This is a summer break study abroad program, intended for students pursuing a physics major (future iterations of this course could target students in the sciences in general). Its objective is to help students understand how basic science makes progress, and to introduce them to the large scientific collaborations (> 1000 scientists) of modern particle physics experiments that are required to advance basic science. These large collaborations are multi-national entities and a variety of differences between a “research-culture” in any given country exists.

This course introduces students to basic research in a foreign country, namely Germany. Purdue study abroad candidates, who are accepted (details of the application/selection process provided further down) for the “Culture of research in Germany” study abroad course will be integrated into a high energy physics research group at the TU Dortmund. The local group members will host the study abroad in daily research and non-research activities. It is expected that the Purdue Study Abroad participants will host the visitors of a similar “Study Abroad” program for students from the TU Dortmund (organized as a visiting summer UG research stay at Purdue) and led by Prof Andreas Jung.

The study abroad programs destination is the TU Dortmund in the city of Dortmund, which is part of the former heavy industry “Ruhrpott” area in western Germany. Dortmund was founded around the year 882 and by now has about 600,000 inhabitants making it the 8^th largest city in Germany. Dortmund represents the eastern boundary of the “Ruhr” area, a metropolitan city-like densily populated area with about 8 million inhabitants. Many locals strongly support Borussia Dortmund, which is one of the most famous soccer clubs in Germany/Europe playing in Germany’s largest soccer stadium (capacity of 81,000).  

The focus of the UG research projects at TU Dortmund (and within my group at Purdue) targets a similar goal: Development of novel silicon detectors and data analysis for particle physics experiments. Hence, participants from both Universities are integrated into research groups at both Universities and actively exchanging ideas and progress. The study abroad program will count against a UG research experience requirement and College of Science Language and Culture requirements of the BS degree in Physics. Furthermore, the study abroad program entails tools and metrics (IDI) to ensure the candidates acquire a certain level of Intercultural knowledge & competence. Study abroad participants are expected to attend at least 4 group meetings of the Jung research group in the preceding spring semester, as well as post-trip meetings to evaluate progress in the area of Intercultural knowledge & competence, as well as teaming & collaboration.

Student supervision during the Study Abroad stay will for the most part be done by the local HEP group at the TU Dortmund. Prof Andreas Jung as the Purdue faculty will join most likely the study abroad program for 1 day / week at the TU Dortmund in person but be available anytime during the other days and weekends via email, skype and cell phone. The local daily supervision is being done by the high energy physics group at TU Dortmund. The HEP groups at TU Dortmund (Prof Spaan and Prof Kroeninger) agreed to take selected candidates in and supervise them in close collaboration with Prof Andreas Jung. Progress on the research projects of the study abroad students will be monitored by weekly group meetings.

This Purdue Study Abroad course SA10805 requires an introductory level knowledge of quantum and particle physics related topics, which translates to physics majors after their 3^rd year as the most suitable candidates. In particular, for the BS physics honors degree the relevant courses are PHYS460 (honors) and PHYS461 (honors) and for the BS physics degree the minimum is the PHYS360 course – all of these courses are typically offered in the 3^rd year. However, excellent 2^nd year students that have demonstrated a high interest in particle physics will be considered as well, e.g. by having done an independent research course in a high energy physics research group in the Purdue Physics Department.

Please contact the program leader for more information. Application deadlines and selection procedures are detailed further below.