Public Abstract

DE-SC0024907: Tigner Traineeships in Accelerator Science

Award Status: Active

Institution: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
UEI: G56PUALJ3KT5
DUNS: 872612445

Most Recent Award Date: 06/12/2024
Number of Support Periods: 1
PM: Li, Derun

Current Budget Period: 08/01/2024 - 07/31/2025
Current Project Period: 08/01/2024 - 07/31/2029
PI: Liepe, Matthias

Supplement Budget Period: N/A

Public Abstract

The consortium of Cornell University, Arizona State University, UCLA, and University of Chicago is establishing a new DOE Accelerator traineeship program that will produce a diverse body of broadly educated Fellows in the areas targeted by the DOE Office of Science. The team combines expertise across a wide swath of accelerator physics, including RF superconducting structures (Cornell, U. Chicago), high gradient normal conducting linacs (UCLA), high brightness electron sources for linear accelerators (ASU, UCLA, Cornell), collective effects in circular and linear accelerators (UCLA, Cornell, ASU), advanced radiation generation (UCLA), machine learning (U. Chicago, Cornell), physics of large accelerators and system engineering (Cornell, UCLA), and operation of large-scale accelerator systems (all). The multi-institutional nature of this traineeship program is thus foundational to its wide topical coverage. The program provides structured training in modern accelerator science and technology, embeds students in labs, and provides professional development that begins during their Fellowship period and extends through to graduation. The program curriculum includes academic courses, mini-courses in specialized topics, professional development, and research and team science. It includes collaboration with scientists at the DOE National Laboratories and an internship at a National Laboratory. This program gives its graduates the skills, tools, and motivation needed to become leaders in the accelerator field. The R&D experience is critical to the effective training in accelerator science and engineering. The targeted topic areas the proposed Tigner traineeship focuses on are Superconducting RF cavities and Physics of large accelerators and systems engineering. Trainees work full time in accelerator research, with explicit emphasis on hands on experience both with on-campus accelerator infrastructure and large facilities at the DOE National Labs. Coordinated recruiting activities led by an expert staff member, summer undergraduate research programs run at the partner institutions of this consortium, and the inclusion of a Hispanic Serving Institution (Arizona State) ensure a strong and diverse pipeline of participants for the Tigner Traineeship in Accelerator Science. Onboarding, regular grad-2-grad meetings, and an annual in-person workshop foster a strong sense of belonging and team building among the participants across institutions. Rigorous, independent annual program evaluation assess the quality and impact of the traineeship program and guide program evolution. The ultimate goal of this program is to significantly increase the overall number of accelerator science PhD’s produced in critical areas to contribute to the workforce needs of world-leading DOE accelerator laboratories.

The consortium of Cornell University, Arizona State University, UCLA, and University of Chicago is establishing a new DOE Accelerator traineeship program that will produce a diverse body of broadly educated Fellows in the areas targeted by the DOE Office of Science. The team combines expertise across a wide swath of accelerator physics, including RF superconducting structures (Cornell, U. Chicago), high gradient normal conducting linacs (UCLA), high brightness electron sources for linear accelerators (ASU, UCLA, Cornell), collective effects in circular and linear accelerators (UCLA, Cornell, ASU), advanced radiation generation (UCLA), machine learning (U. Chicago, Cornell), physics of large accelerators and system engineering (Cornell, UCLA), and operation of large-scale accelerator systems (all). The multi-institutional nature of this traineeship program is thus foundational to its wide topical coverage.

The program provides structured training in modern accelerator science and technology, embeds students in labs, and provides professional development that begins during their Fellowship period and extends through to graduation. The program curriculum includes academic courses, mini-courses in specialized topics, professional development, and research and team science. It includes collaboration with scientists at the DOE National Laboratories and an internship at a National Laboratory. This program gives its graduates the skills, tools, and motivation needed to become leaders in the accelerator field.

The R&D experience is critical to the effective training in accelerator science and engineering. The targeted topic areas the proposed Tigner traineeship focuses on are Superconducting RF cavities and Physics of large accelerators and systems engineering. Trainees work full time in accelerator research, with explicit emphasis on hands on experience both with on-campus accelerator infrastructure and large facilities at the DOE National Labs.

Coordinated recruiting activities led by an expert staff member, summer undergraduate research programs run at the partner institutions of this consortium, and the inclusion of a Hispanic Serving Institution (Arizona State) ensure a strong and diverse pipeline of participants for the Tigner Traineeship in Accelerator Science. Onboarding, regular grad-2-grad meetings, and an annual in-person workshop foster a strong sense of belonging and team building among the participants across institutions. Rigorous, independent annual program evaluation assess the quality and impact of the traineeship program and guide program evolution.

The ultimate goal of this program is to significantly increase the overall number of accelerator science PhD’s produced in critical areas to contribute to the workforce needs of world-leading DOE accelerator laboratories.