SEPnet Summer Placement Opportunities

2013

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Dear SEPnet Student

I am delighted to be able to present the opportunities available for SEPnet funded work placements in 2013. There are 35 industry placements and 12 research placements in total. Please read through the list of projects carefully – they offer a great opportunity for you to gain valuable work experience this summer.

Details about the scheme are set out in the FAQs section below. Please make a note of the deadline dates, in particular, the application deadline of FRIDAY 29 MARCH.

If you have any questions you can contact me on my email address below.

I wish you all the best with your applications!

Veronica

Veronica Benson Keep up-to-date with SEPnet Director of Employer Liaison www.facebook.com/SEPnet South-East Physics Network Twitter @SEPhysics [email protected] www.sepnet.ac.uk

FAQs

How much will I get paid? Successful candidates will receive a bursary of £1,360 which is for eight weeks work in the summer holidays.

How does the scheme work? 1. You need to register your details before you start applying. Go to the following page on our website and click on the link called Student Registration Form at: http://www.sepnet.ac.uk/employer_services/summer_internships/information_students.html

NB: You will not be able to take up a placement if you have not registered here first.

2. Read the project descriptions in this booklet carefully. We recommend you apply for more than one placement and you may wish to apply for several but remember to target your applications to the projects that really interest you and check the location of the placement to make sure you can get there!

3. Visit your Careers Service for advice on your CV, covering email and preparing for interview.

4. Send us a copy of your CV for our records.

5. Apply direct to the contact given for each placement that interests you before Friday 29 March with a brief covering email and CV. The covering email should explain why you have chosen that placement, why you feel you are suitable for the role and when you are available for interview and work. Make sure your CV fits with what the employer is looking for. continued/…

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6. Each organisation has its own recruitment process. Some may invite you to interview, some may ask you for a telephone interview, some may select on the basis of CV alone.

7. Organisations should contact you by Friday 26 April to let you know if you have been successful. If you are offered and accept a placement, your bursary will be paid during the second week of the placement.

Who is eligible? You are eligible for the scheme if you are a physics undergraduate in your 2nd year of a 3-year course, in your 2nd or 3rd year of a 4-year course or in your 1st year at some universities (check http://www.sepnet.ac.uk/employer_services/summer_internships/information_students.html for details of eligibility).

I am an international student – am I able to take part? Yes! Certain organisations can only offer places to British Nationals as they are involved with defence and security. However the majority of placements are open to all. The project descriptions should state the cases where there are specific requirements.

What financial help is available? SEPnet pays you a bursary of £1,360 for eight weeks’ work. This is intended to cover all your expenses over that time. Regrettably we cannot offer reimbursement for the following:  Travel to interview. However it’s worth asking your host company because some organisations may pay interview expenses.  Accommodation expenses. Your bursary should help to cover these costs.

What are the deadlines? You need to complete and submit all of your applications by Friday 29 March. You may then be called to interview or have a telephone interview. If you have been successful in securing a placement, you will find out by Friday 26 April.

How do I find out further information? If you have any enquiries you can email [email protected].

Accommodation swap SEPnet has set up a SEPnet Facebook group for students on placement. Join the group to ask students near where your placement project will take place about opportunities for sharing or swapping accommodation over the summer. To join the group and link up with other SEPnet students, visit http://www.facebook.com/groups/413954718691439/

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Placements in

Industry

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Company AMEC

Your contact Paul Smith 01305 851214 [email protected]

Address of placement Kimmeridge House, Dorset Green Technology Park, Winfrith Newburgh Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8ZB

Dates of placement Proposed start date - early July 2013 Proposed end date - end August 2013

Company profile AMEC is one of the leading providers of technical consultancy to the nuclear industry, engineering services and programme and asset management to the nuclear industry. For details of AMEC’s overall nuclear business, please view the website www.amec.com.

Placement title Modelling Transient Criticality in Fissile Solutions

Placement description The project will be based on modelling criticality in fissile solutions using the CRITEX computer code developed by AMEC staff (and its pre-cursor organisations including UKAEA). The project will provide the student with experience of setting up computer models of uranium and/or plutonium solutions, executing them and analysing the results. Assessment of the adequacy of various inputs including the available nuclear data will be required. The project will include a literature review and provide practice to the student in reporting a significant piece of work that is useful to industry.

The CRITEX code models the transient criticality of a fissile solution in cylindrical geometry, with a free surface enabling the solution to expand vertically due to thermal expansion and radiolytic gas production. The power is calculated using point kinetics modelling.

AMEC will make available to the student, for the duration of the project, appropriate versions of the CRITEX code and other necessary supporting software (e.g. graphics software). The student will develop models and obtain results for a set of different criticality conditions with uranium and plutonium fuels. These results will then be analysed and compared against available data and benchmarks.

Student specification Useful skills include:  The ability to edit text files on a PC to create input files  The ability to run programs and plot results  Possibly also FORTRAN programming

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Company BAE Systems

Your contact Kelvin Davies/Markus Deittert 0117 302 8073 [email protected]

Address of placement Advanced Technology Centre, BAE Systems, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7QW (There might be a possibility of a lift from the Bristol area; however Bristol also has a very good public transport network).

Dates of placement Proposed start date June 2013 (flexible) Proposed end date September 2013 (flexible)

Company profile BAE Systems is one of the UK's largest engineering companies, producing a large range of civilian and defence related technologies and systems (see www.baesystems.com). The Advanced Technology Centre is based in Bristol and is part of the company's centralised research and development centre, offering a range of advanced technologies (see http://www.baesystems.com/article/BAES_027492).

Placement title Project Title: Probabilistic helicopter localisation Job title: Team Member of the Information Processing Capability, Advanced Technology Centre

Placement description The project will implement a helicopter navigation system that localises the helicopter using a downward facing sensor and a known terrain map. The helicopter’s position will be modelled and test flying (using a model helicopter) will occur at the BRL’s flying arena at the University of the West of England. This project requires basic programming skills in C/C++ and Matlab.

Student specification An enthusiastic individual with basic programming skills in basic programming skills in C/C++ and Matlab .

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Company BAE Systems

Your contact Graham Hornby/Henry Tse 01276 603120 [email protected]

Address of placement BAE Systems, Lyon Way, Frimley, Surrey, GU16 7EX

Dates of placement Proposed start date: 1st July 13 approx Proposed end date: 23rd Aug 13 approx

Company profile  BAE Systems is a global defence, aerospace and security company employing around 93,500 people worldwide. Our wide-ranging products and services cover air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology, and support services.  Within Defence Information we combine the latest technologies with our own domain knowledge and intellectual property and deliver them through a range of innovative services and products which help the customer gain information superiority.  On an internship with us you will find out what it is like to work for a business which specialises in information-intensive systems and services.

Placement title Research/Project Liaison and Analysis

Placement description Specifically, this placement will require you to become aware of research activities which are carried out by the BAE Systems Advanced Technology Centre, some of which have been assessed as having possible value to current projects or future prospects, and, by gaining further knowledge of the research areas and projects, to help determine whether the research might be pulled through into the “real world”.

It will also provide:  Team working within a multi-disciplinary project team  Experience of the culture of working in a major engineering company

You will be required to use your skills and make a real contribution. You will have your own mentor, who will regularly review your performance, ensuring you get the most out of the placement.

Student specification We are looking for candidates with an aptitude for Software or Systems Engineering, a logical approach and attention to detail.

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Company BAE Systems

Your contact Dr Pierre Moinier 0117 302 8223 [email protected]

Address of company Advanced Technology Centre, Sowerby Building (20R), FPC 267, PO Box 5, Filton, Bristol BS34 7QW

Dates of placement Proposed start date - 1 June 2013 Proposed end date - 31 August 2013

Company profile The successful candidate will be part of the Integrated Modelling Technologies Group and the Computational Engineering Capability, both based in Filton, near Bristol. Our work includes computer based modelling and simulation of physical systems such as structures, fluid flows and electromagnetic effects. This multidisciplinary area is an increasingly important service for our commercial and military customers for which we deliver solutions to engineering problems.

Placement title Evacuation Analysis of Ships

Placement description Work summary: The purpose of this work is to develop a model that accurately simulates the evacuation of a ship for a set of predefined scenarios. To achieve this, the high performance large scale pedestrian simulation software “PACE”, developed at the University of Sheffield will be used and adapted. Model accuracy will be assessed using experimental data. Background: In a recent project, BAE systems and the University of Sheffield have joined their efforts to build a decision support capability for emergency services and applied it to the evacuation of an open area following a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Explosive (CBRNe) attack. The ability to run simulations faster than real time with multiple scenarios distributed over a set of GPU hardware to produce simulation metrics provided valuable information that could be used to support the decision of an emergency commander. Following this piece of work, the possibility to use this capability to simulate the escape and evacuation of the deck of a ship was demonstrated. More work is needed to improve the accuracy and to model the specificities inherent to ship environment. This constitutes the context of the proposed work.

Student specification We are looking for a highly motivated student with the ability to quickly digest and apply new concepts. Good communication skills are essential as the project will require interactions with our University partner and with people from our Maritime business. Experience in the following areas would be an advantage: C/C++, XML

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Company Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club

Your contact Mr Chris Baker 01273 668589 [email protected]

Address of placement American Express Community Stadium, Falmer BN1 9BL

Dates of placement Proposed start date – June Proposed end date - August (completely negotiable)

Company profile A professional football club playing in the English Championship.

Placement title Football Operations Analyst

Placement description Assist with data analysis projects to assist our football operations department.

Student specification Analytical and bright, but no specific football knowledge is required!

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Company Charis Technology Ltd

Your contact Mr Steve Gallagher 01622 751731 [email protected]

Address of placement Unit J, Altbarn Close Revenge Road, Lordswood Industrial Estate, Chatham, Kent ME5 8UD

Dates of placement Proposed start date (approximate and/or flexible) Proposed end date (approximate and/or flexible)

Company profile Charis Technology is a small company specialising in measurement and control systems. Our main markets are pharmaceuticals, food and waste water.

