throughout the semester to take a lab tour, hang out, meet at a cafe to talk, or do anything else that the both of you would find useful. This is your chance to get advice on classes, research, graduate school, etc., and to pass on some of your knowledge in a comfortable and informal context.
Meeting Recap: Thank you to everyone that was able to attend the meeting last week. Here is a recap of things we discussed. Please let us know if you have any questions about the meeting.
Welcome/IYA: Suzanne Hawley, department chair welcomed everyone and wanted to let everyone know that 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy (IYA). Our department will be participating in the IYA and we would appreciate all of your help as we hold events throughout the year.
Palen Radio Observatory: Frank Garcia is actively recruiting any interested undergrads to work on the radio telescope (which is on the top of the Atmospheric Sciences building). There are several projects in need of people to work on them. Research credit can be given depending on the project. Please contact Frank if you're interested frankgarcia@gmail.com.
Meet-A-Grad: Ferah Munshi gave us an overview of the Meet-A-Grad program (read above for details).
A-wing Telescope and TJO: Ana Larson gave us a great overview of the new a-wing telescope (this is used in Astronomy 480 in the spring) and discussed volunteer opportunities at the Theodore Jacobsen Observatory (in north campus). While the Jacobsen Observatory season is coming to an end, you are still welcome to volunteer by answering questions or consider taking Astronomy 270 this spring which will cover events at TJO and how to use the planetarium.
Advising Info: Paula started the advising section off with an overview of how advising works in our department. If you have questions about careers, research, and graduate school students should speak with Paula. If you have questions about registration, class scheduling, and other University policies you can talk with Sarah. Then, if you're unsure you can talk with either one of us and we can point you in the right direction.
Many of you are applying to graduate schools this fall. Paula recommends that you sit down with faculty with your list of schools and review these. You can also review this list with Paula.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) are excellent research opportunities for during the summers. There are a variety of REUs available and applications are usually accepted December - February.
Next, Sarah covered the annual course schedule (found here: http://staff.washington.edu/sterrs/YearTS.htm). If you have questions about your schedule or want to sit down to plan your next 1-4 years, please stop in and I would be happy to do this anytime.
There is an undergraduate WIKI, which allows you to make edits and updates for information relevant to you. The wiki can be found here: http://librarian.phys.washington.edu/astro/index.php/Academics:Undergraduates. If you would like an account (to edit the wiki) please let Sarah know.
Photos: Several photos were taken of the undergrads to post on the mug shot board in the hallway. If you would like to be added to the board, please stop by to see Sarah.
Announcements: http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/
Whew.. I think that covers it all. Let Paula or I know if you have any questions.
Have a great week,
Sarah
Astro Lunch: Tomorrow at 12:30pm in Phys/Astr B356A we are holding a department computing meeting rather than the traditional lunch talk. You're welcome to attend if you have an interest in hearing where the department is heading with our computing resources.
Colloquium: Philip Hopkins (UC Berkeley) will be here on Thursday to give a talk on "Galaxy Collisions: A Factory for Quasars, Feedback, Ellipticals and even Disks?". The talk begins at 4pm in Phys/Astr A102, but join us at 3:45pm in the foyer for coffee, tea and cookies. This is a great time to mingle with other members of the Astronomy Department and I have been very impressed by the number of undergrads that attend, so please keep it up!
Meet a Grad: Today was the grad/undergrad pizza lunch, but if you weren't able to make it you can still join a new program designed to connect you with graduate students. The grad students would like to start a new program called "Meet a Grad". Interested in advice on classes, research, graduate school, life in
science, or just life in general? Ever want to tell a graduate student what makes a good (or bad) TA? Do you want to get to know other people in the department in a friendly, non-classroom environment?
The Astro-grads are proud to announce that their Meet-A-Grad program for the 2008-2009 school year is open to all undergrads interested in the physical sciences. If you are interested in taking part please contact Ferah Munshi (fdm@astro.washington.edu).
