phd physics programs

Best Physics Schools

Ranked in 2023, part of Best Science Schools

Graduate schools for physics typically offer a range of

Graduate schools for physics typically offer a range of specialty programs, from quantum physics to relativity, as well as plentiful research opportunities to bolster a science education. These are the best physics schools. Each school's score reflects its average rating on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding), based on a survey of academics at peer institutions. Read the methodology »

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Graduate studies, commencement 2019.

The Harvard Department of Physics offers students innovative educational and research opportunities with renowned faculty in state-of-the-art facilities, exploring fundamental problems involving physics at all scales. Our primary areas of experimental and theoretical research are atomic and molecular physics, astrophysics and cosmology, biophysics, chemical physics, computational physics, condensed-matter physics, materials science, mathematical physics, particle physics, quantum optics, quantum field theory, quantum information, string theory, and relativity.

Our talented and hardworking students participate in exciting discoveries and cutting-edge inventions such as the ATLAS experiment, which discovered the Higgs boson; building the first 51-cubit quantum computer; measuring entanglement entropy; discovering new phases of matter; and peering into the ‘soft hair’ of black holes.

Our students come from all over the world and from varied educational backgrounds. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment and attracting the widest possible range of talents.

We have a flexible and highly responsive advising structure for our PhD students that shepherds them through every stage of their education, providing assistance and counseling along the way, helping resolve problems and academic impasses, and making sure that everyone has the most enriching experience possible.The graduate advising team also sponsors alumni talks, panels, and advice sessions to help students along their academic and career paths in physics and beyond, such as “Getting Started in Research,” “Applying to Fellowships,” “Preparing for Qualifying Exams,” “Securing a Post-Doc Position,” and other career events (both academic and industry-related).

We offer many resources, services, and on-site facilities to the physics community, including our electronic instrument design lab and our fabrication machine shop. Our historic Jefferson Laboratory, the first physics laboratory of its kind in the nation and the heart of the physics department, has been redesigned and renovated to facilitate study and collaboration among our students.

Members of the Harvard Physics community participate in initiatives that bring together scientists from institutions across the world and from different fields of inquiry. For example, the Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms unites a community of scientists from both institutions to pursue research in the new fields opened up by the creation of ultracold atoms and quantum gases. The Center for Integrated Quantum Materials , a collaboration between Harvard University, Howard University, MIT, and the Museum of Science, Boston, is dedicated to the study of extraordinary new quantum materials that hold promise for transforming signal processing and computation. The Harvard Materials Science and Engineering Center is home to an interdisciplinary group of physicists, chemists, and researchers from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences working on fundamental questions in materials science and applications such as soft robotics and 3D printing.  The Black Hole Initiative , the first center worldwide to focus on the study of black holes, is an interdisciplinary collaboration between principal investigators from the fields of astronomy, physics, mathematics, and philosophy. The quantitative biology initiative https://quantbio.harvard.edu/  aims to bring together physicists, biologists, engineers, and applied mathematicians to understand life itself. And, most recently, the new program in  Quantum Science and Engineering (QSE) , which lies at the interface of physics, chemistry, and engineering, will admit its first cohort of PhD students in Fall 2022.

We support and encourage interdisciplinary research and simultaneous applications to two departments is permissible. Prospective students may thus wish to apply to the following departments and programs in addition to Physics:

• Department of Astronomy
• Department of Chemistry
• Department of Mathematics
• John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS)
• Biophysics Program
• Molecules, Cells and Organisms Program (MCO)

If you are a prospective graduate student and have questions for us, or if you’re interested in visiting our department, please contact  [email protected] .

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Graduate education in physics offers you exciting opportunities extending over a diverse range of subjects and departments. You will work in state-of-the-art facilities with renowned faculty and accomplished postdoctoral fellows. The interdisciplinary nature of the program provides you with the opportunity to select the path that most interests you. You will be guided by a robust academic advising team to ensure your success.

You will have access to Jefferson Laboratory, the oldest physics laboratory in the country, which today includes a wing designed specifically to facilitate the study and collaboration between you and other physics graduate students.

Students in the program are doing research in many areas, including atomic and molecular physics, quantum optics, condensed-matter physics, computational physics, the physics of solids and fluids, biophysics, astrophysics, statistical mechanics, mathematical physics, high-energy particle physics, quantum field theory, string theory, relativity, and many others.

Graduates of the program have secured academic positions at institutions such as MIT, Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, and Harvard University. Others have gone into private industry at leading organizations such as Google, Facebook, and Apple. 

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Physics , and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies . 

Areas of Study

Engineering and Physical Biology | Experimental Astrophysics | Experimental Physics | Theoretical Astrophysics | Theoretical Physics | Unspecified

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Physics .

Academic Background

Applicants should be well versed in undergraduate-level physics and mathematics. Typically, applicants will have devoted approximately half of their undergraduate work to physics and related subjects such as mathematics and chemistry. It is desirable for every applicant to have completed at least one year of introductory quantum mechanics classes. An applicant who has a marked interest in a particular branch of physics should include this information in the application. If possible, applicants should also indicate whether they are inclined toward experimental or theoretical (mathematical) research. This statement of preference will not be treated as a binding commitment to any course of study and research. In the Advanced Coursework section of the online application, prospective students must indicate the six most advanced courses (four in physics and two in mathematics) they completed or will complete at their undergraduate institution.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Optional GRE Subject Test: Optional

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Physics

See list of Physics faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

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PhD Program

A PhD degree in Physics is awarded in recognition of significant and novel research contributions, extending the boundaries of our knowledge of the physical universe. Selected applicants are admitted to the PhD program of the UW Department of Physics, not to a specific research group, and are encouraged to explore research opportunities throughout the Department.

Degree Requirements

Typical timeline, advising and mentoring, satisfactory progress, financial support, more information.

Applicants to the doctoral program are expected to have a strong undergraduate preparation in physics, including courses in electromagnetism, classical and quantum mechanics, statistical physics, optics, and mathematical methods of physics. Further study in condensed matter, atomic, and particle and nuclear physics is desirable. Limited deficiencies in core areas may be permissible, but may delay degree completion by as much as a year and are are expected to remedied during the first year of graduate study.

The Graduate Admissions Committee reviews all submitted applications and takes a holistic approach considering all aspects presented in the application materials. Application materials include:

• Resume or curriculum vitae, describing your current position or activities, educational and professional experience, and any honors awarded, special skills, publications or research presentations.
• Statement of purpose, one page describing your academic purpose and goals.
• Personal history statement (optional, two pages max), describing how your personal experiences and background (including family, cultural, or economic aspects) have influenced your intellectual development and interests.
• Three letters of recommendation: submit email addresses for your recommenders at least one month ahead of deadline to allow them sufficient time to respond.
• Transcripts (unofficial), from all prior relevant undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. Admitted applicants must provide official transcripts.
• English language proficiency is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. The various options are specified at: https://grad.uw.edu/policies/3-2-graduate-school-english-language-proficiency-requirements/ Official test scores must be sent by ETS directly to the University of Washington (institution code 4854) and be received within two years of the test date.

For additional information see the UW Graduate School Home Page , Understanding the Application Process , and Memo 15 regarding teaching assistant eligibility for non-native English speakers.

The GRE Subject Test in Physics (P-GRE) is optional in our admissions process, and typically plays a relatively minor role.  Our admissions system is holistic, as we use all available information to evaluate each application. If you have taken the P-GRE and feel that providing your score will help address specific gaps or otherwise materially strengthen your application, you are welcome to submit your scores. We emphasize that every application will be given full consideration, regardless of whether or not scores are submitted.

Applications are accepted annually for autumn quarter admissions (only), and must be submitted online. Admission deadline: JANUARY 5, 2024.

Department standards

Course requirements.

Students must plan a program of study in consultation with their faculty advisor (either first year advisor or later research advisor). To establish adequate breadth and depth of knowledge in the field, PhD students are required to pass a set of core courses, take appropriate advanced courses and special topics offerings related to their research area, attend relevant research seminars as well as the weekly department colloquium, and take at least two additional courses in Physics outside their area of speciality. Seeking broad knowledge in areas of physics outside your own research area is encouraged.

The required core courses are:

In addition, all students holding a teaching assistantship (TA) must complete Phys 501 / 502 / 503 , Tutorials in Teaching Physics.

Regularly offered courses which may, depending on research area and with the approval of the graduate program coordinator, be used to satisfy breadth requirements, include:

• Phys 506 Numerical Methods
• Phys 555 Cosmology & Particle Astrophysics
• Phys 507 Group Theory
• Phys 557 High Energy Physics
• Phys 511 Topics in Contemporary Physics
• Phys 560 Nuclear Theory
• Phys 520 Quantum Information
• Phys 564 General Relativity
• Phys 550 Atomic Physics
• Phys 567 Condensed Matter Physics
• Phys 554 Nuclear Astrophysics
• Phys 570 Quantum Field Theory

Graduate exams

Master's Review:   In addition to passing all core courses, adequate mastery of core material must be demonstrated by passing the Master's Review. This is composed of four Master's Review Exams (MREs) which serve as the final exams in Phys 524 (SM), Phys 514 (EM), Phys 518 (QM), and Phys 505 (CM). The standard for passing each MRE is demonstrated understanding and ability to solve multi-step problems; this judgment is independent of the overall course grade. Acceptable performance on each MRE is expected, but substantial engagement in research allows modestly sub-par performance on one exam to be waived. Students who pass the Master's Review are eligible to receive a Master's degree, provided the Graduate School course credit and grade point average requirements have also been satisfied.

General Exam:   Adequate mastery of material in one's area of research, together with demonstrated progress in research and a viable plan to complete a PhD dissertation, is assessed in the General Exam. This is taken after completing all course requirements, passing the Master's Review, and becoming well established in research. The General Exam consists of an oral presentation followed by an in-depth question period with one's dissertation committee.

Final Oral Exam:   Adequate completion of a PhD dissertation is assessed in the Final Oral, which is a public exam on one's completed dissertation research. The requirement of surmounting a final public oral exam is an ancient tradition for successful completion of a PhD degree.

