The Institute for Nuclear Theory (INT) at the University of Washington (UW) offers opportunities for undergraduate research in nuclear physics. This INT Undergraduate Research Network (INTURN) program hosts undergraduate students interested in pursuing research in nuclear theory and taking steps toward a career in physics. Program activities are centered around individual student projects and supported with mentorship from the INT postdocs, research assistant professors, graduate students, and faculty.
The INT is a U.S. Center of Excellence for theoretical nuclear physics research. Within the program, the students are able to participate in a wide range of topics on the cutting edge of fundamental nuclear science, including (but not limited to) phases and properties of matter at extreme density and temperature, neutron stars, cosmic explosions and compact object mergers, nucleosynthesis, neutrino physics, dense nuclear matter, and the structure of hadrons and nuclei.
Research projects involve theoretical and computational work. Through project activities, the participants gain valuable skills for a successful career in STEM fields, such as model development, code development, and data analysis. The students also gain numerous opportunities to hone their scientific communication skills and network with senior researchers in nuclear physics and closely related areas. In addition, students interested in nuclear astrophysics, neutrinos, and fundamental interactions are able to interact with members of the Network for Neutrinos and Nuclear Astrophysics (N3AS).
Participants in the program may be eligible for course credits or stipend support. The program's initial phase lasts one academic quarter, and interested students may be offered the possibility to continue over the summer and the next academic year. Program activities require a commitment of about 8-10 hrs/week during the academic year and 20-40 hrs/week during the summer.
To be eligible for the program, candidates must: 1) be a University of Washington student, 2) be currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate STEM major at the time of application and for the duration of the program, 3) be in good academic standing overall, 4) be 18 years or older at the time of application.
The application period for 2026 has closed. We have not yet begun accepting applications for the 2027 calendar year, but anticipate applications to be open in November 2026.
For questions, contact intmail@uw.edu.
- Open Projects
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How to Reshape a Chiral Model for Quantum Computing (INTURN 27-1)
Student: TBD
Junior Mentor: Michael J. Cervia
Faculty Mentor: TBD
Project Period: January, 2027 -
Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay with Sterile Neutrinos (INTURN 27-2)
Student: TBD
Junior Mentor: Vaisakh Plakkot
Faculty Mentor: TBD
Project Period: January, 2027 -
Hybridizing Neural Quantum State and Diffusion Monte Carlo Approaches to Quantum Many-Body Systems (INTURN 27-3)
Student: TBD
Junior Mentor: Garrett King
Faculty Mentor: Daniel Hackett
Project Period: January, 2027 -
Electroweak Transitions in Two-Nucleon Quantum Mechanics (INTURN 27-4)
Student: TBD
Junior Mentor: Mark D'Souza
Faculty Mentor: Vincenzo Cirigliano and Wouter Dekens
Project Period: January, 2027 -
- Ongoing Projects
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Quark Confinement on a Quantum Computer (INTURN 26-1)
Student: Kostiantyn Babich
Junior Mentor: Michael J. Cervia
Faculty Mentor: David Kaplan
Project Period: March, 2026 -
Time-reversal violating interactions in hydrogen-like atoms (INTURN 26-2)
Student: Devin Narkmon
Junior Mentor: Wouter Dekens
Faculty Mentor: Vincenzo Cirigliano
Project Period: March, 2026 -
Quantum Magic in Topological Vacuum Dynamics (INTURN 26-3)
Student: Josephine Chia and Jamison Ramirez
Junior Mentor: Sebastian Grieninger
Project Period: March, 2026 -
Topics in Heavy Element Nucleosynthesis (INTURN 26-4)
Student: Noah Hayden
Junior Mentor: Kelsey Lund
Faculty Mentor: Sanjay Reddy
Project Period: March, 2026 -
Nuclear Shell Structure with Quarkyonic Phase Space Constraints (INTURN 26-5)
Student: Osha Higgs
Junior Mentor: Tianqi Zhao
Faculty Mentor: Sanjay Reddy
Project Period: March, 2026 -
- Past INTURN Projects
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2025
2024