What is the Meet-A-Grad program (in a nutshell)? Undergraduates majoring (or considering majoring) in a field in the physical sciences will be paired up with a current Astronomy or Physics graduate student. Pairs (or triplets) meet or chat several times throughout the semester to take a lab tour, hang out, meet at a cafe to talk, or do anything else that the both of you would find useful. This is your chance to get advice on classes, research, graduate school, etc., and to pass on some of your knowledge in a comfortable and informal context.
Meeting Recap: Thank you to everyone that was able to attend the meeting last week. Here is a recap of things we discussed. Please let us know if you have any questions about the meeting.
Welcome/IYA: Suzanne Hawley, department chair welcomed everyone and wanted to let everyone know that 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy (IYA). Our department will be participating in the IYA and we would appreciate all of your help as we hold events throughout the year.
Palen Radio Observatory: Frank Garcia is actively recruiting any interested undergrads to work on the radio telescope (which is on the top of the Atmospheric Sciences building). There are several projects in need of people to work on them. Research credit can be given depending on the project. Please contact Frank if you're interested frankgarcia@gmail.com.
Meet-A-Grad: Ferah Munshi gave us an overview of the Meet-A-Grad program (read above for details).
A-wing Telescope and TJO: Ana Larson gave us a great overview of the new a-wing telescope (this is used in Astronomy 480 in the spring) and discussed volunteer opportunities at the Theodore Jacobsen Observatory (in north campus). While the Jacobsen Observatory season is coming to an end, you are still welcome to volunteer by answering questions or consider taking Astronomy 270 this spring which will cover events at TJO and how to use the planetarium.
Advising Info: Paula started the advising section off with an overview of how advising works in our department. If you have questions about careers, research, and graduate school students should speak with Paula. If you have questions about registration, class scheduling, and other University policies you can talk with Sarah. Then, if you're unsure you can talk with either one of us and we can point you in the right direction.
Many of you are applying to graduate schools this fall. Paula recommends that you sit down with faculty with your list of schools and review these. You can also review this list with Paula.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) are excellent research opportunities for during the summers. There are a variety of REUs available and applications are usually accepted December - February.
Next, Sarah covered the annual course schedule (found here: http://staff.washington.edu/sterrs/YearTS.htm). If you have questions about your schedule or want to sit down to plan your next 1-4 years, please stop in and I would be happy to do this anytime.
There is an undergraduate WIKI, which allows you to make edits and updates for information relevant to you. The wiki can be found here: http://librarian.phys.washington.edu/astro/index.php/Academics:Undergraduates. If you would like an account (to edit the wiki) please let Sarah know.
Photos: Several photos were taken of the undergrads to post on the mug shot board in the hallway. If you would like to be added to the board, please stop by to see Sarah.
Announcements: http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/
Whew.. I think that covers it all. Let Paula or I know if you have any questions.
Have a great week,
Sarah
Monday, October 6, 2008
October 6, 2008
The quarter is well underway and here are some things to think about this week.
Undergrad Meeting: Tomorrow at 3pm in Phys/Astr A216 we will have our quarterly undergraduate meeting. Come to meet the chair of our department, hear about classes, the radio observatory and meeting with grad students. We will also be taking the annual undergrad photo. Plus free food!
If you can't make it, I will send out a recap next week so you know what we discussed.
GRE Physics: For those applying to graduate school, October 10 (this Friday) is the last day to register for the GRE Physics November 8 exam date. Visit www.gre.com for more details on the Physics subject test.
Astro Lunch: tomorrow at 12:30 in Phys/Astr B356A, Julia Greissl (Univ of Arizona) will give a talk on "Probing the IMF Beyond the Milky Way: Integrated Spectra of Young Super-Star Clusters in Nearby Galaxies." Join us for this informal talk and please feel free to bring your lunch. For future talks view the schedule here: http://www.astro.washington.edu/nms/astrolunch.html
Colloquium: This Thursday at 4pm in Phys/Astr A102, Mark Krumholz (Lick Observatory) will give a talk on "From Massive Cores to Massive Stars". Coffee, tea and cookies will be served at 3:45pm in the foyer.
Page O'Announcements: Always updated with "sometimes" useful information: http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Best,
Sarah
Undergrad Meeting: Tomorrow at 3pm in Phys/Astr A216 we will have our quarterly undergraduate meeting. Come to meet the chair of our department, hear about classes, the radio observatory and meeting with grad students. We will also be taking the annual undergrad photo. Plus free food!
