C2 the P2 is a two-year fellowship for graduate students at Northern Illinois University and the University of Illinois Chicago. You apply to a graduate program first and to the fellowship second. The questions below cover how the two fit together.
Which degree programs can I apply through?
Four, across the two universities. You can enter through either the master’s or the doctoral program in any of them:
What do I have to produce during the fellowship?
Substantial written work on a topic connected to high energy physics, in one of two forms:
- An M.S. thesis. This is the preferred route, and it is open to doctoral students too — you can take the master’s along the way to the Ph.D.
- A significant paper you author during the fellowship, where a thesis does not fit your path.
Either satisfies the requirement. Current fellows are working on integrating AI into HEP software, data compression, and I/O performance monitoring.
Am I eligible?
You need to be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and applying to one of the four programs above. Fellows are supported for two years.
Is it one application or two?
Two, in order.
- Apply to the graduate program. Use the standard process for your department, through NIU graduate admissions or UIC graduate admissions. We have no part in this decision.
- Tell us once you are admitted. Get in touch and we will arrange an interview with the C2 the P2 faculty at your university.
Admission to the graduate program comes first; the fellowship interview follows it.
Do I need anything beyond my degree application?
No. There are no extra prerequisites, test scores, or documents — the materials your department asks for are all you need. Deadlines are set by each department, so check your program’s page, and write to us if you are unsure whether you still have time.
What is expected of me as a fellow?
Alongside the normal requirements of your degree, you will:
- produce the thesis or paper described above, working with a mentor assigned to you from the HEP community — our alumni list the theses and papers they wrote as fellows, which is the clearest picture of what the work turns into;
- take several computational physics courses taught by NIU and UIC faculty and by scientists from Argonne and Fermilab, plus an introductory project management course;
- present at the monthly seminar series and attend the twice-yearly program events.
What funding do fellows receive?
A full tuition waiver with additional fee coverage, a monthly stipend through the academic year, and travel support to present your published work. Funding for equipment may be available where a project needs it.
Who do I contact?
Write to the program at C² the P² Inquiry, which reaches the faculty leads at both universities. Ask us about deadlines, whether your background fits, or anything here that is unclear.