Accelerator Science and Engineering Traineeship Program
Join a nationally top-ranked program
The FRIB Accelerator Science and Engineering Traineeship (ASET) program is a graduate-level training program that provides an exciting training opportunity in accelerator science and engineering at FRIB for master’s and PhD graduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Natural Science and the College of Engineering. ASET leverages FRIB’s unique assets and collaboration resources at national laboratories.
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC), Office of High Energy Physics, and the DOE-SC Office of Nuclear Physics provide support for ASET graduate assistantships.
Following initial MSU course work and projects at FRIB, ASET graduate students have the opportunity to continue their training at national laboratories.
Upon completion of the curriculum, students are certified and well-trained with the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to succeed in areas with critical workforce needs.
FRIB established the Accelerator Traineeship Advisory Panel (ATAP), a national advisory committee, to guide ASET and its outcomes.
ASET opportunities at FRIB
Graduate studies
ASET graduate assistantships are available to qualified graduate students who are U.S. persons looking to conduct their thesis research at FRIB.
Through ASET, master’s and PhD candidates can choose to work within a research group or select a specific project to support a student’s thesis work. FRIB strives to support students throughout their graduate work through access to industry experts, ongoing research, and hands-on training. Degrees are awarded in the College of Engineering and the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Natural Science.
ASET certification
The ASET certificate program offers specialization in four areas currently experiencing critical workforce needs in the United States:
- Physics and engineering of large accelerators
- Superconducting radio frequency technology
- Radio frequency power engineering
- Large-scale cryogenic systems
Student opportunities
In the ASET program, students are trained and mentored by a team of experts, including more than 20 MSU faculty members and over 30 PhD scientists and engineers. To learn more, visit our Student Opportunities page.
ASET students can also supplement their MSU course work by participating in the U.S. Particle Accelerator School (USPAS), directed by MSU Professor Steven Lund. USPAS provides students with the opportunity to learn from experts at national laboratories and universities.
DOE thesis research
Following their MSU studies, ASET students who want to pursue a PhD have an opportunity to continue their research at national laboratories. They also participate in internships, practicums, scientific meetings, focused long- or short-term credit bearing courses, and professional development workshops of non-scientific skills (such as project management and science communication).
FRIB maintains partnerships to integrate ASET students into research beyond their third year, supporting them until the completion of their thesis. Partnerships include:
- Argonne National Laboratory
- Brookhaven National Laboratory
- Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Sandia National Laboratories
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
- Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
How to get started in the ASET program at FRIB
Take the next steps, including getting answers to any questions about the admissions process.
