Join a DOE-supported traineeship and certification program

The High Energy Physics Instrumentation Traineeship in Michigan program (TRAIN-MI) is a graduate-level training program that provides an exciting training opportunity in instrumentation for high energy physics and Nuclear Science at MSU for master’s and PhD graduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Chemistry in the College of Natural Science, as well as the College of Engineering.

TRAIN-MI opportunities at MSU

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC), Office of High Energy Physics provides support for TRAIN-MI graduate fellows. 

The TRAIN-MI traineeship and certification program combines MSU course work on instrumentation and analysis with research and development projects with an MSU PI. 

TRAIN-MI graduate students have the opportunity to continue their training at DOE national laboratories and FRIB.

Graduate studies

Two-year TRAIN-MI graduate fellowships are available to qualified graduate students who are U.S. persons looking to conduct their thesis research at MSU.

Through TRAIN-MI, master’s and PhD candidates are paired with a program mentor and will contribute to a DOE-funded instrumentation project. TRAIN-MI students receive formal mentoring through their thesis advisor, national laboratory mentors, and the TRAIN-MI program coordinators. They also have opportunities for informal mentoring and career support through instrumentation seminars and summer schools. Degrees are awarded in the Department of Physics and Astronomy or Department of Chemistry in the College of Natural Science, as well as in departments in the College of Engineering.

Certification

The TRAIN-MI certificate program consists of formal coursework in High Energy Physics and Nuclear Science instrumentation. Students who complete nine credits of the relevant courses can receive a graduate certificate in instrumentation. The skills developed through this certification program are critical for maintaining and growing the US workforce and carrying out the U.S. scientific programs in High Energy Physics and Nuclear Science. 

View the TRAIN-MI curriculum. 

Student opportunities

In the TRAIN-MI program, students are trained and mentored by a team of experts. All High Energy Physics and FRIB experimental faculty are eligible to server as mentors of TRAIN-MI students. To find out more about our recent TRAIN-MI mentors, visit the faculty pages below.

• Kyle Brown (TRAIN-MI Co-PI)
• Tyce DeYoung
• Wade Fisher (TRAIN-MI Co-PI)
• Daniel Hayden
• Joey Huston
• Kendall Mahn (TRAIN-MI PI)
• Reinhard Schweinhorst
• Jaideep Singh
• Kirsten Tollefson
• Nathan Whitehorn (TRAIN-MI Co-PI)
• Christopher Wrede
• Remco Zegers

DOE thesis research

Following their MSU studies, TRAIN-MI students who want to pursue a PhD have an opportunity to continue their research at national laboratories and FRIB. They also participate in internships, practicums, scientific meetings, and professional development workshops of non-scientific skills (such as project management and science communication). Partnerships include:

• Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
• Argonne National Laboratory
• Brookhaven National Laboratory
• Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
• SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

How to get started in the TRAIN-MI program at MSU

Fellowship applications are accepted each semester. To apply, we require a letter of support from the thesis advisor, a CV from the student, and a brief statement from the student about their goals for the program. Students who don’t have a thesis advisor yet are still eligible to apply, and can talk to one of the faculty members above to get started. Applications and questions can be sent to the TRAIN-MI Principal Investigators through the link below.