Each year since early 2000s, CSU sets aside a big chuck of money (~$250k) to support summer undergraduate research on campus. The money are distributed on a competitive basis through Undergraduate Summer Research Award (USRA) for which faculty submit proposals. The funded proposals hire undergraduates for summer research on campus. Each summer several physics majors or inspiring physics majors get hired by physics faculty.

In 2024, at least four students worked with physics professors on the USRA projects. Physics major Jacob Forester worked with Dr. Heus on the project titled “Effects of Shear on Turbulence Kinetic Energy Distributions Around Shallow Cumulus Clouds”. Physics minor Colin Lathwell worked with Dr. Sensale Rodriguez on the project titled “Characterizing the Dielectric Properties of Biomolecules through Molecular Dynamics Simulations”. Jaxon Riley worked with Dr. Bickel and her REU student on the project titled “Engineering a Reproducible Au(111) Flame Annealing Procedure”. Patrick Barrett worked with Dr. Streletzky and his REU student on the project titled “Analyzing Polymer-Grafted Gold Nanorods using Depolarized Dynamic Light Scattering (DDLS)”.

On September 19, 2024, all USRA students had to present a poster on the results of their summer projects at the Undergraduate Summer Research Award Poster Session. The Physics Department run a poster competition among physics projects at this event. This year the posters were judged by Dr. Walker, Dr. Fodor and Ms. Peppard. The winner of the Best Summer Undergraduate Research Project award was chosen to be Jaxon Riley. Congratulations, Jaxon! As a Choose Ohio First (COF) student, Jaxon was also invited to present his poster at the COF Student Scholar Showcase in Columbus OH on Apr 2, 2025.