Jack Simonson
Physics
Project: Synthesis, crystal structure, and properties of novel functional materials.
Research projects are tailored to an individual student's interests and career goals. We have a portfolio of projects that can be accomplished with my expertise and the equipment we have on hand in the laboratory, and I encourage students to explore these options with me and to decide for themselves where it is most beneficial for them to focus. In general, I am looking for students to perform and assist with research in the fields of physics and materials science & engineering. Possible research projects include synthesis and characterization of novel materials with energy applications in single crystal and polycrystalline form; design and construction of precision laboratory equipment; C++/Python scripting, automation, and control of laboratory instrumentation; and density functional theory calculation of material properties.
Student鈥檚 role
Students would undergo laboratory safety training, discuss possible projects with me, review literature related to possible projects with me, and select an ideal project for their career pathways. Student activities will then consist of designing and preparing sample synthesis routines; sample characterization via single crystal x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescence, UV/Vis spectroscopy, thermodynamic measurements, transport measurements, magnetic measurements; collection and analysis of data; figure preparation; contributions to manuscripts; talk writing; general laboratory tasks. Alternatively, students may pursue projects related to instrumentation development and coding.
Student鈥檚 criteria
High school chemistry, interest in physics, and enthusiasm for science.
Outcomes
- Conferences
- Manuscript
- Continuation of research
My students publish their work and receive authorship credit for their contributions. My students present their work through professional and local conference presentations. Students are welcome to continue research in my group after the summer is finished, and I encourage their continued participation by helping to seek out funding for student salaries through CSTEP, FWS, and external grants.
Over the last five years, my students have given between 2-8 presentations yearly at local professional and scholarly venues. These talks typically have an undergraduate student primary author and several undergraduate student co-authors. Additionally, I speak once or twice yearly with undergraduate co-authors listed in my talks.
Over the last five years, my group has published seven peer-reviewed journal articles. Five of these have had undergraduate student primary authors. Six have had undergraduate student co-authors. Typically, two to four Farmingdale students are listed as co-authors of each paper. Our latest manuscript with student primary authorship is currently under review at Physical Review Materials.
My group has a strong tradition of excellence through mentored research. Since coming to Farmingdale in 2013, I have mentored 66 Farmingdale undergraduate students and 27 local high school students in authentic research experiences. Many of these students have gone on to graduate schools, and several have earned PhDs. Graduates from my research group currently work at Apple, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Lockheed-Martin, Northrup Grumman, Telephonics, Underwriters Laboratories, Dominion Energy, and PSEG. They are completing PhD programs at Stony Brook, Syracuse, Binghamton, and Rice. I am a member of the Council for Undergraduate Research, and I have served in the American Physical Society National Mentoring Community since 2017, where I receive regular mentorship enrichment and training. I became a Fellow of the American Physical Society Career Mentoring Program in 2020. I have won research mentor awards from the Faculty Center (2023), the RAM program (2022), and the CSTEP program (2015 & 2016). Regarding the benefits of mentored, authentic research experiences in my group, the proof is in the pudding.
Schedule
Mentorship from 9 am to 2 pm, Mondays through Fridays. Students are free to come and go as they please during this time. Students may participate outside these hours in data analysis, figure preparation, literature review, manuscript writing, presentation writing, and coding.
Type of job
In-Person
Applications