Research Opportunities

Students interested in extra-curricular activities can explore a wide range of research opportunities available during both the summer months and the school year. Research projects equip students with practical skills in organization, problem-solving and team work. Faculty members encourage ambitious students to pursue these areas of study to prepare them for experiences beyond college.

Who says that one has to sacrifice research to attend a Christian university? The physics department seeks those who desire the values of Taylor community life and the thrill of cutting-edge research. If students have the necessary drive, they will gain graduate-level experience as an undergrad by working on Taylor's real-life projects funded by agencies such as NASA, the Air Force and NSF.

Through the Science Research Training Program, the department has completed $2 million in externally funded research over the past decade. From 1999 through 2003, Physics faculty published 20 research papers (four included students as authors). Students were actively involved in every research project, whether through class projects or paid summer research. In an alumni survey, an overwhelming 84 percent of graduates were pleased with the department's research opportunities while they were students.

Research strengths range from theoretical particle physics to space science, digital circuits to nanosatellite development. For example, Taylor's TEST Nanosatellite proposal was the only undergraduate program selected for an Air Force University Nanosat Program $100,000 grant. Over a dozen students are working on space science, thermodynamics, microelectronics, programming and mechanical engineering for TEST.

Students have been selected for summer internships at major labs, including NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Argonne National Lab, Fermi Lab and the Mayo Clinic. First-rate graduate schools readily accept graduates, with 45 percent of graduates entering graduate school shortly after leaving Taylor. Small and large corporations regularly hire graduates.

Students begin influencing the world by collaborating on cutting-edge research, speaking at scientific conferences, working on service learning projects, and student teaching at local schools. Recent collaborations have included Stanford and the University of Illinois. As one of many presentations, Taylor students were honored to present the first research paper at the international Small Satellite Conference in 2002 to a crowd of over 500. In partnership with the environmental science department, physics has started a Central American water well drilling ministry.

"The reason I came to Taylor was the fact that it is a Christian school with a good science program. There are lots of research opportunities and interactions with the professors for being such a small school."

Michael Assis 2005


Physics Research Opportunities

Space Science Research

  • SPADUS: Space Dust and Energetic Particle Experiment [Voss, Davis]
  • IMAGE: High Energy Neutral Atome Imager [Voss]
  • DROPPS: Distribution of Particles in the Polar Mesosphere [Voss];
  • LEP: Lightning-Induced Electron Precipitation [Voss]
  • SEPS: Source/Loss-Cone Energetic Particle Spectrometer [Voss, Toll]
  • TU SATELLITE 1: Digital communications satellite [Voss, Prentice]
  • VLF STATION: Very Low Frequency Reciever [Davis, Voss]
  • ISGC: Indiana Space Grant Consortium [Davis]

Particle Physics

Engineering Research

Other Research