It is well known that summer is a holiday period. Many people have more free time, and they use it to travel, eat out, visit places of interest and relax, pursue their hobbies, do more shopping and even find a seasonal job.Especially for future particle physicist there are many opportunities. In this article we will tell you about the various job opportunities for young physics students to do during summertime.

One more reason to say that particle physics is everywhere is undoubtedly the fact that in almost every part of the world there are opportunities for young students to practice working in this specific sector. The study of natural phenomena opens up many opportunities for young people to work at international institutes, through which they will acquire an international experience that can help pave the way for a career in science and research. We have selected 6 of the best opportunities for physics students who are looking for an out-of-the-ordinary summer job:

• CERN summer students program 
• Fermilab undergraduate summer programs
• International summer student program at GSI-FAIR
• KEK summer students programs
• DESY summer student programs

CERN summer student program 

​​​​The European Organization for Nuclear Research, commonly known as CERN, is the largest particle physics laboratory in the world, located on the border between France and Switzerland, on the western outskirts of the city of Geneva, in the municipality of Meyrin. 

Physicists and engineers from everywhere work at CERN with the aim to study the basic constituents of matter – fundamental particles. In the accelerator, subatomic particles are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives clues about how the particles interact and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature. CERN wants to advance the boundaries of human knowledge by delving into the smallest building blocks of our universe. 

Each year CERN welcomes dozens of students and offers them the opportunity to work closely with the most famous particle accelerator in the world: the LHC (Large Hadron Collider). Here you can find all the info about the program: CERN summer student program. 

Be careful not to miss the news during the year. In fact, the subscriptions are only open for a short period of the year. If you want to be part of the program, remember to apply your CV and everything needed next November 2022 and cross your fingers. Summer 2023 you may have to pack your bags for Switzerland! 

Duration: over a period of 8 to 13 weeks

Education level: Bachelor or Master student in Physics, Engineering, Computer Science or Mathematics and should have completed three years of full-time studies at university level

Location: Meyrin, Switzerland

Fermilab undergraduate summer programs 

Fermilab is America's particle physics and accelerator laboratory. Its site is located in Batavia, Illinois. 

Fermilab's vision is to solve the mysteries of matter, energy, space and time for the benefit of the human being. Its mission is to drive discovery by building and operating world-leading accelerator and detector facilities performing pioneering research with national and global partners developing new technologies for science that support U.S. industrial competitiveness. 

This huge laboratory offers a variety of internship programs for high school, undergraduate and graduate students, secondary school teachers, and professionals. Working alongside their scientific, engineering, computing, and operations experts, the interns support and advance particle physics and accelerator research.

Application deadlines, length of assignments, selection process, eligibility and requirements vary by program. Explore the website to find out the program that fits you.

Duration: variable according to the program

Education level: high school, undergrad, graduate, professional

Location: Batavia, IL, USA

International summer student program at GSI-FAIR

 

The FAIR particle accelerator facility in Darmstadt (Germany) is one of the world's biggest and most complex construction projects for international cutting-edge research. On a site of approximately 20 hectares, unique buildings are being constructed in order to house and operate newly developed high-tech research facilities. FAIR will generate particle beams of a previously unparalleled intensity and quality. The variety of these particles will be unique: Ions of all the natural elements in the periodic table, as well as antiprotons, can be accelerated. The key component of FAIR is a ring accelerator with a circumference of 1,100 meters. Connected to this there is a complex system of storage rings and experimental stations. 

Students during their last-year Bachelor or Master studies in physics or related natural science and engineering disciplines from Europe or GSI/FAIR partner countries, can have a unique job experience during summertime thanks to the International Summer Student Program.

Duration: 8 weeks (between July and September)

Education level: 3rd to 5th year of study, i.e. last year of Bachelor or during Master studies; PhD students are not eligible

Location: Darmstadt, Germany

KEK summer student programs

 KEK is the center of research in high energy accelerator science in Japan.

It offers opportunities for both national and international students to study at KEK/J-PARC during summer time thanks to the summer students program.  The participants can experience research through hands-on work at KEK Tsukuba/J-PARC where versatile research projects are being actively performed in the fields of particle and nuclear physics, material and life science, and accelerator science.

Duration: 8 weeks (from June to August)

Education level: later half of undergraduate course and early part of graduate course (~ master course)

Location: Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

DESY summer students program

DESY (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY) is one of the world’s leading accelerator centres. Researchers use the large-scale facilities at DESY to explore the microcosm in all its variety – from the interactions of tiny elementary particles and the behaviour of new types of nanomaterials to biomolecular processes that are essential to life. The accelerators and detectors that DESY develops and builds are unique research tools. The facilities generate the world’s most intense X-ray light, accelerate particles to record energies and open completely new windows onto the universe.

Each summer DESY offers undergraduate students in physics or related natural science disciplines the possibility to participate in the research activities of the laboratory at the Hamburg or Zeuthen (near Berlin) sites. The summer students program offers to the elected candidates to join in the day-to-day work of DESY research groups and participate in one of the different activities made available for them.

Duration: from July to September

Education level: Bachelor’s degree in course, master’s degree in course.

Location: Hamburg or Zeuthen, Germany