We offer students multiple Experiential Learning opportunities: Outstanding Scholars placements, Honours thesis projects, or volunteer undergraduate research.
Physicists choose experimental or theoretical work in basic or applied research and in sub-fields that range from acoustics and atomic physics to relativity and surface science. Students learn the skills needed to live and work in a high technology world of lasers, computers and microelectronics in a friendly and engaging atmosphere. The undergraduate programs at Windsor provide excellent training for all these combinations as well as for work in many other areas where strong problem solving and analytical abilities are important, or where the techniques of high technology are needed.
Outstanding Scholars Program
The Outstanding Scholars Program is geared to those students who have the potential to become student leaders in their academic field during their four years at the University of Windsor. Starting from their second year, students work closely with faculty on academic projects. Outstanding Scholars in Physics have published papers in peer-reviewed journals, and presented in international conferences.
"As an NSERC recipient and an Outstanding Scholar for Dr. Maev and Dr. Pantea, I have worked hard and learned quite a bit since starting in my first-year summer. I have been working on using ultrasound waves to characterize bones using a variety of methods, with the hope that ultrasound could be used to diagnose osteoporosis. This would allow ultrasounds to replace X-rays, which can be quite dangerous for patients. My work has involved measuring acoustical parameters of sheep bones, as well as using other materials in order to model bones."
- Aneesh Dhar
Undergraduate Thesis
Undergraduates frequently join individual research groups for their honours thesis project (PHYS-4900) or during one of the work terms of a co-op degree. Students are encouraged to start working in a group as early as their first year. In addition to research experience, the student shares in the exploration for new scientific knowledge with some of the nation's leading scientists. Students can utilize their research experience as a valuable tool towards their academic career or graduate education.
"I worked for Dr. Rangan for my 4th year thesis project. I worked on research concerning controlled nano-scale light-matter interactions in a ring of gold nano-particles (GNP). The goal was to optimize the electric field at the centre of a GNP ring so that when attached to an optical fiber, it will be sensitive enough to identify Raman-tagged cancer cells. We exploited the inter-particle coupling between plasmons in the ring to maximize the absorption of radiation. Using FORTRAN algorithms (Mie theory and Generalized Multiparticle Mie-solution [GMM] ), we modeled the above for rings of N particles, and made predictions."
- Magdalena Tywoniuk
Internship / Discovery Course
SCIE-3900 Undergraduate Research Experience offers students the chance to participate in discipline-specific research activities under the direct supervision of a faculty member in the Faculty of Science. Through this course, students are given the opportunity to develop their skills and experience in the methods, techniques and ethical conduct of research.
"By taking the internship class I was able to get research experience in an area of academic interest all while receiving course credit. Throughout the semester I had many opportunities to reflect on the knowledge and skills I was learning, as well as focus on building essential workplace skills such as leadership and teamwork."
- Paul Dubovan – BSc (Honours) in Medical Physics with Minor in Mathematics