Placement title MultiSense II

Placement description MultiSense is a specialised measurement system manufactured by Charis and includes a sensor and a separate controller. It is, as far as we know, unique in its ability to measure levels of complex fluids with multiple phases e.g liquid and floating foam or multi-phase liquids. It is frequently used in biotechnology processes.

The project involves the re-development of this product to improve its operation and manufacture. Initially a specification will be developed for a smart sensor design which will involve the miniaturisation of the front end electronics into the sensor. This requires design at the system level, allocating the various functions into separate circuit blocks. Some would be in the sensor and some in the controller. Some new methods of analysing the measurement data will be required to improve the function. This will be done using a system such as Excel to model the algorithms using real data from collected experiments. The actual development of the miniaturised electronics will be carried out by a specialist company using the new specification. No electronics experience will be required nor any software knowledge but an understanding of measurement principles will be used in the overall system design.

This project will form part of a real product development and will contribute to an improved product to be manufactured by Charis for our customers.

Student specification Understanding of measurement principles. A high level of skill with Excel Electronics experience is not essential. Programming skills are not required.

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Company Culham Centre For Fusion Energy

Your contact Nick Cook 01235 464683 [email protected]

Address of placement Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 3DB

Dates of placement From 1st July based on mutual agreement between CCFE and successful candidate Proposed end date - flexible, perceived to be early September.

Company profile Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) is the UK's national laboratory for fusion research. It hosts two world class tokamak fusion experiments and a range of specialist fusion research groups. CCFE is home to the centrepiece UK domestic fusion experiment, MAST (Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak), which employs around 150 scientific, engineering an support staff. The programme is funded by EPSRC and the European Union under the EURATOM treaty. In addition, CCFE hosts the world's largest magnetic fusion experiment, JET, on behalf of its European partners. The JET facilities are operated for scientists from around Europe, who work together under the European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA). Around 500 people are employed at the JET facilities, with approx. 350 scientists from Europe and beyond visiting each year to conduct research.

Placement title Real-time Data Validation

Placement description JET has a network of sensor systems including Plasma Diagnostics, Plasma Calculators, Plasma Controllers and actuator systems (magnets, gas, heating), all communicating with one another in real-time to help generate, maintain and end a plasma in a controlled way.

We need to validate the real-time data generated by such systems with respect to post-experiment results and we need to publish information about the data being sent across and between real-time networks in a web-based database.

The aims of this project are to:  Examine the real-time and post-experiment data using standard JET tools  Create and execute new analysis/presentation codes written in Python to compare results in an automated way You will be supervised by the Real-Time Systems Manager - Robert Felton.

For more information see:  http://www.efda.org/fusion/focus-on/real-time-control-of-plasmas/  http://www.efda.org/fusion/focus-on/diagnostics/

Student specification  A keen eye for detail enabling you to spot similarities, discrepancies and patterns in potentially very large datasets  The ability to understand and apply complex processes and algorithms to real-world data You will be taught to use Python as part of the project and training in JET’s data access packages will be provided.

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Company Culham Centre For Fusion Energy

Your contact Nick Cook 01235 464683 [email protected]

Address of placement Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 3DB

Dates of placement From 1st July (flexible) Proposed end date - flexible, perceived to be early September.

Company profile See above

Placement title Optimising Data Reduction Techniques in Visualisation Tools

Placement description Take a dataset consisting of 1000 time points with a single data point for each of those times. Plot it on a standard monitor screen and what happens? If you’re plotting in a window about 1000 pixels wide then most likely the plot will represent one data point per pixel on screen. Now take a signal with 200,000 time points and plot it in the same window. What happens?

The aim of this project is to investigate the most efficient way of displaying large datasets within the limitations of current monitor resolution, answering questions such as:  How can we effectively reduce the number of points used in the plot without losing the shape of the original data and without accidentally removing outliers that may prove significant?  What happens if I’m able to ‘zoom in’ on my dataset? Do I still see the original sub-sampled data or can we dynamically resample the original dataset to give the most detail possible at the new resolution?  Where do we do the processing – on the central data server or on the individual machine making the request?  Can we apply the same techniques to 1D and 2D datasets or do we need specific solutions based on data structure?

During this project you will:  Research the state of the art in digital data reduction techniques  Apply candidate reduction techniques to real JET data - demonstrating proof of concept solutions  Work with JET software managers to implement your solution(s) in the primary JET data display program

You will be supervised by the Data and Coding Section Leader – Nick Cook.

Student specification  Experience working with large datasets  A keen eye for detail enabling you to spot discrepancies in ‘before and after’ analysis  The ability to understand and apply complex processes and algorithms to real-world data  Some experience of using data analysis software such as IDL or Python, or in software development using C, Fortran, Python or Java would be an advantage but is not essential as training will be provided.

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Company Diabetes-cutmyrisks.co.uk Ltd

Your contact Mr Nigel Crawford 02087885204 [email protected]

Address of placement 6 Sherwood Close, Barnes, London SW13 0JD

Date of placement Proposed start date – July Proposed end date - Sept.

Company profile Our social enterprise is in partnership with another SME and several other specialist associates, engaged in the development of eHealth and mHealth tools for personal health planning for those with Long Term Conditions, initially some cancers (http://www.mihealth.info/) and diabetes (http://www.diabetes-cutmyrisks.co.uk/). Further details about our vision, objectives and member companies are contained in our online proposal to the UK Government Cabinet Office: https://www.innovationlaunchpad.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/Page/ViewIdea?ideaid=618

Placement title Continuing development and marketing of a health website for use on mobiles and tablets, and of associated services for those with long-term health conditions, initially diabetes.

Placement description A version of our demonstration website is already available, and contains the full logic and facilities for personal health planning for those with diabetes or who are at high risk of getting this condition. This website needs further development to streamline its design, to make it fully interactive and user-friendly, and to market it online. It needs to be further adapted to become even more suitable for use via smart mobiles and to link with relevant social networks. The content management software and hosting service currently used is Yola, who partner Google Sites. This software has services hosted in the Cloud by Google Apps. So detailed program writing will not be required. Yola and Google provide training and technical support services.

Student specification 1. Has studied design/interactive media and created successful interactive websites. 2. Is health literate and wants to be involved in improving health nationally and internationally. 3. Knows something about entrepreneurship, is interested in becoming an entrepreneur and in participating in the development of a small company. 4. Is a good communicator with all sorts of people, and preferably familiar with online social networking.

Benefits for the intern and learning outcomes  Become involved in improving health nationally and internationally, and gain experience in developing motivating health websites.  Learn about becoming an entrepreneur in practice and working in partnership with other organisations.  An induction and one-to-one learning element will be provided, covering personal and business skills.  Attend evening seminars in London, at British Computer Society and/or Institute of Directors, Primary Care Diabetes Society.  An opportunity could open up for a longer-term entrepreneurial role within this venture, but is not guaranteed.  A reference letter will be provided at the end of the internship. The student is likely to acquire also other good referrals from partners, which will be useful later, as a result of carrying out the above quality work experience processes.

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Company EnSilica

Your contact Dr David Wheeler 0118 321 7310 [email protected]

Address of placement West Forest Gate, Wokingham, RG40 2AT

Dates of placement (these can be approximate or negotiable) July – September

Company profile EnSilica is an IC design services company that develops FPGA and ASIC chips

Placement title System-on-Chip hardware acceleration

Placement description There are many applications in Physics that require algorithmic processing to run at speeds faster than software alone can provide. The Xilinx Zynq SoC is a dual-core ARM processor connected to FPGA logic. The FPGA logic can provide hardware speed-up of calculations on the ARM subsystem. The student will be required to code algorithmic hardware accelerators in Verilog for the FPGA. As the ARM subsystem will be running a Linux operating system then this placement will also require the student to code the Kernel level drivers for Linux and example application code. The outcome should be to demonstrate the system working in real time on a evaluation board.

Student specification The ideal applicant would be interested in software, kernel level drivers and implementing complex algorithms in a hardware description language. They would prefer working for a small company and be able to work independently.

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Company eOsphere Limited

Your contact Nick Walker 01488 669 833 [email protected]

Address of company 3, Great Farm Offices, West Woodhay, Newbury RG20 0BP (a lift could be offered from Oxford)

Dates of placement 01/07/2013 (approximate and/or flexible) 30/09/2013 (approximate and/or flexible)

Company profile eOsphere is engaged in many scientific and commercial applications of satellite-borne remote sensing of the Earth and is strongly focused on solving real problems for a range of customers and end users. Key application areas include the provision of affordable ground receiving stations and the use of advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) techniques for sea ice monitoring, ship detection and the detection of targets through foliage.

Placement title Detecting Ships from Space

Placement description There is a growing requirement for improved maritime surveillance using satellite-borne imagery. Key questions - can we detect vessels involved in: illegal trafficking (drugs/people etc), piracy & illegal fishing? Imaging radar sensors (SAR) with increasingly advanced characteristics (resolution, polarisation, noise levels, swath width etc) offer the prospect of improved detection and classification performance if algorithms can be developed to exploit these richer sources of information. eOsphere acquired six fully polarimetric SAR images off the coast of Portsmouth during 2010 and 2011. Portsmouth is one of the busiest harbours in the UK and this afforded the opportunity to capture a wide range of vessel sizes and vessel types for analysis. An extensive ground truth campaign was conducted that was coincident with these acquisitions.

The SEPnet student would be asked to:  Examine the performance of recently developed ship detection algorithms and possibly assist in improving algorithms.  Consider detection performance as a function of ship size and ship type.  Examine whether it is possible to discriminate between different ship types, e.g. fishing vessels, sailing vessels, high speed vessels, tankers etc.

The UK space sector is currently receiving substantial backing from the government and is predicted to continue to be an area of economic growth into the future. eOsphere is engaged in many scientific and commercial applications of satellite-borne remote sensing of the Earth. eOsphere are a part of a European Commission funded project “Nereids” which is investigating advanced space-borne techniques for maritime surveillance. Nereids is led by the Spanish company GMV and includes 15 other institutions from across Europe.