Graduate school requirements

Common requirements for all doctoral degrees are given in the Graduate School Degree Requirements and Doctoral Degree Policies and Procedures pages. A summary of the key items, accurate as of late 2020, is as follows:

• A minimum of 90 completed credits, of which at least 60 must be completed at the University of Washington. A Master's degree from the UW or another institution in physics, or approved related field of study, may substitute for 30 credits of enrollment.
• At least 18 credits of UW course work at the 500 level completed prior to the General Examination.
• At least 18 numerically graded UW credits of 500 level courses and approved 400 level courses, completed prior to the General Examination.
• At least 60 credits completed prior to scheduling the General Examination. A Master's degree from the UW or another institution may substitute for 30 of these credits.
• A minimum of 27 dissertation (or Physics 800) credits, spread out over a period of at least three quarters, must be completed. At least one of those three quarters must come after passing the General Exam. Except for summer quarters, students are limited to a maximum of 10 dissertation credits per quarter.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 must be maintained.
• The General Examination must be successfully completed.
• A thesis dissertation approved by the reading committee and submitted and accepted by the Graduate School.
• The Final Examination must be successfully completed. At least four members of the supervisory committee, including chair and graduate school representative, must be present.
• Registration as a full- or part-time graduate student at the University must be maintained, specifically including the quarter in which the examinations are completed and the quarter in which the degree is conferred. (Part-time means registered for at least 2 credits, but less than 10.)
• All work for the doctoral degree must be completed within ten years. This includes any time spend on leave, as well as time devoted to a Master's degree from the UW or elsewhere (if used to substitute for credits of enrollment).
• Pass the required core courses: Phys 513 , 517 , 524 & 528 autumn quarter, Phys 514 , 518 & 525 winter quarter, and Phys 515 , 519 & 505 spring quarter. When deemed appropriate, with approval of their faculty advisor and graduate program coordinator, students may elect to defer Phys 525 , 515 and/or 519 to the second year in order to take more credits of Phys 600 .
• Sign up for and complete one credit of Phys 600 with a faculty member of choice during winter and spring quarters.
• Pass the Master's Review by the end of spring quarter or, after demonstrating substantial research engagement, by the end of the summer.
• Work to identify one's research area and faculty research advisor. This begins with learning about diverse research areas in Phys 528 in the autumn, followed by Phys 600 independent study with selected faculty members during winter, spring, and summer.
• Pass the Master's Review (if not already done) by taking any deferred core courses or retaking MREs as needed. The Master's Review must be passed before the start of the third year.
• Settle in and become fully established with one's research group and advisor, possibly after doing independent study with multiple faculty members. Switching research areas during the first two years is not uncommon.
• Complete all required courses. Take breadth courses and more advanced graduate courses appropriate for one's area of research.
• Perform research.
• Establish a Supervisory Committee within one year after finding a compatible research advisor who agrees to supervise your dissertation work.
• Take breadth and special topics courses as appropriate.
• Take your General Exam in the third or fourth year of your graduate studies.
• Register for Phys 800 (Doctoral Thesis Research) instead of Phys 600 in the quarters during and after your general exam.
• Take special topics courses as appropriate.
• Perform research. When completion of a substantial body of research is is sight, and with concurrence of your faculty advisor, start writing a thesis dissertation.
• Establish a dissertation reading committee well in advance of scheduling the Final Examination.
• Schedule your Final Examination and submit your PhD dissertation draft to your reading committee at least several weeks before your Final Exam.
• Take your Final Oral Examination.
• After passing your Final Exam, submit your PhD dissertation, as approved by your reading committee, to the Graduate School, normally before the end of the same quarter.

This typical timeline for competing the PhD applies to students entering the program with a solid undergraduate preparation, as described above under Admissions. Variant scenarios are possible with approval of the Graduate Program coordinator. Two such scenarios are the following:

• Students entering with insufficient undergraduate preparation often require more time. It is important to identify this early, and not feel that this reflects on innate abilities or future success. Discussion with one's faculty advisor, during orientation or shortly thereafter, may lead to deferring one or more of the first year required courses and corresponding Master's Review Exams. It can also involve taking selected 300 or 400 level undergraduate physics courses before taking the first year graduate level courses. This must be approved by the Graduate Program coordinator, but should not delay efforts to find a suitable research advisor. The final Master's Review decision still takes place no later than the start of the 3rd year and research engagement is an important component in this decision.
• Entering PhD students with advanced standing, for example with a prior Master's degree in Physics or transferring from another institution after completing one or more years in a Physics PhD program, may often graduate after 3 or 4 years in our program. After discussion with your faculty advisor and with approval of the Graduate Program coordinator, selected required classes may be waived (but typically not the corresponding Master's Review Exams), and credit from other institutions transferred.
• Each entering PhD student is assigned a first year faculty advisor, with whom they meet regularly to discuss course selection, general progress, and advice on research opportunities. The role of a student's primary faculty advisor switches to their research advisor after they become well established in research. Once their doctoral supervisory committee is formed, the entire committee, including a designated faculty mentor (other than the research advisor) is available to provide advice and mentoring.
• The department also has a peer mentoring program, in which first-year students are paired with more senior students who have volunteered as mentors. Peer mentors maintain contact with their first-year mentees throughout the year and aim to ease the transition to graduate study by sharing their experiences and providing support and advice. Quarterly "teas" are held to which all peer mentors and mentees are invited.
• While academic advising is primarily concerned with activities and requirements necessary to make progress toward a degree, mentoring focuses on the human relationships, commitments, and resources that can help a student find success and fulfillment in academic and professional pursuits. While research advisors play an essential role in graduate study, the department considers it inportant for every student to also have available additional individuals who take on an explicit mentoring role.
• Students are expected to meet regularly, at a minimum quarterly, with their faculty advisors (either first year advisor or research advisor).
• Starting in the winter of their first year, students are expected to be enrolled in Phys 600 .
• Every spring all students, together with their advisors, are required to complete an annual activities report.
• The doctoral supervisory committee needs to be established at least by the end of the fourth year.
• The General Exam is expected to take place during the third or fourth year.
• Students and their advisors are expected to aim for not more than 6 years between entry into the Physics PhD program and completion of the PhD. In recent years the median time is close to 6 years.

Absence of satisfactory progress can lead to a hierarchy of actions, as detailed in the Graduate School Memo 16: Academic Performance and Progress , and may jeopardize funding as a teaching assistant.

The Department aims to provide financial support for all full-time PhD students making satisfactory progress, and has been successful in doing so for many years. Most students are supported via a mix teaching assistantships (TAs) and research assistantships (RAs), although there are also various scholarships, fellowships, and awards that provide financial support. Teaching and research assistanships provide a stipend, a tuition waiver, and health insurance benefits. TAs are employed by the University to assist faculty in their teaching activities. Students from non-English-speaking countries must pass English proficiency requirements . RAs are employed by the Department to assist faculty with specified research projects, and are funded through research grants held by faculty members.

Most first-year students are provided full TA support during their first academic year as part of their admission offer. Support beyond the second year is typically in the form of an RA or a TA/RA combination. It is the responsibility of the student to find a research advisor and secure RA support. Students accepting TA or RA positions are required to register as full-time graduate students (a minimum of 10 credits during the academic year, and 2 credits in summer quarter) and devote 20 hours per week to their assistantship duties. Both TAs and RAs are classified as Academic Student Employees (ASE) . These positions are governed by a contract between the UW and the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), and its Local Union 4121 (UAW).

Physics PhD students are paid at the "Assistant" level (Teaching Assistant or Research Assistant) upon entry to the program. Students receive a promotion to "Associate I" (Predoctoral Teaching Associate I or Predoctoral Research Associate I) after passing the Master's Review, and a further promotion to "Associate II" (Predoctoral Teaching Associate II or Predoctoral Research Associate II) after passing their General Examination. (Summer quarter courses, and summer quarter TA employment, runs one month shorter than during the academic year. To compendate, summer quarter TA salaries are increased proportionately.)

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PhD Program

**new** graduate student guide, expected progress of physics graduate student to ph.d..

This document describes the Physics Department's expectations for the progress of a typical graduate student from admission to award of a PhD.  Because students enter the program with different training and backgrounds and because thesis research by its very nature is unpredictable, the time-frame for individual students will vary. Nevertheless, failure to meet the goals set forth here without appropriate justification may indicate that the student is not making adequate progress towards the PhD, and will therefore prompt consideration by the Department and possibly by Graduate Division of the student’s progress, which might lead to probation and later dismissal.

Course Work

Graduate students are required to take a minimum of 38 units of approved upper division or graduate elective courses (excluding any upper division courses required for the undergraduate major).  The department requires that students take the following courses which total 19 units: Physics 209 (Classical Electromagnetism), Physics 211 (Equilibrium Statistical Physics) and Physics 221A-221B (Quantum Mechanics). Thus, the normative program includes an additional 19 units (five semester courses) of approved upper division or graduate elective courses.  At least 11 units must be in the 200 series courses. Some of the 19 elective units could include courses in mathematics, biophysics, astrophysics, or from other science and engineering departments.  Physics 290, 295, 299, 301, and 602 are excluded from the 19 elective units. Physics 209, 211 and 221A-221B must be completed for a letter grade (with a minimum average grade of B).  No more than one-third of the 19 elective units may be fulfilled by courses graded Satisfactory, and then only with the approval of the Department.  Entering students are required to enroll in Physics 209 and 221A in the fall semester of their first year and Physics 211 and 221B in the spring semester of their first year. Exceptions to this requirement are made for 1) students who do not have sufficient background to enroll in these courses and have a written recommendation from their faculty mentor and approval from the head graduate adviser to delay enrollment to take preparatory classes, 2) students who have taken the equivalent of these courses elsewhere and receive written approval from the Department to be exempted. 

If a student has taken courses equivalent to Physics 209, 211 or 221A-221B, then subject credit may be granted for each of these course requirements.  A faculty committee will review your course syllabi and transcript.  A waiver form can be obtained in 378 Physics North from the Student Affairs Officer detailing all required documents.  If the committee agrees that the student has satisfied the course requirement at another institution, the student must secure the Head Graduate Adviser's approval.  The student must also take and pass the associated section of the preliminary exam.  Please note that official course waiver approval will not be granted until after the preliminary exam results have been announced.  If course waivers are approved, units for the waived required courses do not have to be replaced for PhD course requirements.  If a student has satisfied all first year required graduate courses elsewhere, they are only required to take an additional 19 units to satisfy remaining PhD course requirements.  (Note that units for required courses must be replaced for MA degree course requirements even if the courses themselves are waived; for more information please see MA degree requirements).

In exceptional cases, students transferring from other graduate programs may request a partial waiver of the 19 elective unit requirement. Such requests must be made at the time of application for admission to the Department.

