The Applied Physics Laboratory welcomes graduate and undergraduate student researchers, supporting them through individual grants and contracts of APL-UW scientists and engineers.

Graduate students are matched with skilled researchers for leadership roles in field and lab programs.

Undergraduates are integrated directly into their APL-UW advisor’s research projects, serve as co-authors of research articles in peer-reviewed journals, and present research results at national and international scientific conferences.

To work with an APL-UW scientist or engineer, you must:

Jim Thomson leads a lesson on measuring ocean surface waves and turbulence under hurricanes and in Arctic sea ice with inexpensive buoys engineered in his lab. Join Jim to learn why and how he studies ocean waves. He describes the capabilities of microSWIFT buoys that provide real-time data on waves conditions, sea surface temperature, and GPS location.

The lesson includes insights from the One Ocean crew, who are deploying microSWIFT buoys along their expedition to circumnavigate North and South America.

APL-UW Summer Undergraduate Research Program

This internship program for undergraduate students provides opportunities to experience and conduct research, participate in professional development, build community with young scientists, and learn to navigate a career in maritime and oceanographic science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields.

The internship is hosted by APL-UW from mid-June to mid-August. Interns receive a stipend of $6000, housing, and limited travel expenses.

Science & Engineering Enrichment & Development

The Laboratory's postdoctoral fellowship program provides scholars an opportunity to explore their individual research interests within the Lab's areas of expertise in a soft-money research environment. The program is designed to recruit scholars for interdisciplinary research experiences involving more than one APL-UW department, area of focus, discipline, and mentor.

Qualifications + How to Apply