Two Applied Physics Institute's undergraduate student researchers, Matt Nichols and Robbie Phelps, traveled to Newport News, Virginia on October 10 - 13 for the Annual Meeting of the Division of Nuclear Physics of the American Physical Society.

Mr. Nichols and Mr. Phelps represented the Applied Physics Institute, and presented posters displaying their work and research results they have accomplished at the API. Mr. Nichols’s presentation described decision-making algorithms for neutron-based threat detection systems (Faculty advisors: Dr. Alexander Barzilov, Dr. Ivan Novikov). Mr. Phelps spoke about the gamma-ray spectroscopy using LabVIEW (Faculty advisor: Dr. Doug Harper).

Each day they attended a series of presentations about current research given by nuclear scientists and engineers from around the world. This gave them a chance to network, share information and discuss their current research with other students and nuclear professionals.

Mr. Nichols and Mr. Phelps were awarded grants from the National Science Foundation Conference Experience for Undergraduates Program (NSF CEU). Over 300 students in the United States applied for this competitive grant while only about one third of applicants received it.

“This conference gave me an excellent opportunity to see the research that my colleagues are doing, and the research of professionals around the world who are trying to advance our energy standards and the overall knowledge of mankind,” said Matt Nichols.

"It was a great way to network with people in the physics community. I learned a lot about graduate school opportunities, and their current research efforts, " said Robbie Phelps.

Representatives from governmental agencies such as the Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security, and many national laboratories were present. Students, professors and graduate school recruiters from Rutgers University, Yale University, University of Kentucky and many other schools also attended the conference.

• API student researchers attended APS DNP Conference in Newport News, Virginia.

• Matt Nichols in front of the Marriott Conference Center in Newport News, VA.

• Robbie Phelps discussed his research project results with APS DNP Conference participants.

The Applied Physics Institute is a multidisciplinary center performing research and development projects in areas of nuclear physics, nuclear engineering, wireless data communications, homeland security, material science, and electronics. API researcher’s interests cover virtually all aspects of applied science and technology.

For further information, contact Anessia Loveless at 270-781-3859 or anessia.loveless@wku.edu.