The majority of first year graduate students are Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) with a 20 hour per week load (teaching, grading, and preparation).  A typical first year program for an entering graduate student who is teaching is:

First Semester

• Physics 209 Classical Electromagnetism (5)
• Physics 221A Quantum Mechanics (5)
• Physics 251 Introduction to Graduate Research (1)
• Physics 301 GSI Teaching Credit (2)
• Physics 375 GSI Training Seminar (for first time GSI's) (2)

Second Semester

• Physics 211 Equilibrium Statistical Physics (4)
• Physics 221B Quantum Mechanics (5)

Students who have fellowships and will not be teaching, or who have covered some of the material in the first year courses material as undergraduates may choose to take an additional course in one or both semesters of their first year.

Many students complete their course requirements by the end of the second year. In general, students are expected to complete their course requirements by the end of the third year. An exception to this expectation is that students who elect (with the approval of their mentor and the head graduate adviser) to fill gaps in their undergraduate background during their first year at Berkeley often need one or two additional semesters to complete their course work.

Faculty Mentors

Incoming graduate students are each assigned a faculty mentor. In general, mentors and students are matched according to the student's research interest.   If a student's research interests change, or if (s)he feels there is another faculty member who can better serve as a mentor, the student is free to request a change of assignment.

The role of the faculty mentor is to advise graduate students who have not yet identified research advisers on their academic program, on their progress in that program and on strategies for passing the preliminary exam and finding a research adviser.  Mentors also are a “friendly ear” and are ready to help students address other issues they may face coming to a new university and a new city.  Mentors are expected to meet with the students they advise individually a minimum of once per semester, but often meet with them more often.  Mentors should contact incoming students before the start of the semester, but students arriving in Berkeley should feel free to contact their mentors immediately.

Student-Mentor assignments continue until the student has identified a research adviser.  While many students continue to ask their mentors for advice later in their graduate career, the primary role of adviser is transferred to the research adviser once a student formally begins research towards his or her dissertation. The Department asks student and adviser to sign a “mentor-adviser” form to make this transfer official.  

Preliminary Exams

In order to most benefit from graduate work, incoming students need to have a solid foundation in undergraduate physics, including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, optics, special relativity, thermal and statistical physics and quantum mechanics, and to be able to make order-of-magnitude estimates and analyze physical situations by application of general principles. These are the topics typically included, and at the level usually taught, within a Bachelor's degree program in Physics at most universities. As a part of this foundation, the students should also have formed a well-integrated overall picture of the fields studied. The preliminary exam is meant to assess the students' background, so that any missing pieces can be made up as soon as possible. The exam is made up of 4 sections, as described in the  Preliminary Exam Policy *, on the Department’s website.  Each section is administered twice a year, at the start of each semester. 

Entering students are encouraged to take this exam as soon as possible, and they are required to attempt all prelims sections in the second semester. Students who have not passed all sections in the third semester will undergo a Departmental review of their performance. Departmental expectations are that all students should successfully pass all sections no later than spring semester of the second year (4th semester); the document entitled  Physics Department Preliminary Exam Policy * describes Departmental policy in more detail. An exception to this expectation is afforded to students who elect (with the recommendation of the faculty mentor and written approval of the head graduate adviser) to fill gaps in their undergraduate background during their first year at Berkeley and delay corresponding section(s) of the exam, and who therefore may need an additional semester to complete the exam; this exception is also further discussed in the  Preliminary Exam Policy * document.

* You must login with your Calnet ID to access Physics Department Preliminary Examination Policy.

Start of Research

Students are encouraged to begin research as soon as possible. Many students identify potential research advisers in their first year and most have identified their research adviser before the end of their second year.  When a research adviser is identified, the Department asks that both student and research adviser sign a form (available from the Student Affairs Office, 378 Physics North) indicating that the student has (provisionally) joined the adviser’s research group with the intent of working towards a PhD.  In many cases, the student will remain in that group for their thesis work, but sometimes the student or faculty adviser will decide that the match of individuals or research direction is not appropriate.  Starting research early gives students flexibility to change groups when appropriate without incurring significant delays in time to complete their degree.

Departmental expectations are that experimental research students begin work in a research group by the summer after the first year; this is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged.  Students doing theoretical research are similarly encouraged to identify a research direction, but often need to complete a year of classes in their chosen specialty before it is possible for them to begin research.  Students intending to become theory students and have to take the required first year classes may not be able to start research until the summer after their second year.  Such students are encouraged to attend theory seminars and maintain contact with faculty in their chosen area of research even before they can begin a formal research program. 

If a student chooses dissertation research with a supervisor who is not in the department, he or she must find an appropriate Physics faculty member who agrees to serve as the departmental research supervisor of record and as co-adviser. This faculty member is expected to monitor the student's progress towards the degree and serve on the student's qualifying and dissertation committees. The student will enroll in Physics 299 (research) in the co-adviser's section.  The student must file the Outside Research Proposal for approval; petitions are available in the Student Affairs Office, 378 Physics North.   

Students who have not found a research adviser by the end of the second year will be asked to meet with their faculty mentor to develop a plan for identifying an adviser and research group.  Students who have not found a research adviser by Spring of the third year are not making adequate progress towards the PhD.  These students will be asked to provide written documentation to the department explaining their situation and their plans to begin research.  Based on their academic record and the documentation they provide, such students may be warned by the department that they are not making adequate progress, and will be formally asked to find an adviser.  The record of any student who has not identified an adviser by the end of Spring of the fourth year will be evaluated by a faculty committee and the student may be asked to leave the program. 

Qualifying Exam

Rules and requirements associated with the Qualifying Exam are set by the Graduate Division on behalf of the Graduate Council.  Approval of the committee membership and the conduct of the exam are therefore subject to Graduate Division approval.  The exam is oral and lasts 2-3 hours.  The Graduate Division specifies that the purpose of the Qualifying Exam is “to ascertain the breadth of the student's comprehension of fundamental facts and principles that apply to at least three subject areas related to the major field of study and whether the student has the ability to think incisively and critically about the theoretical and the practical aspects of these areas.”  It also states that “this oral examination of candidates for the doctorate serves a significant additional function. Not only teaching, but the formal interaction with students and colleagues at colloquia, annual meetings of professional societies and the like, require the ability to synthesize rapidly, organize clearly, and argue cogently in an oral setting.  It is necessary for the University to ensure that a proper examination is given incorporating these skills.”

Please see the  Department website for a description of the Qualifying Exam and its Committee .   Note: You must login with your Calnet ID to access QE information . Passing the Qualifying Exam, along with a few other requirements described on the department website, will lead to Advancement to Candidacy.  Qualifying exam scheduling forms can be picked up in the Student Affairs Office, 378 Physics North.   

The Department expects students to take the Qualifying Exam two or three semesters after they identify a research adviser. This is therefore expected to occur for most students in their third year, and no later than fourth year. A student is considered to have begun research when they first register for Physics 299 or fill out the department mentor-adviser form showing that a research adviser has accepted the student for PhD work or hired as a GSR (Graduate Student Researcher), at which time the research adviser becomes responsible for guidance and mentoring of the student.  (Note that this decision is not irreversible – the student or research adviser can decide that the match of individuals or research direction is not appropriate or a good match.)  Delays in this schedule cause concern that the student is not making adequate progress towards the PhD.  The student and adviser will be asked to provide written documentation to the department explaining the delay and clarifying the timeline for taking the Qualifying Exam.

Annual Progress Reports

Graduate Division requires that each student’s performance be annually assessed to provide students with timely information about the faculty’s evaluation of their progress towards PhD.  Annual Progress Reports are completed during the Spring Semester.  In these reports, the student is asked to discuss what progress he or she has made toward the degree in the preceding year, and to discuss plans for the following year and for PhD requirements that remain to be completed.  The mentor or research adviser or members of the Dissertation Committee (depending on the student’s stage of progress through the PhD program) comment on the student’s progress and objectives. In turn, the student has an opportunity to make final comments. 

Before passing the Qualifying Exam, the annual progress report (obtained from the Physics Student Affairs Office in 378 Physics North) is completed by the student and either his/her faculty mentor or his/her research adviser, depending on whether or not the student has yet begun research (see above).  This form includes a statement of intended timelines to take the Qualifying Exam, which is expected to be within 2-3 semesters of starting research.  

After passing the Qualifying Exam, the student and research adviser complete a similar form, but in addition to the research adviser, the student must also meet with at least one other and preferably both other members of their Dissertation Committee (this must include their co-adviser if the research adviser is not a member of the Physics Department) to discuss progress made in the past year, plans for the upcoming year, and overall progress towards the PhD.  This can be done either individually as one-on-one meetings of the graduate student with members of the Dissertation Committee, or as a group meeting with presentation. (The Graduate Council requires that all doctoral students who have been advanced to candidacy meet annually with at least two members of the Dissertation Committee. The annual review is part of the Graduate Council’s efforts to improve the doctoral completion rate and to shorten the time it takes students to obtain a doctorate.)

Advancement to Candidacy

After passing the Qualifying Examination, the next step in the student's career is to advance to candidacy as soon as possible.  Advancement to candidacy is the academic stage when a student has completed all requirements except completion of the dissertation.  Students are still required to enroll in 12 units per semester; these in general are expected to be seminars and research units.  Besides passing the Qualifying Exam, there are a few other requirements described in the Graduate Program Booklet. Doctoral candidacy application forms can be picked up in the Student Affairs Office, 378 Physics North.

Completion of Dissertation Work

The expected time for completion of the PhD program is six years.  While the Department recognizes that research time scales can be unpredictable, it strongly encourages students and advisers to develop dissertation proposals consistent with these expectations.  The Berkeley Physics Department does not have dissertation defense exams, but encourages students and their advisers to ensure that students learn the important skill of effective research presentations, including a presentation of their dissertation work to their peers and interested faculty and researchers.

Doctoral Program (Ph.D.)

• Graduate Programs

The Physics Ph.D. program provides students with opportunities to perform independent research in some of the most current and dynamic areas of physics. Students develop a solid and broad physics knowledge base in the first year through the core curriculum, departmental colloquia, and training.

Upper-level courses and departmental seminar series subsequently provide more specialized exposure. Armed with the core knowledge, doctoral students join a research group working in an area of particular interest. This research is performed in very close collaboration with one or more faculty whose interests span a wide range of physics fields.

Applicants are expected to have a strong background in physics or closely related subjects at the undergraduate level. All applications are evaluated holistically to assess the applicant's preparation and potential for graduate coursework and independent research, which can be demonstrated in multiple ways.

Submitting General and Physics GRE scores is recommended (but not required), especially for non-traditional students (this includes applicants with a bachelor's degree outside of physics or applicants who have taken a long gap after completing their bachelor's degree).

Three recommendation letters from faculty or others acquainted with the applicant's academic and/or research qualifications are required.

