Thesis Paths to Research Joel Franklin This presentation will discuss the role of the senior thesis in student research at Reed, based on a case study of a recent thesis student who did a wonderful job of turning her thesis into a piece of relevant (if speculative) theoretical physics. A major focus of the talk will be the ways in which the thesis experience, in particular, gave this student (and can give other students) the tools and breadth of study needed to put the pieces together.
Particle Physics Research with Undergraduates Andrew Larkoski This presentation will focus on the process of involving undergraduates in research in particle physics, with particular attention to the wide range of resources that allow undergraduates to really get into modern particle physics analyses, such as simulation tools or vetted experimental data, which have a relatively low threshold for students to use. I will also discuss the scope and goals of my research, the required background knowledge, and a few examples of the research I’ve done with undergraduates.