Physics 437 research projects

PHYS 437A & 437B Guidelines

The final year Physics Research Project courses are intended for students in the fourth year of Honours Physics, Mathematical Physics (BSc.), Physics and Astronomy, Materials and Nanosciences, or Life Physics/ Biological and Medical Physics. These courses will provide a valuable research experience, particularly useful for students who plan to proceed to graduate work.

Students who make an average of <70% in the core subjects of third year are advised not to register in these courses.

All questions about PHYS 437 A/B should be directed to the phyugrad@uwaterloo.ca. 

Getting started

Students should contact supervisors and ask them if they are willing to supervise a 437 project and if so, what projects they have available.

All members of the Department of Physics and Astronomy (including adjunct and cross-appointed faculty) are eligible to supervise. Occasionally, faculty from other departments will agree to be supervisors, especially if a student has a particular interest in their research areas. If the supervisor is not from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, a co-supervisor from the department will need to be arranged.

Search for a supervisor by research area:

Students are encouraged to see at least two faculty members to discuss projects with them.

If you need help being matched with a supervisor, please fill out our PHYS 437A/B Research Preferences Form.

Getting enrolled

Once a project and supervisor have been selected, the student must complete the agreement form (below).

Research Project Agreement for PHYS 437 A/B

Quest requires departmental permission for course enrolment - the process will not begin until this agreement form has been completed. Once the registration process has begun, the student will receive email with further details.

The latest date to make final arrangements for your project and notify the Physics Undergraduate Office is the end of the second week of lectures.

All students registered in PHYS 437A must meet their project supervisor before the end of the second week of lectures; otherwise it will be assumed that they have dropped the course and the undergraduate officers will be notified accordingly. Project supervisors must confirm and acknowledge the eligibility of the project and whether any ethics clearance is needed prior to finalizing a student's registration.

* Please note: students are not automatically enrolled into PHYS 437B after completion of PHYS 437A. A new form submission is required for continuation in the PHYS 437 research project course.

Work on the project

If possible, it is a good idea to do some background reading on the project during the break between terms, before your project is started. 

After course enrolment appears on Quest, all further arrangements, problems, etc. should be discussed with your research supervisor.
Communication about the Physics Research Projects from the course coordinator will appear on LEARN.

Since the project is equivalent in credit to a normal lecture course, a minimum of 6 hours per week on average should be spent on it. Neglect of the project for an extended period (even with the intention of “catching up after midterms,” for example) is a serious matter.

Students and supervisors are expected to meet for informal progress discussions at least once a week.