Student specification An understanding of the fundamentals of electromagnetic radiation and statistics.

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Company Good Energy

Your contact Tamsin Rust – 01249 765552 [email protected] (Your supervisor will be Will Turner)

Address of placement Monkton Reach, Monkton Hill, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 1EE

Company profile Good Energy’s mission is to empower people who are concerned about climate change to make a difference. Based in Wiltshire, we are the UK’s leading dedicated 100% renewable electricity supplier and we support over 40,000 independent green generators throughout the UK. By buying electricity from us our customers are helping support the growth of renewable generation in the UK.

We are a dynamic and passionate company, motivated by the contribution we make every day to growing the green energy sector and reducing the UK’s carbon emissions.

Dates of placement Proposed start date: approximately June Proposed end date: approximately September

Placement title Trading Intern (the student will receive £3.50 per hour in addition to the bursary for this job role).

Placement description To investigate the impact of weather and news on energy market prices.

Good Energy is the UK’s leading 100% renewable electricity supplier. Our electricity is sourced from approximately 500 independent generators across Britain, including wind, solar, hydro and wave. As such weather plays a vital role in our day-to-day business.

The intern will be asked to compare how weather variables and relevant news events correlate with changes in the price of energy commodities over different time horizons. This project is to include for example analysis of periods of high wind speeds increasing wind generation, and the effect of cold temperatures on consumer demand. Time permitting an additional piece of analysis will include identifying the optimal time to trade based on latest weather forecasts.

Student specification  Have strong analytical and problem solving skills  Highly numerate  Good experience of Microsoft Excel

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Company HCL Technologies Ltd

Your contact John Washington 01707 353041 [email protected]

Address of placement Xerox, Bessemer Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1BU

Dates of placement Proposed start date flexible around student Proposed end date flexible around student

Placement title Electromagnetic braking system

Company profile HCL Technologies at the WGC UK Centre of Engineering is a new product development site offering end-to-end product development project management and engineering to clients such as Xerox. The site specialises in research, development and engineering of devices with electromechanical functions and embedded software elements.

Placement description Design, build, commission and test a microcontroller timed and driven electromagnetic braking system for a photocopiers photoreceptor module, will involve mechanical sketches to be submitted for fabrication, electronics, software and then experimentation with the equipment on a prototype photocopier

Student specification  Some kind of electronics interest, soldering, wiring, prototyping  Knowledge of at least one programming language labVIEW/Java/C++ to control real world hardware  Understanding of a xerographic photocopier’s general functionality  Interesting in applying physics to a new product development environment

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Company INTECH

Your contact Mrs Angela Ryde-Weller 01962 891907 angelarydeweller@intech-uk

Address of placement Telegraph Way, Morn Hill, Winchester SO21 1HZ

Dates of placement Proposed start date - 15 July 2013 Proposed end date - 6 Sept 2013

Company profile Intech, Science Centre and Planetarium is an independent educational charity, the aim of which is to inform, excite and enthuse people, in particular the young, about science and technology. Housed in an award winning purpose built building, Intech has an interactive exhibition housing approximately 100 hands-on exhibits, all designed so that people can explore scientific principals and technological applications, a state of the art digital planetarium, the largest in the UK, and runs both inreach and outreach workshop activities for school age students. The exhibition, planetarium and workshop activities that Intech provides are used by schools, as an educational resource for the study of physical sciences, and families, as both a family learning opportunity and an enjoyable day out. Visitor numbers exceed 125,000 per annum, with 35,000 as part of school groups

Placement title Exhibition Demonstrator

Placement description The role of the exhibition demonstrator is to run science demonstrations in a “meet the scientist corner” and interact with the family visitors to Intech over the school summer holidays, these activities are provided free of charge to visitors to the Intech exhibition to increase the visitors enjoyment and science learning while at the centre. In previous years SEPnet interns have run informal workshops, in the exhibition and put together a wide range of activities for visitors to participate in. Building on these activities students will design a series of hands-on physical science activities and demonstrations designed to interest and excite our visitors. They will run the informal workshops and demonstrate scientific phenomena in an entertaining way. Their brief also includes producing marketing material to attract their audiences, working to a very small budget and within existing health and safety guidelines.

Student specification The ideal candidate should be outgoing and able to communicate about physical sciences at all levels and to all ages. You must be able to show enthusiasm for the subject and able to resource, design and demonstrate inspirational activities for the young.

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Organisation The Langton Star Centre

Your contact Dr Tom Whyntie 07866 162368 01227 82577 [email protected]

Address of placement Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Langton Lane, Nackington Road, Canterbury CT1 3TS

Dates of placement Potential start date: 3rd June 2013 (flexible) Potential end date: 27th September 2013 (flexible).

Organisation profile The Langton Star Centre is a specialist research facility attached to the Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, a state school in Kent with 1,000 students overall and 450 students in the co- educational sixth form. As of January 2013, 230 of the 450 students in the sixth form are studying physics at A2 or AS Level. The underlying philosophy of the Langton Star Centre is to provide opportunities for students to go beyond the published syllabuses and engage with real-world scientific activities. Supported by numerous partners from education, academia and industry, students are encouraged to take part in (and in some cases, lead) original scientific research. This gives students an insight into the expectations of science in the context of higher education, and allows them to experience the excitement offered by a career in science first-hand.

Placement title Development of a CERN@school demonstration experiment using the Timepix silicon pixel detector

Placement description The successful student will work with Dr Tom Whyntie, STFC Research in Residence at the Langton Star Centre, to develop a demonstration experiment for use in schools to demonstrate the physics capabilities of the Timepix hybrid silicon detector. The Timepix detector is a portable detector of ionising radiation developed at CERN by the Medipix Collaboration. CERN@school is a project supported by SEPnet and the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) that brings these cutting-edge detectors into the classroom. In order to demonstrate the educational and research potential to teachers and students, a portfolio of example experiments is provided on the project website. This project aims to develop a novel, classroom-based experiment to add to this portfolio, and publish the results in a peer-reviewed publication. The successful student will therefore require a keen interest in particle physics, programming, data analysis and/or operating sophisticated experimental physics equipment. The ability to communicate their work with students, teachers and other scientists will also be necessary for the successful execution of the project.

Student specification Required:  Some experience with programming or operating laboratory equipment in the context of performing physics experiments;  A keen interest in particle physics, particularly CERN, the Large Hadron Collider and particle detectors.  Excellent written and communication skills. Desired:  Experience with the Python programming language;  Experience with the LaTeX document typesetting language;  Experience of working with schools in the context of physics outreach. As the student will be working with school students, they will be required to complete a Criminal Records Bureau check (provided by the Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys). The allocation of the placement will be dependent on the success of this check.

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Company Lein Applied Diagnostics

Placement title Build and test a novel optical measurement system.

Your contact Dr Dan Daly 07739 847474 [email protected]

Address of placement Reading Enterprise Centre, Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading RG6 6BU

Dates of placement (these can be approximate or negotiable) June – August (flexible)

Company profile Lein Applied Diagnostics has developed an innovative, optical technology that makes non-contact measurements on transparent systems and organic materials. A balanced portfolio of opportunities has been identified that provides both immediate revenues and very high longer term value. Applications include: Immediate –contact lenses, collagen substrates and pharmaceuticals in the body; Near term – optometry, sheet glass, CMM; Long term – glucose measurement for people with diabetes, pharmaceutical development. The meter has many advantages over its competitors – it is compact, accurate and much cheaper. In addition, it can achieve results not possible with other techniques.

Placement description There are a number of specific opportunities but all involve the development and testing of advanced optical instrumentation for making highly accurate measurements on medical and industrial systems

Student specification Knowledge of optics, electronics and/or software control systems would be ideal. As important will be practical laboratory experience and a "can do" attitude.

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Company LGC Forensics Ltd

Your contact Dr Simon Wells 01235 551650 [email protected]

Address of company Culham Science Centre, Abingdon OX14 3ED

Dates of placement Proposed start date - June 2013 approx Proposed end date - August 2013 approx

Company profile Working in the Product Development group for LGC Forensics. Our aim is to develop new products for Forensics science markets. In particular, we are currently working in the area of rapid DNA profiling.

Placement title Associate Development Engineer

Placement description Incremental development based on a new rapid DNA profiling instrument (called ParaDNA – see http://paradna.lgcforensics.com/) with additional conceptual work aimed at technical description and proof of principle for second generation project. Our equipment contains two main elements, thermal control and fluorescent detection. 1) This work will aim to better understand thermal interaction of our physical equipment with the samples we analyse. Some of this work is calculation and modelling, but it will be primarily a practical study of the components and their interactions. 2) The optical system we use is simple and low cost. The goal of this area of work will be to better understand its limitations in real-world detection, analyse possible improvements and devise options for alternative (new) systems. Working with and supported by the LGC development team.

Student specification Knowledge of optics and thermal design. Experience of programming, electronics and mechanical design also useful.

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Company The Met Office

Your contact Dr Clare Lee and Joss Kent 01392 886451 [email protected]

Address of placement Fitzroy Road, Exeter EX1 3PB

Dates of placement (these can be approximate or negotiable) Proposed start date: 29/07/13 (approximate and flexible) Proposed end date: 20/09/13 (approximate and flexible)

Company profile The Met Office is the world leading organisation for weather forecasting and climate prediction, with our success depending critically on having a world-class research programme. The Observation Based Research facilities group, within the Met Office, develops and maintains atmospheric instrumentation for use on the FAAM (Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements) BAe146 research aircraft, and on a new civil contingencies aircraft (to be used during events such as Icelandic volcanic ash plumes disrupting UK airspace). By using the aircraft and its wealth of instrumentation, specific scientific issues and weather conditions can be investigated. The facilities group performs a range of activities, from developing novel state-of-the-art instrumentation, through to the installation of commercial instruments modified for an aircraft environment, understanding their performance in-flight, as well as maintaining and calibrating the instruments in the laboratory.

