The IRES Program at MAX-lab: Student Involvement in Experimental Nuclear Physics

Since 2010 undergraduate students from several US colleges and universities have had the opportunity to participate in an international collaborative research program at the MAX-lab facility located at Lund University in Sweden through an International Research Experience for Students (IRES) project award. This project has supported up to six undergraduate students each year. The student researchers were involved with all aspects of the experiments performed at the laboratory. They were involved in measurements to investigate the dynamics responsible for the internal structure of the nucleon through the study of pion photoproduction off the nucleon. Along with the US co-PIs, members of the international MAX-Tagg Collaboration contributed to the training and mentoring of the students. This program provides students with an international research experiences that prepare them to operate successfully in a global environment and encourages them to stay in areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) that are crucial for our modern, technology-dependent society. The history, goals and outcomes of this program as will be presented as well as a description of the project management required to create a successful and productive undergraduate research program.