If you have submitted an application and need to make changes or add to the application, do not send the materials to the Physics department. The department is unable to alter or add to your application. Contact the  Graduate School staff  for all changes.  

Ph.D. Program Milestones and Guideposts

• Work toward joining a research group
• Pass 3 courses per semester if a TA or 4 courses per semester if a Fellow with at least 50% B's or better
• Complete 6 core courses (PHYS 2010, 2030, 2040, 2050, 2060, 2140)
• Begin research
• Complete PHYS2010 (or other core courses) if not taken during Year 1
• Complete at least 2 advanced courses
• Pass qualifying exam
• Complete 2nd Year Ethics Training
• Identify prelim committee
• Continue research
• Complete remaining advanced courses
• Pass preliminary exam and advance to candidacy
• Complete thesis research
• Write and defend thesis

Ph.D. Resources

• Ph.D. Program Student Handbook
• Graduate Core Course Listing
• Finding a Research Group
• Comprehensive Exam Information
• Ph.D. Second Year Ethics Training Requirement
• Ph.D. Preliminary Exam Requirements and Guidelines
• Ph.D. Prelim Form
• Physics Department Defense Form
• Ph.D. Dissertation Defense Requirements and Guidelines
• Ph.D. Course Waiver/Permission Form

Ph.D. in Physics

General info.

• Faculty working with students: 45
• Students: 90
• Students receiving Financial Aid: 100%
• Part time study available: No
• Application terms: Fall
• Application deadline: December 13

Mark Kruse Director of Graduate Studies Department of Physics Duke University Box 90305 Durham, NC 27708-0305 Phone: (919) 660-2502

Email: [email protected]

Website:  https://physics.duke.edu/graduate

Program Description

The Department of Physics supports a variety of programs that are at the  frontier of basic research. Areas of specialization include nonlinear  dynamics and complex systems, quantum nanoscience, quantum optics/ultra-cold  atoms, free electron lasers, biological physics, experimental high energy  physics, experimental nuclear physics, nuclear and particle theory,  condensed matter theory, string theory, and gravitation. The research groups  are not large but are all very active and enjoy a high reputation; this  provides the opportunity for students to participate in frontier research,  while fostering a strong interaction between students and faculty. The  department is the site of the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory and  the Duke Free Electron Laser Laboratory. The high energy physics group  conducts research at major international laboratories (e.g., Fermilab, CERN  and Super-Kamiokande). The Center for Nonlinear Studies is a cooperative  program involving faculty members of the departments of Physics,  Mathematics, Computer Science, Chemistry, and the Pratt School of  Engineering. The Center for Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences fosters  trans-disciplinary research employing mathematical techniques. The Center  for Geometry and Theoretical Physics involves both Physics and Mathematics departments.

• Physics: PhD Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
• Physics: PhD Completion Rate Statistics
• Physics: PhD Time to Degree Statistics
• Physics: PhD Career Outcomes Statistics

Application Information

Application Terms Available:  Fall

Application Deadline:  December 13 Applications submitted by December 13 are guaranteed review. Applications submitted after December 13 but before the closing date of January 3 will be reviewed based upon availability of space and funding.

Graduate School Application Requirements See the Application Instructions page for important details about each Graduate School requirement.

• Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts required with application submission; official transcripts required upon admission
• Letters of Recommendation: 3 Required
• Statement of Purpose: Required (see departmental guidance below)
• Résumé: Required
• GRE General: Optional
• GRE Subject - Physics: Optional
• English Language Exam: TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test required* for applicants whose first language is not English *test waiver may apply for some applicants
• GPA: Undergraduate GPA calculated on 4.0 scale required

Writing Sample : None required

We strongly encourage you to review additional department-specific application guidance from the program to which you are applying: Departmental Application Guidance

List of Graduate School Programs and Degrees

Ph.D. program

The Applied Physics Department offers a Ph.D. degree program; see  Admissions Overview  for how to apply.  

1.  Courses . Current listings of Applied Physics (and Physics) courses are available via  Explore Courses . Courses are available in Physics and Mathematics to overcome deficiencies, if any, in undergraduate preparation. It is expected the specific course requirements are completed by the  end of the 3rd year  at Stanford.

Required Basic Graduate Courses.   30 units (quarter hours) including:

• Basic graduate courses in advanced mechanics, statistical physics, electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, and an advanced laboratory course. In cases where students feel they have already covered the materials in one of the required basic graduate courses, a petition for waiver of the course may be submitted and is subject to approval by a faculty committee.
• 18 units of advanced coursework in science and/or engineering to fit the particular interests of the individual student. Such courses typically are in Applied Physics, Physics, or Electrical Engineering, but courses may also be taken in other departments, e.g., Biology, Materials Science and Engineering, Mathematics, Chemistry. The purpose of this requirement is to provide training in a specialized field of research and to encourage students to cover material beyond their own special research interests.​

​ Required Additional Courses .  Additional courses needed to meet the minimum residency requirement of 135 units of completed course work. Directed study and research units as well as 1-unit seminar courses can be included. Courses are sometimes given on special topics, and there are several seminars that meet weekly to discuss current research activities at Stanford and elsewhere. All graduate students are encouraged to participate in the special topics courses and seminars. A limited number of courses are offered during the Summer Quarter. Most students stay in residence during the summer and engage in independent study or research programs.

The list of the PhD degree core coursework is listed in the bulletin here:  https://bulletin.stanford.edu/programs/APLPH-PHD .

3.  Dissertation Research.   Research is frequently supervised by an Applied Physics faculty member, but an approved program of research may be supervised by a faculty member from another department.

4.  Research Progress Report.   Students give an oral research progress report to their dissertation reading committee during the winter quarter of the 4th year.

5.  Dissertation.

6.  University Oral Examination .  The examination includes a public seminar in defense of the dissertation and questioning by a faculty committee on the research and related fields.

Most students continue their studies and research during the summer quarter, principally in independent study projects or dissertation research. The length of time required for the completion of the dissertation depends upon the student and upon the dissertation advisor. In addition, the University residency requirement of 135 graded units must be met.

Rotation Program

We offer an optional rotation program for 1st-year Ph.D. students where students may spend one quarter (10 weeks) each in up to three research groups in the first year. This helps students gain research experience and exposure to various labs, fields, and/or projects before determining a permanent group to complete their dissertation work. 

Sponsoring faculty members may be in the Applied Physics department, SLAC, or any other science or engineering department, as long as they are members of the Academic Council (including all tenure-line faculty). Rotations are optional and students may join a group without the rotation system by making an arrangement directly with the faculty advisor. 

During the first year, research assistantships (RAs) are fully funded by the department for the fall quarter; in the winter and spring quarters, RAs are funded 50/50 by the department and the research group hosting the student. RAs after the third quarter are, in general, not subsidized by the rotation program or the department and should be arranged directly by the student with their research advisor.

How to arrange a rotation

Rotation positions in faculty members’ groups are secured by the student by directly contacting and coordinating with faculty some time between the student’s acceptance into the Ph.D. program and the start of the rotation quarter. It is recommended that the student’s fall quarter rotation be finalized no later than Orientation Week before the academic year begins. A rotation with a different faculty member can be arranged for the subsequent quarters at any time. Most students join a permanent lab by the spring quarter of their first year after one or two rotations.  When coordinating a rotation, the student and the sponsoring faculty should discuss expectations for the rotation (e.g. project timeline or deliverables) and the availability of continued funding and permanent positions in the group. It is very important that the student and the faculty advisor have a clear understanding about expectations going forward.

What do current students say about rotations?

Advice from current ap students, setting up a rotation:.

• If you have a specific professor or group in mind, you should contact them as early as possible, as they may have a limited number of rotation spots.
• You can prepare a 1-page CV or resume to send to professors to summarize your research experiences and interest.
• Try to tour the lab/working areas, talk to senior graduate students, or attend group meeting to get a feel for how the group operates.
• If you don't receive a response from a professor, you can send a polite reminder, stop by their office, or contact their administrative assistant. If you receive a negative response, you shouldn't take it personally as rotation availability can depend year-to-year on funding and personnel availability.
• Don't feel limited to subfields that you have prior experience in. Rotations are for learning and for discovering what type of work and work environment suit you best, and you will have several years to develop into a fully-formed researcher!

You and your rotation advisor should coordinate early on about things like: 

• What project will you be working on and who will you be working with?
• What resources (e.g. equipment access and training, coursework) will you need to enable this work?
• How closely will you work with other members of the group? 
• How frequently will you and your rotation advisor meet?
• What other obligations (e.g. coursework, TAing) are you balancing alongside research?
• How will your progress be evaluated?
• Is there funding available to support you and this project beyond the rotation quarter?
• Will the rotation advisor take on new students into the group in the quarter following the rotation?

About a month before the end of the quarter, you should have a conversation with your advisor about things like:

• Will you remain in the current group or will you rotate elsewhere?
• If you choose to rotate elsewhere, does the option remain open to return to the present group later?
• If you choose to rotate elsewhere, will another rotation student be taken on for the same project?
• You don't have to rotate just for the sake of rotating! If you've found a group that suits you well in many aspects, it makes sense to continue your research momentum with that group.

Application process

View Admissions Overview View the Required Online Ph.D. Program Application  

Contact the Applied Physics Department Office at  [email protected]  if additional information on any of the above is needed.

The Physics Department offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics with specializations in different subfields that reflect the forefront research activities of the department, including biological physics, condensed matter physics, elementary particle physics, nanomedicine, nanophysics and network science.

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The program for the PhD degree consists of the required coursework, a qualifying examination, a preliminary research seminar, the completion of a dissertation based upon original research performed by the student, and a dissertation defense upon completion of the dissertation. Based on these measures, students are expected to obtain a graduate-level understanding of basic physics concepts and demonstrate the ability to formulate a research plan, orally communicate a research plan, and conduct and present independent research.

The PhD dissertation will be based on new and original research in one of the current theoretical or experimental research programs in the department, under direct supervision of an advisor from the Physics Department. Alternatively, the dissertation research can be in a recognized interdisciplinary field involving another research area of the University, under the direct supervision of a faculty member in that field. Another option is to work in an area of applied research in one of the industrial or high-technology laboratories associated with the department’s industrial PhD program. In that case, the direct supervisor is associated with the institution where the research is performed.

The Department of Physics offers a complete package of financial aid in the form of teaching assistantship positions, including a typical one-year stipend of as well as full tuition and health care coverage.