Placement title Development and testing of airborne atmospheric research instrumentation

Placement description During the placement you will work alongside the facilities team in a range of laboratory activities, including testing the aircraft research instrumentation, calibration work and scientific data analysis. The main instrument you will be working on looks at cloud microphysical properties.

There will be opportunity to understand about other instrumentation on the aircraft, and the scientific application of the data to atmospheric physics processes. There may also be the opportunity to fly on the research aircraft, and experience other parts of the Met Office through forecaster shadowing and induction training. You will be expected to write a report on your work and give a presentation to the group.

Student specification The ideal candidate will have laboratory experience and enjoy practical work. The candidate will have experience of analysing data using IDL or Python. It would be preferable but not essential to have experience in instrumentation, electronics, instrument communication, atmospheric scientific data analysis, and the understanding of radiative transfer.

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Company National Physical Laboratory

Your contact Dr Olga Kazakova [email protected]

Address of placement Hampton Road, Teddington, Middx TW11 0LW

Dates of placement (these can be approximate or negotiable) 1 June – 30 July (approximate)

Company profile The Quantum Detection team at NPL focuses on world-leading fundamental research that exploits quantum phenomena and explores new areas of measurement science that could revolutionise modern metrology. Research and develop new devices for generating and detecting individual quanta (e.g. phonons or magnetic spin). Work on new techniques for characterising quantum- mechanical state evolution. Use quantum coherence and entanglement to enhance measurement precision. Develop high speed devices for manipulation of electrical current at the single-electron level. Study the latest materials, such as graphene, to advance our understanding of the quantum effects that lie at the heart of the modern measurement system.

Placement title Real-time mapping of graphene properties across the length scale

Placement description Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms in a hexagonal lattice, has displayed exceptional new physical effects and scientific interest has soared rapidly. Electronic properties of graphene are determined by the morphology and chemistry of the graphene itself and its interaction with the underlying substrate. Therefore, techniques need to be developed which can measure essential properties on a local scale and, most importantly, correlate these measurements with overall performance of the devices. The student will be involved in the project currently run at NPL, which is based on development of methods for rapid and reliable measurements of electronic, chemical and structural parameters of large scale graphene (i.e. epitaxial and CVD grown), essential to take it from the laboratory to the production line. The student will be directly involved into development of functional microscopy methods (EFM, SKPM, SCM) for rapid electronic and chemical characterisation of graphene. Functional electrical microscopy will be applied to measure key data, such as the graphitisation level, thickness, distribution of the electrical potential and charge, electrical state of dopants and impurities, work function, and capacitance with a high special resolution (<20 nm). These methods will be applied to both large-scale films and prefabricated graphene devices. The results will be complemented and validated by electrical transport measurements and Raman microscopy and spectroscopy techniques.

Student specification Initial knowledge about graphene and similar systems is desirable. Initial skills in transport measurements and electronics are desirable

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Company National Physical Laboratory

Your contact Mr Ian Butterworth 0208 9438656 [email protected]

Address of placement Hampton Road, Teddington, TW11 0LW

Dates of placement Proposed start - 22 July (approx/to be agreed) Proposed end - 27 Sept (approx/to be agreed)

Company profile For more than a century NPL has developed and maintained the nation's primary measurement standards. These standards underpin the National Measurement System infrastructure of traceability throughout the UK and the world that ensures accuracy and consistency of measurement. NPL ensures that cutting edge measurement science and technology have a positive impact in the real world. NPL delivers world-leading measurement solutions that are critical to commercial research and development, and support business success across the UK and the globe. NPL employs over 500 scientists, based in south-west London. Our laboratory is a 36,000 square- metre purpose built measurement building with 388 of the world's most extensive and sophisticated measurement science laboratories. Department The Acoustics Group has 28 staff and undertakes long-term, leading-edge research to develop new and improved measurement methods that will impact on UK future services and products. Ultrasound, being one of three sub-groups in Acoustics, covers areas such as the calibration of hydrophones and ultrasonic sources, the development of novel sensors and optical techniques of acoustic measurement, ultrasonic detection and control of cavitation, and investigations of ultrasound safety.

Title of placement Optical methods for the evaluation of high-intensity medical ultrasound fields

Placement description Light passing through an acoustic field is deflected by the acoustic pressure variations which cause local refractive index changes. In air this effect is not readily visible but High-intensity acoustic fields in water at frequencies between 1 and 5 MHz (typically the kind of field used for High- Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) therapies) can cause the effect to be strong enough to be easily visible to the naked eye and to conventional optical equipment such as cameras. Bespoke coloured pattern placed behind the ultrasonic field and imaged using a camera from the front demonstrate changes in the pattern due to the characteristics of the acoustic field. More sophisticated variations of the same principle utilise ultra-high speed imaging or a scanning laser vibrometer to detect variations in the optical path. The project will build on this existing NPL work by developing and testing methods for the evaluation of high-intensity ultrasound fields, working towards an optimised and automated process for 2D and 3D evaluation of such fields. It is likely to involve work with a scanning laser vibrometer, ultra-high speed imaging, and tomographic reconstruction algorithms. Further information on previous work is available here

Student specification The ideal candidate will have an interest in practical research and be keen to perform hands-on experimental work. - Some knowledge of optics or acoustics, ultrasonics, measurement, and/or medical therapies. - A careful approach with attention to detail - Keen to understand underlying physical principles - Self-motivated. Not critical, but preferred: - Knowledge of programming languages (work will primarily be done in LabVIEW and MATLAB).

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Company National Physical Laboratory

Your contact Dr David Lowe 020 8943 6312 [email protected]

Address of company Hampton Road, Teddington TW11 0LW

Dates of placement Proposed start date - July 2013 approx Proposed end date - Sept 2013 approx

Company profile NPL is the UK’s National Measurement Institute, and is a world-leading centre of excellence in developing and applying the most accurate measurement standards, science and technology available. For more than a century NPL has developed and maintained the nation's primary measurement standards. These standards underpin the National Measurement System infrastructure of traceability throughout the UK and the world that ensures accuracy and consistency of measurement. NPL ensures that cutting edge measurement science and technology have a positive impact in the real world. NPL’s Temperature & Humidity Group has world-leading expertise and facilities aimed at improving the practical measurement of temperature and humidity. We help establish and maintain the International Temperature Scale of 1990, ITS-90. We support industrial measurements through a wide range of activities including long-term research, industrial partnerships, consultancies, good practice advice, and training. We supply a range of sensors and standards, and we offer calibrations against UK National Standards that are validated through international comparisons.

Placement title Investigation of monotectic alloy fixed points

Placement description The accurate measurement of temperature is an important parameter throughout scientific research and industry. Temperature metrology relies heavily on the concept of fixed-points - physical phenomena, mostly melting or freezing, that occur at well-defined and unique temperatures. Fixed points greatly aid standardisation of measurements and can be used as checks of calibration. NPL has previously looked at two aspects: 1. Calibration checks of sensors by including a reference fixed point within the sensor itself. 2. The possibility of fixed points using new alloys that provide more than one fixed point temperature within a single ingot of material. This project will combine these two strands. Small graphite crucible will be filled with novel metal alloys designed to work with thermocouples, the most widely used temperature sensor. A furnace will heat and cool the fixed- point / thermocouple assembly, and transitions (seen as plateaus in a temperature-time plot) will be identified. These results will be analysed to see if the transitions are stable. The fixed points will be cut up and the microstructure assessed. It is expected the results would be included in a peer reviewed paper with the student as one of the authors.

Student specification This is expected to be largely a practical project. Some degree of manual dexterity would help, but supervision and training will be provided as needed.

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Company Online Lubricants Ltd

Your contact Mr John Collings 0208 5070123 [email protected]

Address of placement Unit 20, IO Centre, Barking IG11 0DR

Dates of placement Proposed start date (negotiable) Proposed end date (negotiable)

Company profile Online Lubricants are a fast growing SME lubricant distributor based in Barking ( E.London), 30 employees across 2 depots providing a chance to experience all aspects of business during the attachment.

Title of placement Developing a customer pricing and profiling algorithm

Placement description We have developed our own sales processing programme and now want to develop a system for suggesting the correct price for customers to pay for products. This will take into account a number of variables such as credit risk, volumes purchased, time taken to pay, type of business, urgency of delivery, distance etc.

Student specification This would be ideal for a student keen to develop some commercial awareness in a business environment. Whilst not pure physics you will have the chance to understand / experience aspects of lubricants and their properties. Students need to come with a flexible 'can do' approach to the job. Other smaller projects will be incorporated to broaden the experience.

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Company Phoenix Photonics

Your contact Dr Ian Giles 01843 843709 [email protected]

Address of company Sarre Business Centre, Canterbury Road, Sarre CT7 0JZ

Dates of placement Proposed start date - June 2013 (TBC) Proposed end date - August 2013 (TBC)

Company profile Phoenix Photonics develops, manufactures and sells optical fibre components, modules and instrumentation to the telecommunications and sensing industries. Phoenix is a micro-company with approximately 10 employees operating from premises in East Kent near to Canterbury. The products are based on in-house expertise in the processing of optical fibres to produce high performance passive fibre components. The key proprietary technologies revolve around side- polishing silica optical fibres to within a small distance of the core to access the evanescent field of the propagating wave and manipulation of the state of polarization of the propagating wave by the use of polarization maintaining fibres. From this technology base Phoenix is able to manufacture components for systems and develops microprocessor based electronic control instrumentation for use in test & measurement. Visit www.phoenixphotonics.com

Placement title Fibre optic components and instruments

Placement description We are a small company and the student will be involved in a range of activities. Primarily the work will involve fabrication and testing of fibre components in production and assisting engineers in R&D. The exact nature of the work will depend on the project emphasis during the summer but the work will involve the following aspects:• Handling optical fibres.• Side-polishing fibres.• Aligning and splicing fibres.• Polarization measurements.• Instrument assembly.• Electronic & optical testing of instruments.• Setting-up experiments and taking measurements – this will include the use of free space optics, lasers, fibre components and test instrumentation.• PC programming to process results and model experiments.

