GROWTH-MSI

Growth and Research Opportunities With Traineeship in High-energy-physics (GROWTH) at a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) is a Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC) funded program under the Division of High Energy Physics (HEP). The goal is offer undergraduates from Northern California CSU's and UC Merced the opportunity to gain exposures and develop their interests in High Energy Physics. If you are interested in learning more about this program and/or how does subatomic particles affect the entire Universe, please contact the PI: Prof. Wing To at: wto@csustan.edu, no matter which institution you reside.

Contact Information:

Please contact PI, Wing To for any questions about this program. Contact wto@csustan.edu

Program Outline

Full 1.5 years of scheduled activities and support until your graduation.

Total scholarship, stipend and travel support of $20,000.

Spring 2025

• $3000 scholarship for the semester.
• Mentorship on DOE-HEP sciences by your local GROWTH-MSI mentor.
• First semester in the program with a cohort of ~ 10 students from other Cal States and UC Merced.
• Take an introduction to particle physics with your cohort in-person or online using CSUFullyOnline system.
• Attend weekly seminars given by Department of Energy High Energy Physicists.

Summer 2025

• $10,000 in Stipend and Housing Allowance.
• Mentorship on your research by DOE scientist at the National Lab/DOE Site*.
• Work 10-weeks at the National Lab/DOE Site* in-person to conduct your research project.
• Weekly cohort meeting to track your research progress and broaden your knowledge in High Energy Physics.

Fall 2025

• $3000 scholarship for the semester.
• Co-Mentorship by both of your local and DOE scientist GROWTH-MSI mentors.
• Apply to or plan to Apply to graduate school and/or a job in STEM fields at DOE Labs/Sites or other internships.
• Submit your abstract to National Conference at the American Physical Society (APS).

Spring 2025

• $3000 scholarship for the semester.
• Co-Mentorship by both of your local and DOE scientist GROWTH-MSI mentors.
• Present your research at APS Conference with full travel support up to $1000.
• Complete your Bachelor's degree in style with special Department of Energy GROWTH-MSI sash.

Qualifications:

Full Time Student Majoring in Physics at: (Campus Liaison, Email Contact)

• Stanislaus State (Prof. Wing To, wto@csustan.edu)
• Sonoma State University (Prof. Alexandra Miller, millerale@sonoma.edu)
• San Francisco State University (Prof. Maarten Golterman, maarten@sfsu.edu)
• Cal State Univ. East Bay (Prof. Katherine Grimm, kathryn.grimm@csueastbay.edu)
• Fresno State University (Prof. Yongsheng Gao,  yogao@csufresno.edu)
• University of California, Merced (Prof. Anna Nierenberg, anierenberg@ucmerced.edu)
• Completed the Calculus-Based Introductory Physics Series with B- or better. If any grades are lower, explanation required on application.
• Completed/Completing or Plans to Enroll (Spring 2024) in ALL of the following courses:
  • Mathematical Physics or Equivalent at your Institution
  • Modern Physics or Equivalent at your Institution
• Able to enroll in Introduction to Particle Physics in Spring 2025 term through CSUFullyOnline.com or through Open University from Extended Education. TR 3:30-4:45 Synchronously via Zoom.
• Able to attend a weekly seminar for one hour a week. Schedule to be determined.
• Able to take part in a Summer 2025 Paid Traineeship at one of the following Department of Energy research sites in-person:
  • Lawrence Livermore National Lab (Dr. Jingke Xu, xu12@llnl.gov)
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (Simon Knapen, smknapen@lbl.gov)
  • UC Berkeley (Gabriel Orebi Gann, gorebigann@lbl.gov)
  • SLAC National Accelerator Lab (Maria-Elena Monzani, monzani@slac.stanford.edu)
  • UC Santa Barbara (David Stuart, stuart@stuart.physics.ucsb.edu)

Application Due Dec 1st, 2024

Gather the following for the application:

• Contact 1 or more of your professor for a Letter of Reference to be sent directly to wto@csustan.edu
• Have your latest unofficial transcript in PDF format
• Draft an essay (up to 500 words) on your interests in Physics, if there are any subfields in Physics you're like to pursue a career in and your career goals. It is best to do this on a word processor beforehand and paste it into the application box.
• Draft an essay (up to 500 words) on any struggles you have overcome or are still overcoming. Provide any information that might be suitable to the goals of the program. It is best to do this on a word processor beforehand and paste it into the application box.

Complete the application form before Dec 1st, 2024

• Application Form
• If there are any questions, contact Wing To, wto@csustan.edu and/or your campus's liaison from the Qualification section of this page.