Where is all the physics research being made??

[SunkenHead]

I'm a physics student, and son of an instructor. Both disciplines are everyday present in my life, and I find myself happy if I can do both, but as everything in this world, I need money to fund my passions, and that implies finding a job. Being close to graduation, I wish to apply for an internship. Something related to diving research. But, where??
I know of COMEX and their hydrox and hydrogen related research, and I know NOAA was the big leader in hyperbaric experiments, but there must be more places. Do you know of any? Do you have some insights? Are there any diving research teams in US colleges? (MIT maybe?)

 

[tursiops]

You can find out a lot about what is happening in university diving in the US by tracking the AAUS: they have an annual symposium with lots of sessions and papers.
See:

American Academy of Underwater Sciences

aaus.org

Home

aaus.org

If you can get to that symposium (in Galveston in March 2022) you can network and ask lots of questions.
Another way to find out what is happening and what might be available is to figure out who at NSF and NOAA and ONR is funding the kind of work you'd like to do, and talk to them.
Find a published paper that is about a subject that interests you and contact the author.
Perseverance and tenacity will win. Don't get discouraged.

 

[Old Ballard]

Getting your BS in physics? What flavor? You state you have a passion, clarify to yourself what it is that motivates you => simply having fun diving, the technology of diving equipment, the physiology of diving, marine biology etc etc. That determines your direction, eg physics, engineering, bio, medicine etc. "Diving programs" - no idea, but very advanced efforts at Woods Hole (partners with MIT), Scripps in La Jolla (UC San Diego) etc but these are typically submersibles. Just google your interest. But you need to determine what you are really interested in first, since different programs and schools are working on distinctly different, and usually, very specific things. All graduate level and beyond so if you are finishing your BS you are in a good position. Tursiops makes a good point: determine your actual interest, sniff around for some papers, find an author doing what you are interested in, and write a note with real questions, not pandering. A good question about a research paper might start off a decent conversation. College, grad school, research, technological development, all of it is an obstacle course, you get to the other side by really wanting it. If at this time you want to get an internship to "try it on", find a local school with an oceanography dept. If you have a pair of hands they will put you to work quick enough.

 

[sea_ledford]

You can find out a lot about what is happening in university diving in the US by tracking the AAUS: they have an annual symposium with lots of sessions and papers.
See:

American Academy of Underwater Sciences

aaus.org

Home

aaus.org

If you can get to that symposium (in Galveston in March 2022) you can network and ask lots of questions.
Another way to find out what is happening and what might be available is to figure out who at NSF and NOAA and ONR is funding the kind of work you'd like to do, and talk to them.
Find a published paper that is about a subject that interests you and contact the author.
Perseverance and tenacity will win. Don't get discouraged.

I'm co-hosting the symposium this year!

The research supported by AAUS is typically around biology and archaeology, and there are usually presentations on diving methods, techniques, and lots of conversations about logistics and dealing with institutional issues.

Participants are primarily Diving Safety Officers, but they will know who the researchers are at their organizations. So it would be more of a secondary networking opportunity.

 

[tursiops]

The research supported by AAUS is typically around biology and archaeology

Perhaps so, but my AAUS diving was all about instrumentation development and at-sea checking of instruments. I dived as a volunteer on lots of other projects -- biological and optical -- but just for the fun and experience of it; that wasn't my work.

 

[Angelo Farina]

I have a PhD in Applied Physics, and I am currently a professor of Environmental Applied Physics at the University of Parma (ITALY), specialised in acoustics.
I did find that underwater acoustics is a very nice field, where people with a degree in physics, or, better, in engineering, can apply successfully. A PhD is better, of course...
Underwater acoustics has many useful applications: military, communications, fishery, environmental protection, oceanography, imaging (acoustic camera), and is often required for underwater videos and films (entertainment industry).
Here in Italy there is one of the largest research centers on underwater acoustics, funded by NATO. It is called CMRE (previously known as NATO SACLANT):

CMRE - Home

www.cmre.nato.int

Every year CMRE opens a call for visiting students, who can spend a couple of months here, during sumer, fully expensed. You could try to apply, if this topic is interesting you. Or drop me an Email and we can discuss further the possibilities..
For example, for environmental and oceanographic applications, we also have a very nice research center at Maldives, which belongs to the University of Milano-Bicocca, called MARHE:

MaRHE Center | Marine Research and High Education Center

MaRHE Center is a research and teaching station situated on a Maldivian island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Come to visit our center!

marhe.unimib.it

Here there are periodically courses open to students of foreign universities.

 

[tursiops]

I have a PhD in Applied Physics, and I am currently a professor of Environmental Applied Physics at the University of Parma (ITALY), specialised in acoustics.
I did find that underwater acoustics is a very nice field, where people with a degree in physics, or, better, in engineering, can apply successfully. A PhD is better, of course...
Underwater acoustics has many useful applications: military, communications, fishery, environmental protection, oceanography, imaging (acoustic camera), and is often required for underwater videos and films (entertainment industry).
Here in Italy there is one of the largest research centers on underwater acoustics, funded by NATO. It is called CMRE (previously known as NATO SACLANT):

CMRE - Home

www.cmre.nato.int

Every year CMRE opens a call for visiting students, who can spend a couple of months here, during sumer, fully expensed. You could try to apply, if this topic is interesting you. Or drop me an Email and we can discuss further the possibilities..
For example, for environmental and oceanographic applications, we also have a very nice research center at Maldives, which belongs to the University of Milano-Bicocca, called MARHE:

MaRHE Center | Marine Research and High Education Center

MaRHE Center is a research and teaching station situated on a Maldivian island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Come to visit our center!

marhe.unimib.it

Here there are periodically courses open to students of foreign universities.

I spent four years at NATO SACLANTCEN (now CMRE) early in my career. I fully endorse Angelo's suggestion to look for an internship there. In addition to learning about underwater acoustics and oceanography (especially the physics side), you will get a delightful sample of Italian people, culture and food.

 

[Angelo Farina]

I spent four years at NATO SACLANTCEN (now CMRE) early in my career. I fully endorse Angelo's suggestion to look for an internship there. In addition to learning about underwater acoustics and oceanography (especially the physics side), you will get a delightful sample of Italian people, culture and food.

And wine, of course!
Possibly also music, if you like it, as me.
Acoustics and Music are quite well connected...
Hans Hass was the pioneer of music underwater, have a look on Youtube at his pioneeristic film "Diving in the red sea":