U.S. Particle Accelerator School
U.S. Particle Accelerator School
America's National School of Accelerator Science and Technology

Summer 2025 USPAS Session - Applications available soon

University Sponsor:
Northern Illinois University		 Apply Now

General Information and Details
Location & Dates:
Rohnert Park, California, USA
July 28 - August 8, 2025
Deadline Dates:

Application deadline for all attendees and deadline to submit scholarship supporting documents: April 15, 2025

*New* Certificate Course:

In response to growing demand for a more basic introduction to the field of particle accelerator science & technology we are offering a new certificate course, "Concepts of Accelerator Science and Technology". It will be taught at the sophomore undergraduate-level and is geared towards familiarization of the field and operational aspects of accelerator facilities rather than research and development. The class is one week in duration (attendees choose the first week or the second week, not both) and is only offered as pass/fail without audit. Passing students will earn a USPAS Certificate of Achievement rather than university credit. We anticipate this course to be repeated yearly in future summer sessions.

Week one, July 28 - August 1, 2025 or Week two, August 4 - 8, 2025


University Credit Courses:

The following courses run in parallel so students may take one 2-week full course OR two 1-week half courses. Each two-week course is eligible for 3 credits from Northern Illinois University.

Two-week full courses: July 28 - August 8, 2025

One-week half courses: Students must take two 1-week half course pairs to be eligible for 3 credits from Northern Illinois University. Credit will not be awarded for taking only one 1-week half course.

Week one: July 28 - August 1, 2025

Week two: August 4 - 8, 2025


Session Information

We will not have a Computer Lab with shared PCs so all participants are required to bring their own portable computer to access online course notes and computer resources. This can be a laptop or a tablet with a sufficiently large screen and keyboard. Windows, Mac, and Linux-based systems that are wifi capable and have a standard web browser and mouse are all acceptable. You should have privileges for software installs. If you are unable to bring a computer, please contact uspas@fnal.gov ASAP to request a laptop loan. Very limited IT support and spare loaner laptops will be available during the session.

U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens living in the U.S. may enroll for 3 units of credit from Northern Illinois University. International participants living outside the U.S. may apply to attend the program and may request financial sponsorship but they may not earn credit from Northern Illinois University. International students requesting a scholarship who are not from U.S. visa-waiver countries must already be in possession of a visa that is valid for the entire period of the USPAS session.

Attendees must be 18 years or older.

The Registration Fee is $2,000.00 if your Application Form is received before April 15; after April 15, the fee is $2,500.00. The Registration Fee is $1,000.00 for participants attending only one week of the program. Please note: you do not have to pay the Registration Fee by April 15 - you must send in an Application Form before April 15. Information on how and when to pay the Registration Fee will be sent to non-scholarship students upon acceptance into the program. Group breakfasts and dinners are included in the Registration Fee (two-week attendees receive 12 breakfasts and dinners; one-week attendees receive 5 breakfasts and dinners).

A group block of hotel rooms have been reserved for USPAS participants at the Doubletree by Hilton in Rohnert Park, CA. If you book through the link we send in your acceptance email, a single room is available for $157.00 plus tax (currently 14.29%) per night and a double room (shared by 2 people) is $78.50 plus tax (currently 14.29%) per person per night. Sleeping rooms reserved via our link are also entitled to $10 off nightly parking at the hotel and any other perks we have negotiated for our group. Rooms may be reserved at our rate 3 days before and 3 days after the School dates based on hotel availability.

Scholarships

Currently-enrolled university and college students as well as postdocs within 5 years of graduation may request financial support for either our certificate course or our university courses. To be considered for any of these merit-based awards, you must check the relevant application form boxes and submit supporting documents including: a cover letter explaining why the USPAS is important to your career and describing prior research experience, work with or as a user of particle accelerators; your CV/resume; one letter of recommendation.

If you submitted these documents for the winter 2025 or summer 2024 sessions you do not need to resubmit them for this application. We keep supporting documents for one year.

Students receiving any scholarship are expected to fully participate in all aspects of the course and must take their university course for a grade/credit. Students receiving housing support must share their hotel room with another student. Scholarships are open to both U.S. and non-U.S. residents. Consideration will be given to balancing class sizes. Applications in multiple scholarship categories are possible and prior awards do not preclude receiving support again.

Scholarship requests and supporting documents are due April 15, 2025. This deadline will be strictly enforced. Please email your supporting documents to uspas@fnal.gov

1. USPAS Scholarship

Covers the registration fee (includes 2 meals per day) or shared housing or both. This award does not cover travel.

2. Mel Month Scholarship for Accelerator Science and Engineering
Covers the registration fee (includes 2 meals per day), lunch per diem, shared housing and most travel expenses.

The Mel Month Scholarship supports the study and workforce in Accelerator Science and Engineering (AS&E). Eligible scholarship recipients are actively-enrolled Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) students. A maximum of two scholarships will be awarded at each USPAS session. This scholarship is available to foreign and domestic matriculated undergraduate and graduate students and covers theregistration fee (includes 2 meals per day), lunch per diem, shared housing and most travel expenses to and from the school session. More information on the Month Scholarships can be found at https://uspas.fnal.gov/about/about-month-scholarship.shtml

3. Sekazi K. Mtingwa Scholarship
Covers the registration fee (includes 2 meals per day), lunch per diem, shared housing and most travel expenses.

The Sekazi K. Mtingwa Scholarship supports the study and workforce in Accelerator Science and Engineering (AS&E). Eligible scholarship recipients are actively-enrolled Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) students. This scholarship is available to foreign and domestic matriculated undergraduate and graduate students and covers the registration fee (includes 2 meals per day), lunch per diem, shared housing and most travel expenses to and from the school session. More information on the Mtingwa Scholarships can be found at https://uspas.fnal.gov/about/about-mtingwa-scholarship.shtml

4. APS Division of Physics of Beams Travel Awards
Covers travel to and from the session. Reimbursable for actual expenses up to a limit.

The Division of Physics of Beams of the American Physical Society is offering a limited number of travel scholarships to USPAS students. Applicants must be members of the APS DPB unit (if you are not already a member of the APS and DPB unit, you must join before requesting the award; student membership is free for the first year). The travel award amount is limited to expenses up to $750.00 with all receipts required. You can enroll for DPB membership at https://www.aps.org/membership/ and more details on eligibility and the selection criteria can be found at DPB Scholarship Details.

Application deadline for all attendees and deadline for scholarship supporting documents: April 15, 2025
Please email your scholarship documents to uspas@fnal.gov