If you can't make it, I will send out a recap next week so you know what we discussed.
GRE Physics: For those applying to graduate school, October 10 (this Friday) is the last day to register for the GRE Physics November 8 exam date. Visit www.gre.com for more details on the Physics subject test.
Astro Lunch: tomorrow at 12:30 in Phys/Astr B356A, Julia Greissl (Univ of Arizona) will give a talk on "Probing the IMF Beyond the Milky Way: Integrated Spectra of Young Super-Star Clusters in Nearby Galaxies." Join us for this informal talk and please feel free to bring your lunch. For future talks view the schedule here: http://www.astro.washington.edu/nms/astrolunch.html
Colloquium: This Thursday at 4pm in Phys/Astr A102, Mark Krumholz (Lick Observatory) will give a talk on "From Massive Cores to Massive Stars". Coffee, tea and cookies will be served at 3:45pm in the foyer.
Page O'Announcements: Always updated with "sometimes" useful information: http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Best,
Sarah
Sunday, September 28, 2008
September 29, 2008
We are starting the first full week off with beautiful weather! I hope you are able to get outside and enjoy a bit of it. Here are some things to keep in mind this week:
* Undergrad Meeting: We would like to hold the autumn quarter undergrad meeting on Tues Oct 7 or Thurs Oct 9 at 3pm. Please fill out the VERY quick survey to let me know which one is the preferred: https://catalysttools.washington.edu/webq/survey/sterrs/61877
* State of the Department: This Thursday at 3:30pm, join us in the auditorium building foyer for some food and fun as the department celebrates the new school year. This is a fun event for all and a great opportunity to hear what is going on in the Astronomy Department. After the food, we will meet in Phys/Astr A102 to listen to the "State of the Department" address by our chair, Suzanne Hawley.
* Astro Lunch: Join us tomorrow, at 12:30 in Phys/Astr B356A for a lunch talk by Bryan Laubscher (Odysseus Technologies) on "The Space Elevator and Our Future". Please bring your lunch.
* Astrobiology Seminar: The astrobiology seminar is tomorrow at 2:30pm in Phys/Astr A118. This week, Rory Barnes (UofArizona) will give a talk on "Habitability of Tidally-Locked Terrestrial Exoplanets". Note: Dr. Barnes received his PhD from UW and will be returning as a postdoc this January.
* Mary Gates Research Scholarships: The Mary Gates Scholarships are given in $4,000 or $6,000 awards for undergraduates engaged in research with faculty. I strongly encourage everyone involved in research to apply. The deadline to apply is October 17 at 5pm. You can find out more and learn when an info session is here: http://www.washington.edu/uaa/mge/apply/research/deadlines.htm.
* Course schedule changes: Tomorrow, Sep. 30 is the last day to make changes to add, drop or change a course without being assessed a $20 fee and possible tuition forfeiture.
* Building Permits: If you have Phys/Astr building keys, please stop by the front office to pick up your quarterly building permit. You must have these to be in the building after hours.
* Graduating senior? Don't forget to see me to apply to graduate. You will also need to meet with any other major advisers (i.e. Margot if you are also a Physics major).
Please stop in anytime if you have questions or just want to say hello.
Best,
Sarah
* Undergrad Meeting: We would like to hold the autumn quarter undergrad meeting on Tues Oct 7 or Thurs Oct 9 at 3pm. Please fill out the VERY quick survey to let me know which one is the preferred: https://catalysttools.washington.edu/webq/survey/sterrs/61877
* State of the Department: This Thursday at 3:30pm, join us in the auditorium building foyer for some food and fun as the department celebrates the new school year. This is a fun event for all and a great opportunity to hear what is going on in the Astronomy Department. After the food, we will meet in Phys/Astr A102 to listen to the "State of the Department" address by our chair, Suzanne Hawley.
* Astro Lunch: Join us tomorrow, at 12:30 in Phys/Astr B356A for a lunch talk by Bryan Laubscher (Odysseus Technologies) on "The Space Elevator and Our Future". Please bring your lunch.
