Two undergrads take on the underground: A day in the life at SURF

When searching for a summer research experience, Megan Mueller, a Physics Major at Highpoint University, North Carolina, and Georgia Deep, a double major in Astronomy/Physics and Studio Art at Colgate University, New York, stumbled upon the opportunity to spend their summer working on world-leading neutrino and dark matter experiments. The twist? They would be nearly a mile underground to do so.

What started as the easy decision to submit an online application for the program blossomed into a life-changing experience for Mueller and Deep. They were both accepted into the NSF funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program run by Black Hills State University each summer at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF).

“It wasn’t even a question when I saw that I got accepted. I saw that I got in and immediately knew, yep, that’s the one,” Deep recalled.

Mueller was intrigued by the research at SURF because it was unlike any other experience she had. “These topics were not familiar to me, so they were an area I wanted to explore. When I applied, one of the first lines was ‘Do you want to do science almost a mile underground?’ I thought that would be the coolest experience ever.”

The students start their day at 7:05 a.m., when they pull into the SURF parking lot and make the trek down staircase after staircase after staircase to collect their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the day. If their day is to be spent working on LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ), SURF’s second-generation dark matter detector, they don full overalls, a hard hat, a cap lamp, a high-visibility vest, a W-65 self-rescuer, and gloves to prevent unnecessary dirt and dust in the clean lab space. If their day is to be spent at the Compact Accelerator System for Performing Astrophysical Research (CASPAR), they will ditch the overalls, but all other PPE is still required.

Once suited up, they make their way to the cage ­— a 5’x12’ steel box that carries people and equipment down the mine shaft. Before entering the cage, they stop to “brass in.” Everyone that goes underground has two brass tags, one to keep on their body and one to place on a tracking board near the shaft entrance. This system keeps track of each individual going underground.

At 7:30 a.m., the cage arrives and they begin the 14-minute ride to the 4850-foot level of the facility. Both LZ and CASPAR are located on the 4850 Level, so most of their days are spent here.

“One thing that surprised me was how surreal the cage ride felt going down. We’re getting used to it now, of course, but it’s still one of the coolest experiences getting to go down every day. Being underground is an experience like no other,” remarked Mueller.

On the 4850, Mueller and Deep begin the journey to their designated experiment for the day, each requiring different preparations to enter. Their time underground begins with toolbox talks reviewing the day’s schedule, any relevant safety topics, and updates. Once complete, they are ready to dive into their active job.

Every day, their work is to perform the essential tasks for each experiment to work properly. Sometimes that means fixing a compressor, disassembling and rebuilding portions of the experiment, or checking for leaks.

“We work with grad students at CASPAR, and we work with the electrical engineer, technicians, and resident staff scientists at LZ to shadow them and even be able to help be hands on with the experiments,” Mueller said.

CASPAR is beginning a new science run, so the pair is ensuring that the data collection process flows smoothly. When not performing these tasks, they are joining Zoom calls with collaborators to push these efforts forward.

“Every day I’d say is different and it allows us to learn new skills each day underground. All of this is in hopes to help get the detectors and the accelerator running [on CASPAR],” noted Mueller.

Deep added that their active role in these experiments is “helpful to understanding the systems and how everything is actually working in the detector. If I wanted to learn about the theory behind everything, I could do that in a classroom,” Deep said. “This is something that I wouldn’t be able to do with any other opportunity.”

When not engaged in their work at SURF, Mueller spends her free time playing ice hockey or creating in the pottery studio and Deep can be found pole vaulting for Colgate University’s track team. This summer, both have immersed themselves in the culture of the Black Hills. From exploring the outdoors to concerts to weekly science trivia at Dakota Shivers Brewing to Downtown Friday Nights in Spearfish, they are delighted to be part of the Black Hills community.

“The community is wonderful. Everyone is so friendly here,” Mueller recalls as she reminisces on stories of community members welcoming her in.

The importance of a strong community was not lost on these two when they began their time at SURF. Starting a summer research program over 1500 miles away from home, working on world-class experiments nearly a mile underground is a daunting experience for anybody. However, Mueller quickly found that “there’s a level of personality that goes on underground. Everyone that I’ve met has genuinely been some of the best people that I’ve ever met,” she noted. “If you are in need of a good laugh or a strong community, you won’t have far to look underground.”

After a long, fulfilling day of working on LZ and CASPAR, Mueller and Deep catch the 4 or 4:30 p.m. cage to the surface. The short ride gives them the opportunity to catch up with their colleagues. At the beginning of her research experience, Mueller recalls “I was nervous to talk to the experts working on these experiments who are doing something I really want to be able to do someday. I was very pleased to learn that they were super easy to talk to and are probably goofier than us.” There will be no shortage of conversations to be had on the way to the surface.

As their time at SURF is coming to an end, Mueller and Deep offered advice for any student who is considering applying for an REU at SURF or are considering a career in science.

Deep, who took a chance by applying to a research program in a field in which she had little experience, said, “Do not feel like you have to have a specific plan of ‘this is exactly what I want to do with my life and with my degree.’ If I limited myself to one type of opportunity, I would probably not be a mile underground working on world-class physics experiments.”

“Don’t underestimate your ability to do hard things and always strive to be a better version of yourself. Always know that whatever you choose to do or wherever you choose to go, if you work hard enough, that you’ll be able to achieve it,” Mueller added.

They will return to their home universities and their studies shortly, but Mueller and Deep will not soon forget the incredible experiences they have had during their time at SURF.

Madelyn Sliper is a 2026 community relations and science communication intern at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. She recently completed a degree in biology from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD, and aspires to pursue a career in ecological research and science communication.