Student specification Interest/knowledge in Optics, Photonics, Waveguiding

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Company QinetiQ Ltd

Your contact Nick Reeve 01252 395382 njreeve@qinetiq.com

Address of placement Ively Road, Farnborough. GU14 0LX.

Dates of placement Proposed start date July 2013 – flexible Proposed end date Sept 2013 - flexible

Company profile QinetiQ is a leader in defence and security technology-based services and solutions with over 10,000 employees operating across the world.

The Training and Simulation Services (TSS) division provides expertise across the field of simulation solutions. It includes expertise in rapid prototyping of hardware and software concepts and designs, operational analysis, high fidelity dynamics modelling, novel and creative simulation solutions and leading edge research into distributed air, land and maritime training.

Placement title Simulation Systems

Project description Dependent on aptitude and project timescales, the placement would involve a range of activities:  Acceptance testing of physics based simulator models and the production of supporting documentation.  The setting up and configuration of PC networks.  Support to TSS in the setup and preparation of customer demonstrations and community events.  Possible involvement in software development and testing (dependent on experience).  Support to military exercises using QinetiQ simulation equipment and ‘serious gaming’ applications.  The chance to see simulation systems in use on Salisbury Plain or other MOD sites.

Student specification QinetiQ are looking for a highly motivated individual, with the following:  Good IT skills.  Appreciation of engineering principles  Willingness to be flexible and work at MOD and other QinetiQ sites if necessary.  An interest in computer gaming and simulation systems.

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Company Roke Manor Research Limited

Your contact Mr Paul Demain 01794 833217 [email protected]

Address of placement Old Salisbury Lane, Romsey SO51 0ZN

Dates of placement Proposed start date - 15th July 2013 Proposed end date - 6th September 2013

Company profile Roke Manor Research Ltd is a world-class electronics engineering company that provides contract research, technology consultancy, product development, and whole life solutions in sensors, information systems and communications for a wide range of UK and international customers. Our team of over 350 highly qualified engineers develop advanced sensors, communications systems, and network solutions for a diverse range of applications. Trusted by government and industrial partners worldwide, Roke provide independent advice, solve technically challenging problems and deliver innovative capability and products into the defence, national security, telecommunications, and healthcare markets

Placement title An investigation of highly charged electret materials for use in high efficiency energy scavenging devices.

Student specification An appropriate student would have knowledge/experience of the following: Material Physics Electromagnetics Electronic Devices Mechanical structures (desirable) With suitable skills in: Mathematical modelling, Electromagnetic modelling, Experimentation using lab instrumentation, Technical report writing

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Company Selex-ES

Your contact Dr Harald Weller 02380 316814 [email protected]

Address of placement First Avenue, Millbrook Industrial Estate, Southampton SO15 0LG

Dates of placement Proposed start date - 1st July 2013 Proposed end date - 30th August 2013

Company profile The successful applicant will work within Selex-ES Research and Development department, at our infra-red detector manufacturing facility based in Southampton.

Title of placement Analysis and design of an integrated pyroelectric sensor readout

Placement description This project will take place within the Research and Development part of the Southampton organisation. You will have a chance to gain understanding of a variety of aspects of infra-red detector design and will go into more detail in a few areas where a personal contribution to a real ongoing detector development project will be made. There will be a mixture of practical (laboratory measurement), data analysis and modelling activities. The work will be carried out as part of a small project team and training will be given as needed. There will be some opportunity to gain experience in Integrated Circuit Design with industry leading EDA software during this time. A short presentation and report will be required. Details will be adjusted to suit the aptitudes and background of the successful applicant. The project will be office and laboratory- based, working as part of a small team. Basic knowledge of IC Design and CMOS technologies is desirable.

Student specification The ideal candidate will be on course for a 2:1 or better, and is interested in experiencing industrial applications of sensors, integrated circuits, thermal physics and electronics.

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Company Selex ES

Your contact Andy Parsons 02380 316735 [email protected]

Address of placement First Avenue, Millbrook Industrial Estate, Southampton SO15 0LG

Dates of placement Proposed start date 1st July 2013 Proposed end date 23rd August 2013

Company profile The SELEX ES facility at Millbrook is a centre of excellence for Infrared (IR) detectors. The site opened in 1956, employs around 180 people and is a world player in the research and development of advanced technology for military, industrial, and space applications. Our structure is based around R&D, Operations, and Programme Management departments. The R&D department employs a number of scientists and engineers who combine a wide range of skills and knowledge in physics, chemistry and electronics, plus specialist skills in cryogenics and vacuum technology. The department includes internationally recognised experts in the infrared field. We have a long history of collaboration with government labs and generate R&D funding through a mixture of private venture and competitive tendering.

Placement title Improving process control of wet etching in CMT photodiode array fabrication

Placement description Advanced wet etching processes are used to produce precisely positioned, clean and damage free surfaces in infra-red imaging photodiode arrays. The aim of this project is to understand and propose improvements to these processes.

Working in the semiconductor fabrication process clean room under the supervision of a senior process engineer, you will perform wet etching process trials and detailed measurements of process uniformity and repeatability. You will analyse the results and identify the key process controlling parameters and optimise these to achieve improvements in process control.

Good practical skills and an in-depth understanding of the physics of diffusion in etching processes will be required to determine which parameters are likely to cause process variations, and understanding of optical measurement methods including interferometry will be necessary. Laboratory trials will be required to determine how the process parameters can be modified and to measure the result produced. Good problem-solving skills and creativity will be required to determine commercially viable solutions, with the ultimate aim of improving product quality and process yield without compromising cost.

Student specification This cleanroom-based project requires strong laboratory skills, as well as the ability to work with and around Manufacturing Staff in a busy production environment. The candidate will work as part of the Wafer Fabrication Process Engineering team, and take part in regular reviews of on-going work, as well as report progress on the project. Previous experience with wet chemical etching and with optical measurement methods would be an advantage.

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Company SSBV Space & Ground Systems UK

Your contact Dr Ed Derbyshire 02392 626 300 [email protected]

Address of placement SSBV Space & Ground Systems UK, Building 1, Anchorage Park, Robinson Way Portsmouth PO3 5SA

Dates of placement (these can be approximate or negotiable) 3 June – 26 July

Company profile SSBV is a technology driven organisation, active in the domains of (aero) Space, Remote Sensing & Monitoring, Defence & Security and the development of High-Tech Systems. SSBV Space & Ground Systems operates from Portsmouth, the UK and Noordwijk, The Netherlands and is a member of the SSBV Aerospace & Technology Group.

The company specialises in high-tech solutions for space and ground applications in the domains of Simulation & Testing (EGSE), TTC & TM/TC Systems, RF Test Systems, Earth Observation ground stations, High-Rate & TTC Modems and Data Processing Systems. It also provides reliable small satellite sensors and subsystems and is involved in the development of a new generation on-board computer, on-board payload data processor and transponder for the commercial smallsat market. For more information please visit the website: www.ssbv.com.

Placement title Space product test development

Placement description The student will develop the test routine for a new space product manufactured at SSBV. This will involve working with the engineering team and will produce a test procedure and associated software. It will involve a good understanding of the functions of the product, a logical approach to verification of the product performance and development of suitable software based on LabVIEW.

Student specification This role would suit a student who has some knowledge of electronics and software. The product is new so this development is of value to both student and company. The student should be diligent and keen to fit in with the small company 'get the job done' ethos and culture. He/she will need to be able to work well with others in a team and be willing to participate fully in the life of the company.

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Company Symetrica Security Ltd

Your contact Mr Andrew Witham 02380 111583 [email protected]

Address of placement Roman House, 39 Botley Road, North Baddesley SO52 9AB

Dates of placement Proposed start date - Mid-July (approximate and negotiable) Proposed end date - Mid-September (approximate and negotiable)

Company profile Symetrica specialises in the detection and identification of radioisotopes for Security Applications. We work with prime contractors and government agencies to design, develop, test and deploy detection equipment for use by law enforcement personnel, customs officers, the emergency services, military personnel and first responders. With over 40 years of combined experience, Symetrica systems rely on patented, proprietary detection technology to deliver un-rivalled performance. Our Discovery Technology™ isotope detection and identification technology, manufactured in the USA, is included in systems designed for Homeland Security and marketed worldwide. In RadSeeker, a new handheld isotope identification system approved by the DNDO for production deployment, our technology has passed extensive government testing at multiple locations throughout the U.S. Symetrica also has modelling and prototyping capabilities that draw on extensive experience in gamma-ray spectroscopy and imaging. This provides us with an efficient way to optimize designs and provide a proof of capability in new applications. Our solutions include a new Helium-3 free neutron detection system for Radiation Portal Monitors and multiple applications in security screening, mass transit and event management.

Placement title Research & Development Scientist

Placement description Detection of illicit traffic in radioactive materials, which could be used to make dirty bombs, is a very high priority for Homeland Security applications. Special Nuclear Materials which could constitute a threat, must be identified against a background of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials, a range of legally transported radioactive materials such as medical isotopes, and other background radiation. Effective screening devices are required for personnel and freight at, for example, ports and borders. Detection and identification has to be achieved rapidly without disrupting the normal flow of commerce. Symetrica has developed unique technology which can detect and accurately identify threat materials, even when they are hidden in heavily shielded containers. Several systems are under development for this purpose which range in size from pager type devices all the way up to vehicle portal devices. Testing and analysis of these systems are required, leading to modification in both the hardware and software. The placement student could be involved any part of this design, testing and analysis process depending on the timing of the project.

Student specification The ideal candidate will be technically minded, capable of writing technical reports, operating scientific instrumentation and writing and performing scientific test plans.

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Company Thales UK

Your contact Mr Richard Curson [email protected]

Address of company Dashwood Lang Road, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 2NX

Dates of placement Proposed start date – June Proposed end date - October

Company profile Thales Group is a multinational company that designs and builds electrical systems and provides services for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets. The role is based within Thales UK Transformation department.