• 90 percent of faculty in the physics PhD program have major grants to fund their research
• The department publishes well over 100 papers annually
• Approximately eighty graduate students are enrolled in the PhD degree program in physics
• The Dept. of Physics offers a limited number of highly competitive fellowships to some physics PhD program applicants
• Department institutes and centers include Electronic Materials Institute (eMRI), Center for Complex Network Research (CCNR) and Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Complex Systems (CIRCS). In addition, Physics faculty are an integral part of the Network Science Institute
• The department is home to the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, a satellite location for the $13M Physics Frontier Center based at Rice University
• Department faculty are leading members of the National Science Foundation’s newly established Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions that will be based at MIT

Our graduates pursue careers within academia and beyond.

• National Institutes of Health
• Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Capital One
• Houston Rockets
• Reactive Innovations, LLC
• Athena Health
• Smoothies Technologies Inc.
• Gamelan Labs Inc.
• Boston University
• Institut Langrange de Paris
• SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
• University of California, San Diego
• King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
• Instituto de Telecomunicacoes
• Massachussets Institute of Technology
• JDS Uniphse
• Monash University
• Ecole Normale Supzrieure, International Center for Fundamental Physics and its Interfaces, Paris, France
• IBM TJ Watson Research Center

Application Materials

Application.

• Application fee – US $100
• Unofficial transcripts for all institutions attended (Official transcripts required upon acceptance of admission offer)
• Personal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE General – recommended, but not required
• Proof of English Proficiency for all applicants

Priority deadline for completed applications: December 1 st

Rolling admissions until March 15th. Check with department to see if there is any availability.

• Program Website

Request Information for PhD in Physics

Physics, PhD

Zanvyl krieger school of arts and sciences, admission requirements.

To obtain admission, a student is expected to submit evidence that they have a good chance to succeed. 

A complete application will include:

• Statement of purpose. We look for a thoughtful, well-written statement that shows the ability to overcome challenges, dedication to attain chosen goals, a capacity for creativity, an understanding of physics and/or astronomy, and any other indication of potential for research.
• Three letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters should help us evaluate your capacity for research, the most important criterion for admission.
• Transcripts of all previous work. Transcripts submitted with the application may be unofficial transcripts. Successful applicants who accept the offer of admission must supply an official transcript before they can begin the PhD program at JHU. In the case of students in the final year of their bachelors program, the official transcript must show completion of all coursework required for the degree.
• TOEFL or IELTS for international students. A reproduction is acceptable. Johns Hopkins prefers a minimum score of 600 (paper-based) or 250 (computer-based) or 100 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
• $75 non-refundable application fee. The application fee may be waived .

Note: submission of General GRE and Physics GRE scores is optional.

Successful applicants applying in the last year of their Bachelor’s program will need to demonstrate the completion of their Bachelor’s degree program before they can begin the Ph.D. program at JHU.

Program Requirements

The Ph.D. program has strong emphasis on early and active involvement in graduate research. Thus, students are required to have a research advisor and file a research summary every semester they are enrolled in the program, starting with the first one. Furthermore, students must complete the required courses with a grade of B- or better; the coursework is typically done over the first two years. In the beginning of the second year, students complete the research examination, and in the beginning of the third year – the University’s Graduate Board Oral examination, both of which are based on completed or proposed research. During the first two years, students are typically involved in introductory research projects, which may or may not be related to their thesis work, and sometimes work with several different advisors, but they must identify (and have an agreement with) a thesis advisor no later than the beginning of their third year in the program, after which point students focus on their thesis research. The thesis is to be completed by no later than the end of the 6th year, ending with an oral presentation of the thesis to a faculty committee.

Course Requirements

Ph.d. in physics.

Students must complete the following courses:

Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Students in both programs must receive at least a B- in each required course, or they will be required to retake the specific course once more and pass it.

The department offers a wide range of graduate physics, astrophysics, mathematical methods and statistics classes, and while only five are required, the students are encouraged to use the flexibility of the graduate program and the available classes to design programs of study that best prepare them for their chosen area of research. In addition to the required courses listed above, below is the list of the graduate courses that have been taught in recent years:

Research and Advising

The principal goal of graduate study is to train the student to conduct original research. Therefore, physics and astronomy graduate students at Johns Hopkins are involved in research starting in their first semester in the program.

First and Second-Year Research Requirement

By the end of September, the student chooses their first research advisor among the professorial faculty and starts working on the first-semester research project. If the proposed research advisor does not hold a primary appointment as a tenure-track or research faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the form must be co-signed by a PHA faculty member, who will provide mentorship  (relevant department faculty members list) . This requirement holds for all semesters of research. The first-semester project continues through intersession in January. The spring-semester research project continues until the end of the spring semester. The summer semester lasts from June through August. Students may continue with one advisor through the entire first year, or they may choose to cycle through several different research advisers from one semester to the next.

This system of semester projects continues during the first two years of the program, when students also complete required coursework. The nature of these first- and second-year research projects varies from student to student, from advisor to advisor and from one sub-field of physics to another. Some may be self-contained research projects that lead to published scientific papers and may or may not be related to the thesis research in later years.  Listing of recent publications by our graduate students . Others may comprise reading or independent-study projects to develop background for subsequent research. In other cases, they may be first steps in a longer-term research project.

This system accommodates both the students who have chosen the direction of their thesis work before graduate school and those who would like to try a few different things before committing to a long-term project. As students get more familiar with the department and the research opportunities, they zero in on their thesis topic and find a thesis advisor. This may happen any time during the first two years, and students are required to find a thesis advisor by the beginning of the third year.

Thesis Research and Defense

Securing a mutual agreement with a thesis advisor is one of the most important milestones of our graduate program. Students must find a thesis advisor and submit the thesis advisor form before the first day of their 3rd year. The form represents a long-term commitment and serious efforts in planning and communication between the student and the advisor. If the proposed thesis advisor does not hold a primary appointment as a tenure-track or research faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the form must be co-signed by a PHA faculty member, who will serve as the departmental advisor of record (relevant department faculty members list) . 

After the student chooses a thesis advisor, the student forms their Thesis Committee consisting of three faculty members in the Dept. of Physics and Astronomy (PHA). At least two should be tenure track faculty with primary appointments in PHA. An external advisor may be added as the fourth member of the committee. These committees function as extended advisory bodies; students have the opportunity to discuss their progress and problems with several faculty. They also conduct one formal annual review of each student’s progress.

Research leading to the dissertation can be carried out not only within the Department of Physics and Astronomy, but with appropriate arrangements, either partly or entirely at other locations if necessitated by the project goals. At the conclusion of thesis research, the student presents the written dissertation to the faculty committee and defends the thesis in an oral examination.

Requirements for the M.A. Degree

Although the department does not admit students who intend to pursue the master’s degree exclusively, students in the department’s Ph.D. program and students in other Ph.D. programs at Johns Hopkins may apply to fulfill the requirements for the M.A. degree in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Students from other JHU departments must seek approval from their home department and from the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Before beginning their M.A. studies, students must have mastered the undergraduate physics material covered by the following courses:

Courses taken elsewhere may qualify at the discretion of the Graduate Program Committee (normally this requirement is satisfied by the Ph.D.-track students before they arrive at JHU as they have completed a B.A. or B.Sci. in Physics at another institution).

To qualify for the M.A. degree in Physics, students must complete eight one-semester 3-credit graduate-level courses in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and pass the departmental research exam. For the M.A. degree in Astronomy, students must complete eight one-semester 3-credit graduate-level courses in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, plus the seminar “Language of Astrophysics” and pass the departmental research exam. The student must receive a grade of B- or above in each of the courses; graduate courses can be retaken once in case of failure.

Of the eight one-semester courses, four must be the core courses listed above in the Ph.D. requirements and two must be Independent Graduate Research courses. The remaining two course requirements for the M.A. degree may be fulfilled either by 3-credit graduate electives or by additional Independent Graduate Research. The research courses must include an essay or a research report supervised and approved by a faculty member of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Under most circumstances students pursuing their Ph.D. qualify for the M.A. degree by the end of their second year if they have taken all four core courses in their discipline at JHU, the “Language of Astrophysics” seminar (for M.A. in Astronomy), four semesters of Independent Graduate Research, and passed the research exam. Graduate courses taken at another institution or in another department at JHU in most cases do not count toward the M.A. requirements (therefore, students who are interested in the M.A. degree, but are planning to waive any graduate courses because they have passed a comparable graduate course at another institution, should discuss their eligibility for the M.A. degree with the Academic Program Administrator as soon as they arrive at JHU). Students should expect that no M.A. requirements can be waived; that the minimal research requirement is two semesters; and that at most one of the core courses can be substituted by another (non-research) graduate course in exceptional circumstances. Any requests for M.A. course substitutions must be made to the Graduate Program Committee at least a year before the expected M.A. degree so that the committee can recommend an appropriate substitution.

College of Arts & Sciences

Doctoral Program

The Path to The Ph.D

The Georgetown graduate experience is tailored to match your academic and professional goals. The process is straightforward, but as with any program, there are certain benchmarks that help you chart your path. Detailed information is available in the Graduate Handbook .

• Perform well and earn 34 credits in the coursework (maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above)
• Participate in the Integrative Experience after the 1 st 2 semesters of coursework
• Join 3 Lab Rotations to gain expertise and choose an Academic Advisor
• Pass the Comprehensive Examination , typically before beginning their 2 nd year
• Pass the Qualifying Examination , within 18 months of completing coursework or directly after an Apprenticeship
• Research, write and defend a Dissertation

Prerequisites for first-year graduate courses

Classical mechanics.

• Lagrangian formulation at the level of Marion.
• Understand the definition of Hamiltonian and of a Poisson bracket.

COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS

• Proficiency in coding in a high-level programming language like Fortran, C, C++, or java.
• Understanding loops and conditional statements.
• Full knowledge of how to solve second order differential equations with constant coefficients.
• Separation of variables for partial differential equations.
• Heat flow or diffusion,
• Wave or Schroedinger equation, and
• Boundary-value problems.
• Understanding of Fourier analysis (both discrete and a continuous Fourier transform) and eigenvalue problems.

ELECTROMAGNETISM

• Differential formulation of Maxwell’s equations
• Poisson’s equation
• Multipole expansions
• Generation of electromagnetic waves
• Circuit analysis (both AC and DC)
• Geometrical & physical optics, (at the level of Griffiths).

QUANTUM MECHANICS

• Bra and ket notation
• Eigenvalue problems (as partial differential equations and in matrix form)
• Separation of variables
• Raising and lowering operators
• Addition of angular momentum
• Hydrogen atom
• Nondegenerate perturbation theory
• Simple time-evolution problems (at the level of Liboff, Griffiths, or Dicke and Witte).

