Chicagoland Computational Traineeship in High Energy Particle Physics

Northern Illinois University (NIU) and University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, have developed a comprehensive two-year program (C² the P² - pronounced “CP squared”) to train physics and computer science students in the computational tools necessary to advance the particle physics field.

Once accepted into the program, you’ll begin your coursework at either NIU or UIC with their general graduate curricula, but you will also take several courses in computational physics taught by NIU and UIC faculty and experts from the local laboratories. You’ll also take a mandatory introductory project management course and participate in monthly technical seminars, hands-on learning experiences, and biannual program events. You’ll also benefit from close connections to the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF) for training and workshops.

Unique Opportunity

• Dual-Path Degree: Earn your M.S., a gateway into our Ph.D. program, in either Computer Science or High Energy Physics under the tutelage of distinguished faculty and scientists.
• Financial Support: Enjoy a tuition waiver and a competitive stipend, focusing on your research without financial worries.
• Travel & Networking: Benefit from dedicated travel funds to attend top conferences and workshops, expanding your professional network.
• Advanced Resources: Access to equipment funding, if needed, ensures you have the latest tools for cutting-edge research.

Exceptional Faculty Mentors

• Physics faculty have connections to ATLAS, CMS, DUNE, Muon g-2 and the Mu2e experiments, and the computer science faculty are leaders in the data science and high-performance computing (HPC) fields.

Eligibility

• Open to students 18+ years of age.
• U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status.
• Applying to the NIU or UIC physics graduate programs or the UIC computer science graduate program.
• If interested, please reach out for latest deadline.