Placement title Transformation assistant

Placement description To assist in the deployment of transformation projects, within a large engineering organisation. Many of these projects require strong project management and high level analysis of business operation to identify and create opportunities to make us more effective and or efficient, by identifying the benefits of such changes and measuring the reality of the resulting interventions is connection to these benefits. The role will provide an opportunity to work in a large engineering organisation that is in the middle of a change programme.

Student specification Good interpersonal skills.

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Company Things We Don’t Know

Your contact Ed Trollope 01515 476 9927 [email protected]

Address of placement 34B York Way, London N1 9AB

Dates of placement Proposed start date 01-Jun-2013 (flexible) Proposed end date 26-Jul-2013 (flexible)

Placement title (2 roles) Science communications content writer

Placement description Things We Don't Know is a social enterprise which seeks to become the definitive "TO-DO list" for science. We are creating an easy to browse and publically accessible online catalogue of scientific research topics, with straightforward descriptions of the phenomena being investigated and links to the institutes and papers delving into them. We aim to increase public awareness of current research, and simultaneously provide a valuable service to those searching for PhD opportunities, science journalists, and researchers. We currently average 100 visitors daily, and to date our articles have been read by 5,000 people around the world.

You will be responsible for writing up on-going research in 'everyday English', assisting our editorial team in creating finished articles, and producing “teaser” articles for our blog. This will include liaising with and interviewing researchers at one or more SEPnet universities. You would preferably be based at a partner university, but may be invited to meetings at our offices in London. The intern will gain:  a multi-disciplinary understanding of current scientific research  experience writing and publishing science articles for a public readership  experience in arranging and performing face-to-face interviews  time management and project planning  attribution on online articles which can be shown to future employers  publicity for the host and alumni universities.

The experiences of previous interns working with us can be found at: http://blog.thingswedontknow.com/search/label/intern

Student specification Required:  Good written English, preferably a native speaker.  Capable of explaining complex concepts in accessible language.  Confident and outgoing, must be able to approach researchers and arrange interviews.  Passionate about science communication and outreach.

Preferred:  Writing experience, ideally for a science magazine or blog.  Familiarity with physics journals, arxiv.org, etc

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Company Thoughtified Ltd

Your contact Aaron Mason 01483 688404 [email protected]

Address of placement Surrey Technology Centre, 40 Occam Road, Surrey Research Park, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7YG

Dates of placement Proposed start date 1 July 2013 (approximate and/or flexible) Proposed end date 23 August 2013 (approximate and flexible)

Company profile Thoughtified was founded in 2009 to develop platforms for the management of spatial information. We have built ManagePlaces www.manageplaces.com), the first SaaS solution that combines data from sensors, GIS information and task management, all in one tool that is accessible on Web browsers and mobile devices.

Thoughtified has worked with conservation organisations, the construction industry as well as the NHS to deliver spin-off products using intelligence and algorithms from our ManagePlaces offering, such as TigerNation, a ‘Facebook for tigers’ using image recognition to help save the last remaining wild tigers (www.tigernation.org - featured in online and print publications across the globe including BBC Click and Times of India) and ManagePatients, a TSB-backed secure patient data exchange platform across health providers. Currently, we are concentrating on bespoke enterprise-level ManagePlaces deployments for large organisations, where task and asset proximity awareness is key to achieving time and cost savings.

As part of our desire to help people get things done remotely, we are also researching and developing an online system for surgical tool tracking (with Moorfields Eye Hospital and the University of Surrey), as well as an innovative “traditional meeting killer” service that facilitates productive meetings for geographically dispersed teams of any size.

Placement title Surgical Instrument Tracking Optimisation

Placement description In collaboration with University of Surrey, Thoughtified will be developing a Web API and graphical interface to a tool that assists with surgical tool training. The task of the intern will be to assist with the research and development process, by supporting the design, development and integration of the innovation. There may also be opportunity for the intern to work on the algorithms so that they are optimised, efficient and robust - ready for commercial use.

Student specification Strong problem solving skills, good communication and team-working skills, experience with MatLab and C/Java/Python would be beneficial but not essential.

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Company Ultra Electronics - Communication & Integrated Systems

Your contact Mr Andy Cambridge (supervisor) Andrea Mackenzie (contact) 0208 813 4567 [email protected]

Address of placement 419 Bridport Road, Greenford UB6 8UA

Dates of placement (these can be approximate or negotiable) July – September (approximate and negotiable)

Company profile Ultra Electronics Ltd CIS is a company that designs and manufactures products for the aerospace and defence industries. Its main customers are the major prime contractors in the aerospace business and the Ministry of Defence. Our department, Secure Communications, is a division within Ultra CIS and specialises in the area of secure data links for military customers. Our products include tactical data links and secure links for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

Placement title Student Engineer

Placement description The successful candidate will be contributing to the projects that are current at the time. This role is likely to require computer skills, undergraduate level of mathematical knowledge, and a willingness to work in our specialised electronic laboratory. The project will be defence-based; products for this area generally have to cope with extreme environmental conditions, be highly reliable, and innovative.

Student specification Students studying the following subjects would be well suited to the role: Electronics Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, and Computing. Due to the nature of our work, the successful candidate must be capable of being security cleared, for which a minimum of five years residency in the UK is required.

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Company Weald Technology Ltd

Your contact Mr Phil Edwards 01825 761890 [email protected]

Address of placement 7 Olives Meadow, Uckfield TN22 1QY

Dates of placement Proposed start date (negotiable) Proposed end date (negotiable)

Company profile Weald Technology develops technology solutions for Smart Transport and Smart Cities, with current developments focussing on a kit-built lightweight electric car, and traffic management/user interface systems for reducing congestion and emissions in urban environments. The latter is the focus of the 2013 summer placement

Placement title Development of a Smart City data system

Placement description Investigate and review current technologies in traffic management and monitoring. You will help specify and design (with partner organisations) a tablet/Smartphone based user interface / traffic management system. This will enable drivers to plan and share their journeys and, using real-time monitoring of traffic conditions, redirect traffic flow to reduce congestion around the urban environment. This project will involve phone apps, web development, gaming technology, GPS, vehicle tracking, traffic sensors, and open data. The project will include research and analysis of existing systems, liaising with external experts, and help with development of ideas. This is a wide ranging project ideally suited to somebody with an interest in data systems, web and app development, or the real world application of these technologies in smart cities.

Student specification We are a small organisation and therefore the ideal student will be comfortable working independently occasionally. It is a dynamic and constantly changing environment and whilst I can't offer the full support of a large company we can promise an exciting project with the chance to get involved in every aspect. The student will be given every opportunity to develop their interest in the subject as far as they wish in the time available.

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Placements in

Research

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Institution ISIS Pulsed Neutron & Muon Source

Your contact Joe Kelleher 01235 446438 [email protected]

Address of institution Science & Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX

Dates of placement Proposed start date: June 2013 (approximate and flexible) Proposed end date: September 2013 (approximate and flexible)

Profile of institution/department ENGIN-X is a world-leading neutron diffractometer at the ISIS neutron source. It is used to measure elastic strain and phase changes at the microstructural level in both samples of test material and manufactured components. Individual materials are tested by mechanically loading a sample while simultaneously using the neutron beam to measure the inter-atomic spacing in each phase or grain orientation. High/or cryo-temperature loading or repeated loading can also be performed to examine how these factors affect the mechanism of deformation. Furthermore, strain may be ‘mapped’ in manufactured components (typically those with welds or castings) by sequentially measuring different points within the sample, to see residual stress after manufacture and predict likely locations of failure.

Placement title Development of machine vision and data analysis methods for neutron scattering experiments

Placement description This year, we are seeking a student to assist in developing modern computational methods to help visiting scientists plan their experiments and get the most out of their data afterwards. We are especially interested in machine vision approaches for aligning samples, monitoring their movement during experiments and even automatic recording of e.g. the mechanical deformation of a sample during a test. Similarly, the data from the neutron scattering is believed to contain more information than is used at present – for example, the neutrons are measured with a pixellated area detector, but at the moment all pixels are simply averaged together to obtain a wavelength spectrum of scattered neutrons. By looking at the individual pixel-to-pixel variation in the measured neutron spectra, we expect to develop new experimental techniques that can eventually be routinely available to visiting scientists.

Student specification The ideal candidate will need knowledge of a computer programming language, ideally Python or Java, and be proficient in analysing numerical data in Excel, Matlab or a similar tool. C or C++ would also be useful. You should also have a keen interest in condensed matter and materials science and possibly particle physics or photography. You must be able and willing to work with ionizing radiation and be issued with a dosimeter.

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Institution Medical Research Council

Your contact Dominic Norris 01235 841139 [email protected]

Address of placement Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0RD

Dates of placement Proposed start date (flexible) Proposed end date (flexible)

Profile of institution/department We are a MRC (www.mrc.ac.uk) unit located on the Harwell site (http://www.harwelloxford.com), about 10 miles south of Oxford. MRC Harwell (http://www.har.mrc.ac.uk) comprises about 200 people (scientists, PhD students and support staff) split between the Mammalian Genetics Unit and the Mary Lyon Centre, including a dozen active research groups and excellent supporting services. The Mammalian Genetics Unit is a major international research centre at the forefront of studies in mouse genetics and functional genomics, investigating a wide variety of disease models and enhancing our understanding of the molecular and genetic bases of disease. The Mary Lyon Centre is a national facility for mouse functional genomics, providing expertise, tools and space to generate mouse models of human disease for MRC Harwell and the wider research community.

Placement title The biopysics of telling left from right.