STATISTICAL MECHANICS

• Definitions of entropy, free energy, chemical potential.
• Free energy of classical and quantum harmonic oscillator.
• Equipartition theorem.
• Degenerate Fermi and Bose gases.
• One-dimensional Ising model. (At the level of Kittel and Kroemer).

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Ph.D. in Physics Admissions

Our physics Ph.D. program trains students who want to push forward the boundaries of knowledge about the universe to become leaders in discovery. Our students build a strong foundation of technical expertise through coursework, hone their communication skills through professional development opportunities, and strengthen their critical thinking by conducting original research with one of our world-class research teams. These teams specialize in theoretical, computational, and experimental approaches to a wide range of topics: cosmology and general relativity; high-energy particle physics; relativistic heavy ion collisions and high-energy nuclear physics; nuclear structure and dynamics; biological physics; and the physics of materials, optics, and quantum systems. We offer a friendly, welcoming, and inclusive environment where students are treated as colleagues.

The physics Ph.D. program is ideally suited for students who would like to pursue a career in research and development–whether that is in academia, industry, national labs and government agencies, or among the ever-growing opportunities in tech startups. Most alumni first take on a postdoctoral research post after graduation; however, a wide range of career paths is possible, with recent graduates finding positions in investment banking, software engineering, business analytics, and consulting.

We are looking for motivated students who have a passion for original research and want to shape the future of physics. Graduate admissions are highly selective, but we are committed to attracting the widest possible range of talents.

Students receive:

• A five-year package of support with a full tuition waiver
• Health insurance coverage
• Competitive stipends (currently $36,500 per year)
• A paid-for visit to campus before accepting our offer (domestic students only). Vanderbilt is located in the midtown section of Nashville, Tennessee–one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. A visit is certainly the best way to experience Nashville’s vitality, our department’s welcoming spirit, and learn about our faculty’s state-of-the-art research programs

We hope you’ll consider joining us for the next step on your educational journey.

Applying to the Program

Applications for fall 2024 open on August 1, 2024 and must be submitted through the Graduate School Application Portal . The application deadline is January 15.

Strong applications to the physics Ph.D. program include:

• The student’s academic record from prior institutions
• A statement of purpose that details the student’s interests in graduate school and beyond
• Three or more reference letters that provide insight into an applicant’s prior experience, motivation for graduate school, and aptitude for research.

GRE scores are not required. For questions about the Ph.D. program or the application process, please contact our Program Coordinator, Don Pickert .

Application checklist

• Start your admissions application online .
• Compose and submit a statement of purpose (1000-2000 words). We want to know about your motivations and your research interests.
• Request three letters of recommendation. Do this early to give your recommenders plenty of time to send in their letters.
• Order official transcripts of grades from all institutions that you have attended.
• Do not submit GRE scores (General nor Subject). They are not required and will not be considered.
• If you are an international student, submit your TOEFL score (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS or Duolingo score. Note that Vanderbilt requires a minimum TOEFL score of 570 on the paper-based test or 88 on the computer-based test, 6.5 on IELTS or 120 on Duolingo. The TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo requirement may be waived for those international applicants who have a degree from an English-speaking institution. If you’ve received an undergraduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction, and if you’ve studied in residence at that institution for at least 3 years, you’re exempt from the English language test requirement and are not required to submit a language test score. You should provide us with a letter from your college or university stating that and add that to your application file.
• If you meet the Graduate School’s eligibility criteria , apply for an application fee waiver*.
• Finalize and submit your entire application by January 15, 2025.

*Note that a small number of additional waivers will be granted at the discretion of the department based on recruitment priorities and extenuating circumstances. You may request an application fee waiver directly from the department only after you have submitted your application and confirmed that a fee is due (i.e., that you are not eligible for a waiver from the Graduate School). To request a fee waiver, please email the Director of Graduate Studies for Physics, Alfredo Gurrola .

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Department of Physics

You are here, apply to the yale physics phd program.

The Yale Department of Physics welcomes applications to our matriculating graduate class of 2024 beginning around August 15th, 2024. The General GRE and Physics GRE scores are Optional for applications received by the December 15, 2023, submission deadline.

We recognize the continuing disruption caused by COVID-19 and that the hardship of taking GREs falls unequally on individual students. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all; therefore, we do not require these standardized tests for admission to our program. All applications are reviewed holistically, and preference will not be given to students who do or do not submit GRE scores.

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Doctoral Program in Physics

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at UC Irvine offers a program of graduate study leading to a Ph.D. degree in Physics. Our graduate course curriculum provides a foundation in fundamental physics and elective courses in a broad range of topical areas. Graduate students carry out original research in diverse areas of experimental and theoretical physics and astrophysics , under the guidance of members of our departmental faculty .  We also offer a graduate program in Chemical and Materials Physics as a joint program with the UCI Department of Chemistry . Graduates of our Ph.D. program are well prepared for careers in scientific research, teaching, and industry. See the links below for detailed information about our program, the applications process, and campus resources for graduate students.

Graduate Program Open House for Prospective Applicants, November 19, 2022 (Click for link)

Physics Graduate Program

PhD programs in Physics and Physics with an Astrophysics Emphasis.

PhD Programs

The Department offers graduate programs leading to a Ph.D. in physics and a Ph.D. in physics with an astrophysics emphasis. The key elements in the program are advanced graduate courses and research conducted by students under the close supervision of a faculty thesis advisor.

The UCSB Physics Department has outstanding resources for both experimental and theoretical research. Well-equipped laboratories in the Physics building are engaged in a broad range of research in the physics of soft and living matter, condensed matter physics (including graphene, quantum materials, and quantum information science), atomic and molecular physics (including quantum emulation, quantum sensing, and probes of physics beyond the standard model) and the development and construction of innovative detector technologies in astrophysics and particle physics. Numerous collaborative efforts within and beyond the department connect these and other areas.

The resources for theoretical physics are outstanding. The world-renowned Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP) is located steps from the physics building. The Institute conducts research programs across a broad range of areas of astrophysics, condensed matter physics, fundamental particle physics, nuclear physics, the physics of soft and living matter, string theory, and gravity/relativity, inviting eminent physicists from around the world to participate in these programs for months at a time. All the KITP’s activities are open to Physics graduate students. Microsoft’s Station Q research center located in the California Nanosystem Institute (CNSI) leads a focused effort in the theory of topological phases and quantum computing. These centers provide unequaled opportunities for broad exposure to theoretical physics and its leading practitioners.

Collaborative Facilities

Unique collaborative facilities are a key ingredient of research excellence at UCSB. A high-power, tunable, far-infrared free-electron laser is the center of a broad research program in terahertz phenomena. The California Nanosystems Institute, the Materials Research Laboratory, and Microsoft's Station Q are key on-campus facilities with strong interactions with our graduate program and faculty. The California Institute for Quantum Entanglement promotes collaborative quantum science work with universities throughout California. Off-campus particle physics research is performed at CERN (Geneva), Fermilab (Chicago) and at the Sanford Underground Research Laboratory (South Dakota). Astrophysicists use the Keck telescopes in Hawaii, as well as a variety of other ground-based and space-based observing facilities. The Department has a strong association with the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network, a worldwide network of telescopes that is now being constructed and is headquartered near the campus.

Jennifer Farrar

  related links.

• Advancing to Candidacy
• PhD Physics  (pdf)
• PhD Physics with an Astrophysics Emphasis (pdf)

Graduate Outcomes

Apply the laws of physics in classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, and statistical mechanics at a level commensurate with current standards in physics. Demonstrate mastery of advanced physics within their chosen subfield. For theorists, demonstrate breadth of knowledge outside their chosen subfield as well. Demonstrate fluency in comprehension of the primary research literature in their chosen subfield.

Conduct primary research literature searches in their chosen subfield. Apply theoretical and/or experimental tools, as appropriate, to make progress in expanding the frontiers of physics knowledge.

Communicate effectively the results of their research to professionals within their subfield, and within the broader physics community, through both oral presentation and written work.

Complete an original, creative project that demonstrably advances human knowledge within their subfield.

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Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT)

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Offered Programs

Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology offers extensive courses in preparatory programs, bachelor programs, masters programs, and Ph.D. programs. Although the majority of the programs offer courses in Russian, a large number of programs are primarily taught in English with a large amount to open up as the years' progress.

International students can opt to take lectures in either of the languages or even in both, the tuition fee structure at MIPT is dependent on the language of instruction and are as follows;

RocApply is here to help you with all your application needs, students looking to study in MIPT Russia can use our premium services in the entire process, from start to finish. We assist with student applications, admission facilitation, visa processing, student housing to even airport pickup and student integration in their new locations.

We use our experience to provide our students with an easy study abroad guide and assistance, at the beginning and all through the process. All our services are very straightforward prioritizing our student’s needs every step of the way, our platform is well equipped with all the right information and accessible anywhere in the world. RocApply has extensive experience in all things regarding your studies in Russia, and we are glad to help.

Eligibility Requirements;

After finding what program you can apply for, the next step is to check if you qualify for admission at MIPT, although the application procedure is simplified thanks to RocApply’s easy-to-use application platform, all our applicants must have;

• High school leaving certificate (for bachelor admissions)
• A bachelor’s degree or diploma (for master’s admissions)
• A master’s degree (for Ph.D. admissions)
• Language requirements: applicants applying to Russian-taught programs must take language exams in Russian and English-taught programs require that applicants must show proficiency with results from approved exams like IELTS or TOEFL.

Qualification Requirements

Recently, MIPT demands that some students enrolling in specific programs must take part in certain qualifying events and interviews known as ‘Procturing’. These events are conducted online in collaboration with RocApply, beginning in June towards a September or October resumption date. Subjects written include English, Mathematics or Physics.

For graduate programs, there are also certain qualifying events which are either as an interview or a test depending on the program. Tests or interviews are conducted online via RocApply beginning in June.

Document requirements

Undergraduate

• Online application form via RocApply
• Copy of international passport or identification document
• High school leaving certificate
• Curriculum Vitae (detailing other achievements, qualifications, or awards)
• IELTS/TOEFL results
• Applicants who wish to take their courses in Russian must first enroll in MIPT’s language prep school.
• Copy of bachelor’s degree or diploma
• Copy of masters degree (for Ph.D. programs)
• Personal statement
• 2 recommendation letters from professors or previous employer
• CV or Resume
• *All documents must be notarized and translated.