* Astrobiology Seminar: The astrobiology seminar is tomorrow at 2:30pm in Phys/Astr A118. This week, Rory Barnes (UofArizona) will give a talk on "Habitability of Tidally-Locked Terrestrial Exoplanets". Note: Dr. Barnes received his PhD from UW and will be returning as a postdoc this January.
* Mary Gates Research Scholarships: The Mary Gates Scholarships are given in $4,000 or $6,000 awards for undergraduates engaged in research with faculty. I strongly encourage everyone involved in research to apply. The deadline to apply is October 17 at 5pm. You can find out more and learn when an info session is here: http://www.washington.edu/uaa/mge/apply/research/deadlines.htm.
* Course schedule changes: Tomorrow, Sep. 30 is the last day to make changes to add, drop or change a course without being assessed a $20 fee and possible tuition forfeiture.
* Building Permits: If you have Phys/Astr building keys, please stop by the front office to pick up your quarterly building permit. You must have these to be in the building after hours.
* Graduating senior? Don't forget to see me to apply to graduate. You will also need to meet with any other major advisers (i.e. Margot if you are also a Physics major).
Please stop in anytime if you have questions or just want to say hello.
Best,
Sarah
Monday, September 22, 2008
September 22, 2008
Welcome back to the returning to students and hello to our new Astronomy majors! Paula and I hope that you all had an enjoyable summer and are looking forward to hearing about your experiences. You are always welcome to stop in to see us either to say hello or ask questions.
Here are some important things to keep in mind this week:
* Palen Radio Observatory: Did you know that there is a radio observatory just for undergrads on campus? Would you like to know more about radio telescopes and work on a project? More info on PRO here: http://www.astro.washington.edu/undergrad/radioastro/. We are currently looking for students interested in working with our radio observatory. Please contact Frank Garcia (frankgarcia@gmail.com) if you want to know more.
* Building Permits: If you have Physics/Astronomy building keys please stop by the front office (C319) to pick up your building permit. Building permits are required if you have keys and must be with you any time you are in the building after hours and weekends.
* Research forms: Those taking ASTR 499 independent research should stop by the front office and pick up a research credit approval form. This helps us know what kind of projects are being worked on, who you are working with and for how many credits. Your research adviser must sign it to approve your project and how many credits you are working for.
* Graduation Applications: students planning to graduate this year need to apply to graduate soon. Please stop in to see me to fill out graduation paperwork. If you are graduating this autumn, you must submit paperwork no later than October 10.
* Undergrad Meeting: we will hold our quarterly undergraduate meeting in a few weeks and will let you know more details soon.
* Page O'Announcements: The Page O'Announcements has listings for tons of campus events, jobs, special courses and funding/scholarships. This page is always updated so take a look. http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/
Hope you have a great start to the fall quarter.
Best,
Sarah
Here are some important things to keep in mind this week:
* Palen Radio Observatory: Did you know that there is a radio observatory just for undergrads on campus? Would you like to know more about radio telescopes and work on a project? More info on PRO here: http://www.astro.washington.edu/undergrad/radioastro/. We are currently looking for students interested in working with our radio observatory. Please contact Frank Garcia (frankgarcia@gmail.com) if you want to know more.
* Building Permits: If you have Physics/Astronomy building keys please stop by the front office (C319) to pick up your building permit. Building permits are required if you have keys and must be with you any time you are in the building after hours and weekends.
* Research forms: Those taking ASTR 499 independent research should stop by the front office and pick up a research credit approval form. This helps us know what kind of projects are being worked on, who you are working with and for how many credits. Your research adviser must sign it to approve your project and how many credits you are working for.
* Graduation Applications: students planning to graduate this year need to apply to graduate soon. Please stop in to see me to fill out graduation paperwork. If you are graduating this autumn, you must submit paperwork no later than October 10.
* Undergrad Meeting: we will hold our quarterly undergraduate meeting in a few weeks and will let you know more details soon.
* Page O'Announcements: The Page O'Announcements has listings for tons of campus events, jobs, special courses and funding/scholarships. This page is always updated so take a look. http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/
Hope you have a great start to the fall quarter.
Best,
Sarah
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