Placement description While left and right are immediately obvious to us, they are strangely difficult to define (just look in a dictionary). Yet the developing embryo consistently manages to differentiate them. The embryo gives rise to a left-right asymmetric heart, lungs and gut, so clearly getting it right is very important. The embryo has solved the problem of how to do this by utilising information from the other two axes to generate a left-right asymmetric biophysical force. Cilia, small motile protrusions from cells, rotate so as drive a leftward flow of liquid in the early embryo (called ‘nodal flow’) and it is this that differentiates left from right (1). Various hypotheses exist seeking to explain how this might then be interpreted by the embryo. In collaboration with the Ventikos lab (Oxford University) we have been modelling cilia motion and nodal flow (2, 3); this will help us to determine which hypotheses may be correct. However, many assumptions have been made in these models due to lack of precise physical measurements. This project aims to collect physical data from very small biological samples. This data will allow our computational models to be refined. Small fluorescent beads placed within a node can be imaged using suitable microscopes; optical sectioning allows single plains to be imaged in isolation, making particle image velocitometry possible on very high densities of beads. Alterations in fluid viscosity will alter the particle velocity and the nature of these changes reflect the physical forces generated. The project aims to define the forces being generated within the node. If time allows, mutants affecting various aspects of these processes will also be analysed.

1. D. P. Norris, Cilia, calcium and the basis of left-right asymmetry. BMC biology 10, 102 (2012). 2. D. Chen, D. Norris, Y. Ventikos, The active and passive ciliary motion in the embryo node: A computational fluid dynamics model. Journal of biomechanics, (Jan 2, 2009). 3. D. Chen, D. Norris, Y. Ventikos, Ciliary behaviour and mechano-transduction in the embryonic node: Computational testing of hypotheses. Medical engineering & physics 33, 857 (Sep, 2011).

Student specification A willingness to work at the interface of biology and physics. A willingness to do wet science (experimental physics). The wish to work as part of a team.

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Institution Medical Research Council, Harwell

Your contact Henrik Westerberg 01235 841234 [email protected]

Address of placement Mammalian Genetic Unit, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD

Dates of placement (these can be approximate or negotiable) 17 June – 16 August (approximate)

Profile of institution/department We are a Medical Research Council unit located on the Harwell site about 10 miles south of Oxford. MRC Harwell comprises about 200 people (scientists, PhD students and support staff) split between the Mammalian Genetics Unit and the Mary Lyon Centre, including a dozen active research groups and excellent supporting services. The Mammalian Genetics Unit (www.har.mrc.ac.uk/) is a major international research centre at the forefront of studies in mouse genetics and functional genomics, investigating a wide variety of disease models and enhancing our understanding of the molecular and genetic bases of disease. You will be part of the Biocomputing unit that supports both new analysis tools for next generation sequencing and for mouse phenotyping, in particular for this project: 3D volumetric image data. The goal of which is to provide early identification of phenodeviant mouse lines from a variety of imaging modalities.

Placement title 3D Image Analysis for OPT and micro CT

Placement description We have a variety of projects that can be undertaken by a prospective student related to two cutting edge imaging modalities (Optical Projection Tomography) OPT and micro Computed Tomography (uCT). As part of the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (www.phenotype.org), embryonic lethal knock-out lines will go through an embryonic phenotyping pipeline to record and attempt to determine, in 3D, morphological differences between wild type and mutant. The student will have an opportunity to improve our high-throughput methodology as well investigate the applicability of various software packages. This will help further the goal of discovering novel mouse models for translational medicine. Potential Projects:  Investigation of different reconstruction parameters in order to improve quality.  Investigation of different automatic segmentation algorithms in relation to organ shape identification and ontologies.  Re-implementing and installation of academically developed software for experimentation and validation.

This will require a well-motivated student willing to take a new area within applied Physics. This will also require the student to work with and communicate their results to scientists with a variety of backgrounds from biology to computer science.

Student specification Required: Fluent in at least one programming language An interest in 3D Visualisation and Graphics An interest in optics and reconstruction algorithms Able to write documentation Desirable: Experience with LabVIEW An interest in biology or embryology Any experience in image analysis.

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Institution Queen Mary University of London

Your contact Professor Steven Thomas 0208825767 [email protected]

Address of institution School of Physics & Astronomy, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS

Dates of placement Proposed start date - June/July (flexible)

Profile of institution/department This project will be based in the Centre for Research in String Theory within the School of Physics and Astronomy.

Placement title Elementary investigation into the properties of strings and D-branes.

Placement description This is a theoretical project into the physics of strings and d-branes. In the past 20 years string theory, (which is a candidate for a theory that unifies the four known fundamental forces into a fully consistent theory) has undergone a paradigm shift. It is now understood to be a theory that not only describes fundamental strings as the building block of all matter and forces, but also predicts the existence of new higher-dimensional objects called d-branes. These objects have a remarkably rich structure and one which has profoundly changed how we may understand the strong, weak and electromagnetic fundamental forces. This project will allow the student to understand some of the basic physical properties of strings and d-branes, properties which distinguish them from those of ordinary point particles. The student will apply their undergraduate knowledge of classical and quantum mechanics along with general relativity to investigate some classical and quantum aspects of strings and d-branes. At the end of the project, the student will have acquired some insight into the nature of strings and branes and how they may play a role in areas such as elementary particle physics and cosmology. They should also be able to communicate what they have learned at a reasonably pedagogical level to their peers and lay audiences.

Student specification The ideal candidate will be someone who is thinking of applying for postgraduate research in string theory and who has studied courses in quantum mechanics, Lagrangian mechanics and general relativity at undergraduate level.

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Institution Royal Holloway, University of London

Your contact Dr. Jocelyn Monroe 01784 443454 [email protected]

Address of institution Egham Hill, Surrey TW20 0EX

Dates of placement June 3, 2013 (approximate) August 2, 2013 (approximate)

Profile of institution/department Royal Holloway is one of the four major centres of teaching and research in the University of London. The high energy physics group is active in the ATLAS experiment at CERN, the DEAP/CLEAN and DMTPC dark matter searches, accelerator physics, and particle phenomenology. The research of the Physics Department is supported by GRID computing facilities, the London Low Temperature Laboratory, the John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science with participation at CLIC, KEK, ESS and the Diamond Light Source, and collaboration in SEPnet and the NExT Institute for Particle Phenomenology.

The dark matter group at RHUL plays a major role in developing the DEAP/CLEAN detector calibration system hardware, software, and analysis and in developing analysis methods to discriminate between candidate dark matter signal and neutron background interactions. The groupʼs key responsibilities are the calibration, muon veto and cryogenic process systems on DEAP/CLEAN and R&D towards future calibration systems.

Placement title Liquid Argon Detector R&D for Dark Matter and Neutrino Physics

Placement description In recent years there has been great interest in liquid noble, e.g. liquid argon (LAr) or liquid xenon (LXe), detectors for dark matter and neutrino detection because of the potential for scaling to very large detector masses, while preserving excellent discrimination between signal and background. The proposed summer project addresses two main issues for both neutrino and dark matter physics: calibration and detector optics. Rare-event searches, such as electron-neutrino appearance or distinguishing a dark matter signal from large backgrounds, require exquisitely well-calibrated detectors, and extremely accurate simulations, tuned on calibration data, to model detector response. A highly detailed understanding of detector optics is necessary in order to make use of the scintillation signal for particle identification in liquid noble detectors, for example the LBNE and DEAP-3600 experiments using LAr, and the LUX and NEXT experiments using LXe. The goal of this research project is to significantly improve understanding of detector response by measuring the key physics parameters of Rayleigh scattering length and temperature dependence in noble liquids. The project tasks are to help build, commission and take data with a test stand in the RHUL dark matter laboratory to make this measurement, and to contribute to the data analysis using C++ software, leading to a publication.

Student specification Desirable but not necessary skills include C++ and ROOT software, and physics laboratory work. Desirable experience includes programming and working with standard laboratory hardware (e.g. oscilloscopes, power supplies, digitizers, PMTs).

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Institution Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (STFC) Particle Physics Department

Your contact Alastair Dewhurst (supervisor) Stephen Haywood (contact) 01235 445071 [email protected]

Address of institution STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, Didcot OX11 0QX

Dates of placement Proposed start date - Negotiable 1 Jul Proposed end date - Negotiable 30 Sep

Profile of institution/department The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) is the UK’s national physics laboratory, operated by the Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC). RAL is a large, multi-disciplinary laboratory, hosting a synchrotron light source, a neutron spallation source, several powerful lasers and large particle physics (PPD) and space science departments. In addition a large technology department provides mechanical and electrical/electronic engineering support. PPD supports the UK HEP community, working alongside the university groups and engaging in R&D, constructing and operating detectors, as well as participating in the physics analysis. At the time of writing, the department is involved in ATLAS, CMS, LHCb, Minos, T2K, Mice, dark matter, CryoEDM and basic detector R&D, as well as computing activities (including Grid) and administrative support of the UK HEP community on behalf of STFC. The department has access to all of STFC’s facilities, including the extensive clean rooms. PPD has over 70 staff (physicists, engineers, computer experts and administrators), more than 50 of whom hold PhDs.

Placement title ATLAS Distributed Computing

Placement description During one second of LHC collisions, the ATLAS detector records over 300MB of data. This data needs to be backed up, processed and then copied around the world to allow thousands of physicists within the ATLAS collaboration to perform their research. This is the task of the ATLAS Distributed Computing Group. During 2013, the LHC is being upgraded and so are the computing systems to be able to cope with the much higher data taking rates expected when the experiment start again. One area of particular interest is the ability to access data efficiently over wide area networks. The successful student will become involved in the analysis of data usage patterns and development of monitoring tools.

Student specification Familiarity with Unix operating systems. Python coding experience would be useful.

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Institution Applied Optics Group, University of Kent

Your contact Professor of biomedical optics, Adrian Podoleanu 07940582321 [email protected]

Address of placement Ingram, School of Physical Sciences, Canterbury CT2 7NH

Dates of placement Proposed start date – Flexible Proposed end date - Flexible

Profile of institution/department Applied Optics Group occupies a newly refurbished 750 m2 Photonics Centre (completed August/2005), part of a university wide initiative to strengthen the research in Optics: 3 academics, 4 postdoctoral researchers, 6 PhD students, 2 Master students, 4 project students, 3 Erasmus exchange students, over 13 visiting scientists (from visiting professor to visiting researcher).

