The Green Bank Observatory teams up with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory to offer funded research opportunities for undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-docs. We also support other opportunities like job-training apprenticeships, and co-ops as funding allows.
Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates
We have held a summer student research program since the beginning of the Observatory in 1959! Undergraduate students spend 10-11 weeks on site participating in an astronomy, engineering or computer science research project. The project may involve any aspect of astronomy, including original research, instrumentation, telescope design, astronomical site evaluation or astronomical software development. The program runs from 10-11 weeks over the summer, from late May to mid-August. At the end of the summer, participants present their research results as a short talk and submit a written report. Often, these projects result in publications in scientific journals. Financial support is available for students to present their summer research at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society, generally at the winter meeting following their appointment.
Besides their research, students take part in other activities, including a number of social events and excursions, as well as an extensive summer lecture series which covers aspects of radio astronomy and astronomical research. Students, may in their application materials also indicate a willingness to participate in PING (an opportunity to mentor rising ninth grade students who will be on site for 2 weeks) or the WV Space Grant programs.
Typically, we expect to fund five National Science Foundation REU students, two PING students, and three NASA WV Space Grant students in a given Summer. Further details on the PING and WV Space Grant programs are below.
We accept and review applications in conjunction with the NRAO summer student program. You can find more information about the GBO program here, and see this website for information on the overall NRAO program, and application.
Physics Inspiring the Next Generation: Exploring the Cosmos with Green Bank Observatory
The Physics Inspiring the Next Generation (PING): Investigating the Cosmos with Green Bank Observatory program is a joint research / outreach program enabling astronomy, engineering, or computer science research at the Green Bank Observatory.
Much like our Summer Student Program, PING Undergraduate Internships provide stipends to undergraduate students for a 10-11 week experience at the Green Bank Observatory. Selected students will conduct research with a scientist/mentor, participate in all research and social activities at the Observatory. The twist to PING is that selected undergraduates will take a two week pause in their research to serve as mentors for rising 9th-graders at the PING Summer Camp. PING internships are designed to broaden students’ skill sets, opening the doors for future employment and academic opportunities. Applications for PING internships are accepted through the NRAO Summer Student Program portal.
West Virginia Space Grant
The West Virginia Space Grant Internship at the Green Bank Observatory program is a collaboration between NASA and the Green Bank Observatory, through the WV Space Grant Consortium.
This program will provide stipends to undergraduate students for a 10-week experience at the Green Bank Observatory. Students selected as Space Grant interns must be either: (1) West Virginia residents, or (2) US citizens/green card-holders attending a college or university in West Virginia. In addition to engineering and computer science (including cyber) work, this program can fund an intern to work on STEM education/outreach initiatives. Selected students will work with their mentor, and participate in all research and social activities at the Observatory.
Applications for WV Space Grant interns are accepted through the NRAO Summer Student Program portal.
Graduate Student Fellowship Opportunities
Grote Reber Doctoral Fellowship Program
The Grote Reber Doctoral Fellowship Program enables Ph.D. students in the final years of their thesis to conduct research at one of the NRAO sites or at the GBO site under the supervision of an Observatory advisor. The program is jointly sponsored by the Observatories and by the student’s home university. The program supports thesis projects in radio astronomy, radio instrumentation, or computational techniques. You can find more information on Reber fellowships at this site.
Summer GBO Graduate Student Residency
The Green Bank Observatory is a fantastic place for doctoral students to spend a Summer, close to the telescopes and far from the distractions! We will make housing available for up to 10 graduate students to live in-residence at the Observatory in at a time throughout the Summer. We will also provide shared office space and educational opportunities with our staff throughout the stay. The Observatory will bear the cost of housing, but will not pay any stipends for students; their home institutions would continue to pay the students’ salaries. Students could choose to stay for varying lengths of time, meaning the program could impact significantly more than 10 students throughout the Summer.
As part of their stay in Green Bank, we will request students to give research talks, assist with education and public outreach programs, and contribute to the overall scientific ethos of the Observatory. The applicants should plan to use GBO/NRAO instruments as part of their research and/or plan to do research with a member of staff on site.
This program is currently being developed. For more information or to express interest, please reach out to Will Armentrout (ude.o1761980889arn@r1761980889tnemr1761980889aw1761980889).