Physicists Inspiring the Next Generation
*NOTICE*
PING 2026 will resume the summer in-person component.
History
Physicists Inspiring the Next Generation (PING), a program that targets both pre-college students and undergraduate students (who serve as mentors), was launched in 2014 as a collaboration between the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in partnership with Associated Universities, Inc. The program at the Green Bank Observatory still exists today for students in grade 8 and is called Physics Inspiring the Next Generation: Exploring the Cosmos.
Middle and High School Student Information
Physicists Inspiring the Next Generation (PING): Exploring the Nuclear Matter for pre-college (middle school and high school) students is a two-week summer exposure to the field of basic and applied nuclear physics with the option of extending into a year-long research experience through the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (East Lansing, MI). PING was piloted in the Summer 2019 and is now fully funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) since the Fall 2020. Participants present their work annually at professional conferences as well as working closely with the MoNA Collaboration.
PING 2026 will accept U.S. high school students in grades 9-11. Exceptional middle school students may utilize the website contact form for more information regarding potential participation. A reference from a teacher or coach is required. The reference request will be sent automatically via email notification to the named reference in the application. Around 20 pre-college applicants will be accepted and notifications to all regarding application status will be sent April 15, 2026.
Undergraduate Student Information
While the summer component of PING for pre-college students is a two-week experience in basic and nuclear physics at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), for undergraduate students the stay is longer (around 8 weeks), similar to the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) or DoE Summer Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program. If selected, travel will be scheduled by the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams and approximate arrival will be June 3 with approximate departure on July 26.
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PING 2026 will accept undergraduate students that attend a U.S. college or university. A professional reference will be required. The reference request will be sent automatically via email notification to the named reference in the application Around 6 applicants will be accepted and notifications to all regarding application status will be sent April 15, 2025.
Selected undergraduate students will work with an assigned advisor to conduct their summer research. They will also simultaneously receive training for the two-week high school student component. Each selected undergraduate student will receive a stipend.
Following the summer program, you will potentially present your individual and/or the program’s collective work at national professional conferences.