MIPT provides a tuition fee waiver for applicants who score 85% and above in the qualifying exams, and also scholarships for graduates of the preparatory course, undergraduates and graduate students of MIPT, and transfer students continuing their education at MIPT. Participants of short term internships and summer and winter MIPT schools also receive tuition waivers from the university.

Select your Degree

Application requirements for bachelors:, select your field of study for bachelors, select your bachelor program, application requirements for masters:, select your field of study for masters, select your master program.

Master's in Advanced Combinatorics (MSc)

(2 years) 4 Semesters

3000€ / Semester

Master's in Neural Networks & Neural Computers (MSc)

Master's in Blockchain (MSc)

Master's in Cyber Security (MSc)

Master's in Aerodynamics (MSc)

Master's in Beam-Plasma Systems and Technologies (MSc)

Master's in Industrial Bioinformatics (MSc)

Master's in Digital Transformation (MSc)

Master's in International Business, Entrepreneurship

Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) in Rankings

Ranked 20th in the whole of russia, ranked 400th in the world., tuition and scholarships at moscow institute of physics and technology (mipt).

The university provides funding to international students through several schemes designed to reduce the cost of tuition or to cover the student’s expenses while studying there, funding at the university are both internal and external and happen and all foreign students at the university are eligible to receive some sort of financial assistance during the course of their program at MIPT.

MIPT Scholarship: The university awards a special scholarship to foreign understudies who show dynamic academic qualities, or students who have strong academic backgrounds and can replicate this while studying at MIPT. This scholarship is highly coveted and is awarded competitively.

Russian Government Scholarship: The Russian government reserves special funding for international students studying at MIPT. The funding scheme covers all academic costs for the entire duration of the program in bachelor's, masters, and Ph.D. levels. Interested students must apply as early as possible after being accepted.

MIPT Olympiad: The MIPT Olympiad is a healthy academic competition where excellent students display their knowledge on a variety of subjects akin to their field of study. The top students compete amongst themselves and the winner is awarded a full-ride sponsorship towards their education at MIPT.

MIPT Student Financial Support: Foreign students can apply for financial support from the university towards their living expenses in Moscow. MIPT gives stipends to a large number of its international students every month, and the awardees must continue to excel academically in order to continue receiving this financial aid.

Cost of living at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT)

About moscow institute of physics and technology (mipt).

The Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology is one of the top five universities in Russia and is well known all over the world, since its inception in 1946 as a department of Moscow State University and later as an independent organization in 1951, MIPT is has been highly regarded by scientists, engineers, and students alike.

The MIPT university-industry partnership system was introduced by its first professors, the Nobel Prize winners L.D Landau, P.L Kapitsa, and N.N Semenov. It selects talented students and provides them with a top-class education and an early entry into industrial research.

MIPT scientists perform cutting-edge research in the fields of fundamental science and push the boundaries of human understanding, creating new technologies and contributing to global development.

The university explores neural and aerospace engineering, biophysics and nuclear science, quantum optics and aeromechanics. The university research center devices mathematical models to account for all of the diversity in nature.

MIPT research labs feature international teams driven by professors with global credentials and aspirations. Nobel Laureates Andre Gain and Constantin Navoselov who won a prize in physics in 2010 are MIPT alumni.

The university is tailoring and determining the success of society and humanity through science, and introducing excellent ways to look into the future. To date, MIPT pushes the boundary of human understanding with scientific principles and learning modules that are unrivaled anywhere in the world.

Some of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) Achievements.

• MIPT has ranked in the top 100 spots in world university reputation ranking in the last two years by Times Higher Education (THE)
• MIPT ranks in the top 100 world universities for subjects like Physical Science and Computer Science and ranks in the top 300 world universities for Engineering, Technology, and Life Science by Times Higher Education (2020)
• MIPT is among the topmost reputable universities in Russia, presently rated as at the top 3 higher education institutions in the country.
• In Russia, MIPT stands as the most award-winning university, bagging several industries and scientific awards throughout its history. Ten professors from Phystech are Nobel Laureates winning prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Peace, and Astrophysics. Also, many of MIPT’s research specialists and doctors have been awarded Dirac medals, BBVA Foundation awards, and prizes in Fundamental Physics both in Russia and internationally.

Student Life at MIPT

Academics: MIPT is a leading research center with about 79 well-equipped laboratories for experiments and research. The major fields are biomaterials and microelectronics, energetics and specialized machine engineering, universal and specialized quantum computers, quantum cryptography, mechanisms of aging, genomic engineering, optogenetics, biomedical cell products, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, expert systems, cybersecurity, technical vision, space technology.

Phystech Start-Up: MIPT designed a project to support and develop student ideas and projects, students join mentoring educational programs to receive knowledge, advice, and recommendation on the development of projects from successful entrepreneurs, graduates of MIPT, and experts of tech companies.

Internships: In MIPT students have the possibility to secure internships at the best Russian and international companies. The experience gained contributes largely to the success of many of its student's careers after they graduate.

Campus Life at MIPT

MIPT has a very conducive and up-to-date campus that is very comfortable for life and study at the university. Present on campus are more than 15 buildings comprising of administrative buildings, academic buildings, medical centers, dormitories, cafeterias, and the other facilities, the university campus also has 24/hours security and surveillance. Phystech’s campus is located 20 minutes from Moscow, the heart of Russia.

Social Activities at MIPT

There are more than 50 student activities and clubs that cater to several student interests, MIPT students can participate actively in any of these clubs or societies and can even carve out their own in their own area of interest with approval from the university.

Student clubs are a brilliant way to interact, socialize and build social skills that resonate with the outside world. Examples of such clubs at MIPT include;

• History Club
• Intellectual Games Club
• Painting Club
• Literature Club
• Robotics Technology Club
• Artic Projects Club and many more

MIPT has strong partnerships with many leading universities, organizations and industrial companies both locally and internationally. Many global centers of research are also affiliated with the university, with remote research units on MIPT’s campus enabling student exchange and work and study opportunities on a global platform.

Similarly, a long list of industry companies and corporate organizations have ties with Phystech, fostering internship and job opportunities for MIPT students. Some of MIPT’S partner institutions include;

• Berkely University of California
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Ecole Polytechnique
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• McGill University

Some of MIPT’S partner research centers and companies include;

• Schlumberger Research & Development
• Hitachi and GE

In MIPT, there is a unique educational ecosystem based on a 70-year history of development. MIPT’s system of instruction called the ‘Phystech System’ was proposed by its founders. The key principles were outlined from the beginning, which entails;

• First students are trained by researchers of leading scientific and technological institutions with modern technical equipment.
• Secondly, students have individual works with the university,
• Thirdly each student begins their research from their second or third year of education and
• Lastly, upon graduation, the students have great knowledge of the modern methods of theoretical and experimental research and necessary engineering knowledge to solve technical problems.

The strong teaching of fundamental knowledge and extensive practical work in partner research institutions allow MIPT graduates to build a career in any field of professional activity.

The link between study and practice means students learn to apply their theoretical knowledge in the real world.

A Forbes 2019 rating on university graduates shows that MIPT is one of the top 3 universities with the most popular graduates, taking into consideration factors like average salary, presence of billionaires, membership in boards of directors of the largest Russian and international companies.

Noteworthy is that ten of Phystech alumni are amongst the top 200 entrepreneurs in Russia, and many of its graduates have gone on to found successful start-ups and tech companies.

Why Study at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT)

Accommodation moscow institute of physics and technology (mipt), on campus accomodation at moscow institute of physics and technology (mipt).

MIPT provides student housing at both its Dolgoprudny and Zhukovsky locations, as of now there are 14 student halls of residence owned and managed by the university and housing the majority of its students.

The dormitories come in different types and different specifications but they are all adequately maintained and equipped with all the necessary facilities.

Some of them are student dormitories with one or two bedrooms, a central kitchen space, and bathroom area, while the others are apartment-style rooms with kitchen and bathroom ensuite.

Every room at every dormitory has 24/hours electricity, heating, and wireless internet, similarly, all dorms are guarded full-time. Amenities refrigerator, washing machine, and microwave are also provided to students in the dormitory.

The type of campus housing that a student will get is contingent on their department and level of study as dormitories are separated int different spectrums to create a more relatable atmosphere for its students.

Accommodation price at MIPT can cost somewhere between 1,000 RUB to 2,000 RUB.

Off Campus Accomodation at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT)

Typically, some students opt to live in separate accommodations outside the university campus where there are many private houses and apartments that cater to various student budgets and need.

There are also several dormitories and private out-of-school lofts and pads that have different costs. The expense of leasing off-campus apartments changes from area to area in proximity to the city square and they have different conditions for rent.

Commonly, the cost of leasing a one-room condo is around 1,500 to 2,000 RUB per month and it depends on how extravagant the building is and the services they offer.

Renting an apartment out of campus usually means that utilities such as electricity, water, heating, cable tv, and internet all come separate from the rent and students would have to shoulder the bills per usage.

Sports at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT)

The sports and recreational facilities at MIPT’s campus help develop the competing spirit of its students and staff. The university has  3 sports centers, a Phystech stadium, and an Olympic standard swimming pool. The most anticipated sporting event at the university is the 24 hours traditional football contest amongst departments of MIPT, fondly dubbed as the ‘Match of the century’.

Phystech students, staff, and alumni actively participate in this 50-year long tradition that is one of the points of pride for the institution. In recent years, the university started the same event for swimming games called ‘Swimming of the century’.

At MIPT there are over 15 sports clubs and athletic activities such as Basketball, Water Polo, Table Tennis, Alpine Skiing, Mountain Climbing, Crossfit, Athletics, Yoga, Lawn Tennis, Fitness Aerobics, Football, Chess, Dancing, and many others. MIPT prioritizes its students' fitness and physical well-being as they contribute to healthy student life.

Food at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT)

Available on campus are several canteens and cafeteria that serve various meals to students and staff at different hours of the day. Students who take up residence in any of MIPT’s dormitories have access to the free canteen and buffet-style service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The university also has a break area where other external restaurant chains have taken up space serving a variety of fast food and continental meals to students. The price of feeding at the university costs about 30 RUB to 50  RUB per person depending on their food choices. 

Testimonials

About moscow.

Moscow is the capital and the largest city in Russia with a population of more than 12 million people located in the Moskva River in the west of the country. Moscow for Russians is the center of everything, and everything is centered here where all the headquarters of major Russian cooperations are located.

Moscow contributes the largest to the country’s economy both in industry and influence. Although the weather in Russia is believed to be quite severe, Moscow’s weather is milder than in other parts of the country. Moscow has the best university’s in Russia, one of which is the Moscow institute of physics and technology (MIPT).