Placement title Hand–held probe for optical coherence tomography of skin and gum

Placement description Problem: To perform imaging of different parts of the body, a movable probe head is required. The design should incorporate the fibre connecting the scanner device in the probe head to the core of the OCT system. Innovative aspects: Different versions will be evaluated, such as a 1D probe head and a 2D probe head. The 1D probe will employ a galvo-scanner and be used with spectral domain OCT systems. The 2D probe will employ a fast dual axis galvoscanner and will be used with a time domain en-face OCT system. Skills acquired: scanning technology, fibre optic instrumentation, opto-mechanical design. The student will participate in the OCT research of the Applied Optics Group and will use the hand held probe and systems to image different objects. Collaboration with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust will give the student the possibility to image skin tissue.

Student specification  Desire to assemble small optomechanical parts, or knowledge of Labview or C  Desire to work in a laboratory environment, performing experimental research  Resilience in continuous work on performing optical alignment

Some knowledge of photonics devices and photonics technologies

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Institution Applied Physics, University of Portsmouth

Your contact Chris Dewdney 02392842417 [email protected]

Address of institution Burnaby Building, Portsmouth PO1 3QL

Dates of placement Proposed start date - May/June 2013 Proposed end date - July/August 2013

Profile of institution/department The Applied Physics department offers an undergraduate Applied Physics degree and carries out research in functional materials for advanced applications. the Institute of Cosmology carries out research at the international level. The department has strong links with local industrial and commercial employers and is developing various collaborative projects in research and in curriculum development with external partners.

Placement title Instrument interfacing and control, data acquisition, processing and virtual instrument development using LabVIEW.

Placement description The project will involve extending the capabilities and usefulness of various equipment. Instruments have been identified (e.g. a spectrometer) that could be more useful in teaching and research if they were interfaced with modern computational technologies. The project may involve some hardware replacement (perhaps the introduction of a stepper motor) and some electronics to allow data acquisition and instrument control. Once communications are established it will be necessary to write LabVIEW code to process the data, establish calibration and to design the front-end virtual instrument computer display. Students will develop vital modern laboratory skills.

Student specification Strong interest and capability in laboratory practical work. Willingness to learn and/or extend skills in the use of LabVIEW to communicate with instruments

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Institution University of Reading

Your contact Dr Stephanie Bush 0118 378 7841 [email protected]

Address of institution Department of Meteorology, Earley Gate, Reading RG6 6BB

Dates of placement Proposed start date - Negotiable: early June Proposed end date - Negotiable: late July/early August

Profile of institution/department The Department of Meteorology at Reading is the largest of its kind in Europe with over 40 academic staff, 20 senior research staff and fellowship holders, around 90 postdocs and around 70 PhD students. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, 75% of our research was graded as world leading or internationally excellent. Our weighted score places us third in the country in the "Earth Systems and Environmental Science" category and makes us the highest-graded department focusing on the fundamental science of weather and climate. The Department hosts around 25 Met Office scientists, the Climate Division of the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS- Climate), as well as the directorates of the National Centre for Earth Observation and NCAS Models and Data.

Placement title The effect of weather on dairy calf health and welfare

Placement description Dairy calves have a very high rate of illness and death before reaching 6 months old. Diarrhoea is diagnosed in up to 64% of calves (Trotz-Williams, 2005) and 29% acquire pneumonia (Virtala 1996). These diseases are the major cause of death in heifers up to 6 months old and contribute to 14.5% of UK heifers that die before reaching the milking herd (Brickell, 2009). As a part of a study which aims to improve dairy calf health, our objective is to quantify two ways the weather impacts calf health: 1) Changes in growth rates due to low air temperatures 2) Changes in the rates of illness due air temperature, humidity or changes in weather conditions. These relationships are important for adapting to future climate change, which will likely increase the frequency of extreme UK weather events. Two data-sets are ready for the student to analyze. We will use Met Office weather station data to analyze the weather conditions near farms in SE England. We will also use temperature and humidity recorded inside calf barns to determine the relationship between conditions at the weather stations and the conditions in the calf barns. The student will calculate metrics relevant to the study objectives, such as the frequency of nights below a temperature threshold and will fit their results into the larger study. We will use a statistical model to compare measurements of calf illness and growth with the student’s results.

Student specification Students with strong computational skills and a background in physics are preferred.

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Institution University of Surrey

Your contact Professor Stephen Sweeney (day-to-day supervision may be delegated to a named individual) 01483 689406 [email protected]

Address of institution Advanced Technology Institute and Department of Physics, Guildford GU2 7XH

Dates of placement Proposed start date: TBD – some flexibility Proposed end date: TBD – some flexibility

Profile of institution/department The Department of Physics’ research activities include both pure research, such as work on understanding nuclear structure, and more applied research, such as photonics. The Department's research groups are the Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Physics (CNRP), the Photonics and Theory and Computation groups that are both within the Advanced Technology Institute, and the Soft Matter physics group.

The Advanced Technology Institute is an interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to advancing next-generation electronic and photonic device technologies. The ATI's activities are divided into four research groups: Nanoelectronics, Photonics, Ion Beams, and Theory and Computation. Science and technology on the nanoscale, technological applications of quantum science and engineering, and conversion of energy are some of the cross-cutting themes uniting the groups.

Placement title Development of smartphone resources for physics information and outreach

Placement description The aim of this project is to initiate a study into developing smartphone based applications for the Department of Physics at the University of Surrey. The main objective is to create a basic app template that can be developed for various purposes in the department, e.g.as a useful look-up tool for current students, to teach a physics concept or to help raise the profile of the physics department with prospective students. During the project you will research and develop the skills required to create an app and develop example content as you progress. There is a significant degree of flexibility of the final product and the opportunity to work creatively in this project.

Student specification The ideal candidate should have good programming skills including html and JavaScript. Previous experience of developing apps would be highly desirable although enthusiasm and self-motivation are of greater importance.

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Institution University of Surrey

Your contact Dr James Adams 01483682723 [email protected]

Address of institution School of Physics and Astronomy, Guildford GU2 7XH

Dates of placement Proposed start date - Early July (after 8th) Proposed end date - September

Profile of institution/department The Soft Matter group (http://www.surrey.ac.uk/physics/softmatter/index.htm) consists of about 30 PhD students, postdocs, technicians and academic staff. The group's research encompasses a wide range of systems, such as self-assembling nanostructures, liquid crystals, biological cells, polymers and nanomaterials. We have academics working on both experiment and theory, to answer questions about the structure, properties and dynamics of soft systems. It is supported by international companies, research councils, charities and the European Union. The group has weekly meetings during the summer to discuss research, with presentations from existing PhD students. Presentations by summer students are strongly encouraged and supported.

Placement title Reversibly switchable pressure sensitive adhesive: computation of the linear rheology of suitable liquid crystalline elastomers

Placement description Pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are soft materials that adhere to nearly any surface when low pressure is applied. Commercially PSAs are extremely important, with applications in stationery, car assembly and electronic equipment assembly. The University of Surrey has a strong research activity in coatings and adhesives, including both theoretical and experimental efforts and links with industrial partners. Developing smart adhesives that can be switched on and off is particularly important in the recycling of materials as it would make disassembly and re-use quicker and cheaper. Several mechanisms have been developed for switchable adhesives, including a UV initiated crosslinking of the PSA. Recently we have proposed a method based on liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) [1]. These are materials that contain both long polymer chains and molecular rods that can be used to align the polymer backbone. By switching the orientation of the liquid crystal rods it has been shown that the tack energy of the adhesive can be modified. This placement will explore the idea further using theoretical and computational techniques. The rheology (mechanical properties) of a material can be used to predict its adhesive properties. In particular the storage modulus and the loss tangent are a good guide to adhesive performance. The student will use an existing model of LCEs to compute the rheology and compare it with experimental results. This calculation will provide a guide to the performance of the proposed new switchable adhesive -- how "strong" is it and by how much can the performance switched? They will gain some experience in modelling and computation and will be encouraged to participate in the summer group seminar series including presenting their work. [1] D. R. Corbett and J. M. Adams, Soft Matter 2013, 9, 1151.

Student specification Ideally the student would have  Strong mathematical skills  Some experience solving ordinary differential equations e.g. writing code or using matlab  Some background knowledge of soft matter systems

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Institution University of Sussex

Your contact Matthias Keller 01273 877673 [email protected]

Address of institution University of Sussex, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Pevensey 2, Brighton BN1 9QH

Dates of placement 1st July 2013 (flexible) 16th August 2013 (flexible)

Institution details The Molecular Physics Laboratory Sussex investigates ultra-cold chemical reactions and performs high resolution spectroscopy of molecular ions. Employing techniques from quantum information processing, we develop tools to manipulate molecular states with unparalleled precision.

Placement title High precision detectors for molecular physics experiments

Placement description Ultra cold collisions between molecules and atoms are crucial to investigate quantum mechanical effects on the chemical reaction dynamics such as tunnelling and submerged barrier reflection. In the ITCM-group at Sussex we study these collisions between ions and neutral atoms/molecules. Even though the product of these collisions can be measured very precisely, the determination of the flux of the neutral particles is a real challenge.

In this project you will be designing, assembling and testing a unique cryogenic detector for neutral particles based on a quartz crystal micro balance (QCMB). The QCMB is a quartz crystal which oscillates in shear mode, making it sensitive to depositions on the crystal surface. By measuring the frequency of this detector very precisely, the deposition on the detector can be measured with single layer resolution. For a certain atoms and molecules, the detector needs to be cooled to ensure that they stick to the surface without evaporation. This requires cooling of the detector to low temperatures without compromising its functionality and sensitivity.

Skills you will acquire:  Electronic design and circuit production  Design of mechanical components  Device testing strategies  Basics of molecular dynamics

Student specification Applicants should be familiar with thermodynamics and classical mechanics and ideally with atomic and molecular physics.

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