The NANOGrav STARS Program at Franklin and Marshall College

The NANOGrav Student Teams of Astrophysics ResearcherS (STARS) program engages teams of undergraduate students in pulsar and gravitational wave research. STARS members at Franklin and Marshall College use the Arecibo 305-m radio telescope to remotely conduct pulsar survey and timing observations in support of NANOGrav's search for low-frequency gravitational waves. This program also serves as an effective introduction to radio pulsar concepts and research practicalities for students who are just beginning their involvement in research. Leadership opportunities are provided through a team structure, and the program helps students develop critical presentation, organization, and speaking skills. Our poster provides some general background about the NANOGrav STARS program at Franklin and Marshall College and serves as a catalyst for in-person conversations and discussions at the poster about NANOGrav, pulsars, gravitational waves, and undergraduate student involvement in this research. This work is supported by the NANOGrav NSF Physics Frontiers Center award no. 1430284.