Moscow enjoys a much higher standard of living compared to other cities and has one of the highest amounts of billionaires topping cities like London and Paris. Moscow is home to all the federal authorities of the country from federal to state levels and is heralded as a city of status.

Moscow also has the largest amount of English speakers and international residents that any other city in the country, the city is also very green with more green areas than New York or London.

The city center is a serene getaway with one of the largest parks where residents come to relax and unwind at the end of the day. The social life in Moscow is one of the best in the world, with a vast array of bars, pubs, and restaurants that serve all types of cuisine to suit most budgets. 

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Physics doctoral student earns award for space weather research

Tuesday, Apr 23, 2024 • Greg Pederson :

A doctoral student in physics at The University of Texas at Arlington received a top award at an international conference for his research about the effects of a solar eclipse on space weather.

Yu Hong earned an Outstanding Student Presentation Awards at the American Geophysics Union (AGU) 2023 Meeting in San Francisco in December. More than 25,000 participated in the competition, with only two percent of students receiving the OSPA distinction.

“I was surprised and excited to win, since this was my first time participating the AGU OSPA competition,” Hong said. “I've seen a lot of outstanding posters in the gallery and I knew it would be very competitive.”

Hong’s project was titled “Inter-Hemispheric Asymmetry (IHA) in the Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere System Due to the December 04, 2021 Solar Eclipse: MHD-GCM Coupled Simulations”. Its focus was on exploring the different responses of the northern and southern hemispheres — known as “inter-hemispheric asymmetry” — during the solar eclipse which occurred in Antarctica on December 4, 2021.

Hong’s co-authors include his faculty supervisor, Yue Deng, UTA professor of physics, as well as collaborators from the University of Michigan, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the University of Colorado Boulder, and the University of Newcastle in Australia.

“We aim to better integrate the modeling between the ionosphere and the magnetosphere, bridging two fields that have traditionally operated independently,” Hong said. “Using realistic ionospheric conductance will help us to understand the eclipse effect from Earth’s upper atmosphere to the magnetosphere.”

As stated in the project abstract, solar eclipses provide scientists with unique opportunities to investigate the geospace environment. Geospace is the region of space near Earth and includes the upper atmosphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere. The impact on Earth’s ionosphere-thermosphere (IT) system due to rapidly changing solar radiation is well understood, but the effects of eclipses on magnetosphere-ionosphere (MI) coupling dynamics by altering the conductivity has not been fully studied.

Through their research, Hong and his co-authors sought to help quantify the significance of inter-hemispheric asymmetries in the global IT system and their effects on the MI system to provide new insights into the magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere coupling process under extraordinary solar conditions.

During the April 8 total solar eclipse which was visible in the D-FW Metroplex, Hong was on the UTA campus working with students visiting from the University of Michigan. They used numerical models to predict the solar corona, which is the outermost part of the Sun's atmosphere and normally cannot be seen by the naked eye. The corona is visible during the short period of totality during a solar eclipse. The students used modeling tools from UM’s Space Weather Modeling Framework to study the whole Sun-to-Earth system.

The AGU award isn’t the first time Hong’s research has been honored. In 2022 he won first place in the poster competition at the international 2022 CEDAR (Coupling, Energetics and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions) Workshop. That same summer he was chosen for the highly selective Graduate Visitor Program at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Using radar and satellite data as well as the global ionosphere-thermosphere model (GITM) and the NCAR 3D-electrodynamo model, he studied low-latitude electrodynamics and the hemispherically asymmetric storm-time responses in the upper atmosphere. In addition, he was one of the 2020 recipients of the Outstanding Graduate Presentation Award from the Texas Section of the American Physical Society (APS).

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Lomonosov Moscow State University

Preparatory course (pre-university programme).

• Duration of study: March 2024 – July 2025.
• Holidays: July – August 2024.
• Start date: 1 March – 30 March 2024.
• Exams: June 2025.
• Tuition: $8900.
• The level of Russian: Beginner.
• Duration of study: September/October 2024 – July 2025.
• Start date: September – October.
• Tuition: $7000.
• The level of Russian: All levels.

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Twenty-three MIT faculty, five from Physics, honored as “Committed to Caring” for 2023-25

The honor recognizes professors for their outstanding mentorship of graduate students..

In the halls of MIT, a distinctive thread of compassion weaves through the fabric of education. As students adjust to a postpandemic normal, many professors have played a pivotal role by helping them navigate the realities of hybrid learning and a rapidly changing postgraduation landscape. 

The Committed to Caring (C2C) program at MIT is a student-driven initiative that celebrates faculty members who have served as exceptional mentors to graduate students. Twenty-three MIT professors have been selected as recipients of the C2C award for 2023-25, marking the most extensive cohort of honorees to date. These individuals join the ranks of 75 previous C2C honorees. 

The actions of these MIT faculty members over the past two years underscore their profound commitment to the well-being, growth, and success of their students. These educators go above and beyond their roles, demonstrating an unwavering dedication to mentorship, inclusion, and a holistic approach to student development. They aim to create a nurturing environment where students not only thrive academically, but also flourish personally. 

The following faculty members are the 2023-25 Committed to Caring honorees:

• Hamsa Balakrishnan, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Cynthia Breazeal, Media Lab
• Roberto Fernandez, MIT Sloan School of Management
• Nuh Gedik , Department of Physics
• Mariya Grinberg, Department of Political Science
• Ming Guo, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Myriam Heiman, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
• Rohit Karnik, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Erik Lin-Greenberg, Department of Political Science
• Michael McDonald , Department of Physics
• Emery Neal Brown, Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology
• Wanda Orlikowski, MIT Sloan School of Management
• Kenneth Oye, Department of Political Science
• Kristala Prather, Department of Chemical Engineering
• Zachary Seth Hartwig, Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering
• Tracy Slatyer , Department of Physics
• Iain Stewart , Department of Physics
• Andrew Vanderburg , Department of Physics
• Rodrigo Verdi, MIT Sloan School of Management
• Xiao Wang, Department of Chemistry
• Ariel White, Department of Political Science
• Nathan Wilmers, MIT Sloan School of Management
• Maria Yang, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Since the founding of the C2C program in 2014 by the Office of Graduate Education, the nomination process for honorees has centered on student involvement. Graduate students from all departments are invited to submit nomination letters detailing professors’ outstanding mentorship practices. A committee of graduate students and staff members then selects individuals who have shown genuine contributions to MIT’s vibrant academic community through student mentorship.

The selection committee this year included: Maria Carreira (Biology), Rima Das (Mechanical Engineering), Ahmet Gulek (Economics), Bishal Thapa (Biological Engineering), Katie Rotman (Architecture), Dóra Takács (Linguistics), Dan Korsun (Nuclear Science and Engineering), Leslie Langston (Student Mental Health and Counseling), Patricia Nesti (MIT-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), Beth Marois (Office of Graduate Education [OGE]), Sara Lazo (OGE), and Chair Suraiya Baluch (OGE).  

This year’s nomination letters highlighted unique stories of how students felt supported by professors. Students noted their mentors’ commitment to frequent meetings despite their own busy personal lives, as well as their dedication to ensuring equal access to opportunities for underrepresented and underserved students.

Some wrote about their advisors’ careful consideration of students’ needs alongside their own when faced with professional advancement opportunities; others appreciated their active support for students in the LGBTQ+ community. Lastly, students reflected on their advisors’ encouragement for open and constructive discourse around the graduate unionization vote, showing a genuine desire to hear about graduate issues.

Baluch shared, “Working with the amazing selection committee was the highlight of my work year. I was so impressed by the thoughtful consideration each nomination received. Selecting the next round of C2C nominees is always a heartwarming experience.” 

“As someone who aspires to be a faculty member someday,” noted Das, “being on the selection committee … was a phenomenal opportunity in understanding the breadth and depth of possibility in how to be a caring mentor in academia.”

She continued, “It was so heartening to hear the different ways that these faculty members are going above and beyond their explicit research and teaching duties and the amazing impact that has made on so many students’ well-being and ability to be successful in graduate school.” 

The Committed to Caring program continues to reinforce MIT’s culture of mentorship, inclusion, and collaboration by recognizing the contributions of outstanding professors. In the coming months, news articles will feature pairs of honorees, and a reception will be held in May.

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• MyU : For Students, Faculty, and Staff

Onrí Jay Benally receives 2024 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Doctoral student Onrí Jay Benally is a 2024 recipient of the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Benally is currently pursuing his doctoral research under the guidance of Distinguished McKnight Professor and Robert F. Hartmann chair Jian-Ping Wang exploring the world of quantum computing and spintronic devices. 

A Navaho (Diné) tribesman and carpenter, Benally comes to us from the mountains of Red Valley and Oak Springs, Arizona. After graduating from tribal high school, he found himself building off-road electric vehicles at a Utah State University lab led by Professors Curtiz Frazier and Jared Barrett. Two years later, in 2017, he transferred to the University of Minnesota and accepted a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) through the NSF-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at the University. During this time, he worked with Professor Vlad Pribiag (School of Physics and Astronomy) building nanoelectronic devices in the cleanroom for Majorana fermion research. The REU was Benally’s first brush with quantum technology exploration. He returned to the MRSEC REU in summer 2018 and this time he worked with Wang on micro and nanoscale magnetic tunnel junctions for classical computer memory and logic applications. He earned his bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies from the University in 2021. 

While Benally was working on his undergraduate degree, he earned an IBM certificate in quantum computation using Qiskit, and began hypothesizing how metallic-based spintronics and new architectures could be used to support the expansion of quantum supercomputing worldwide. The initial hypothesis motivated him to enter ECE’s doctoral program in fall 2022. 

Reflecting on his interest in quantum technology and his skills as a carpenter, Benally says, "Carpentry was my livelihood on the tribe before completing my undergraduate degree. It is a big part of who I am and has indirectly led to my success as a nanofabricator of spintronics and quantum chips." Benally shares that one of his first toys as a kid was a toy hammer. 

Benally’s research interests revolve around the engineering of quantum computing hardware and spintronic devices. An interdisciplinary area, his research involves the nanofabrication of ultrafast nanoscale magnetic tunnel junctions, cryogenic magnetic random-access memory (cryo-MRAM), and hybrid spintronic quantum processing units (QPUs), systems that can form scalable, sustainable quantum hardware architectures. Under the guidance of Wang, Benally designs and fabricates these systems at the Minnesota Nano Center at the University. Benally addressed these new developments in his keynote speech at the Arizona State University-led Quantum Collaborative Summit this past fall in San Antonio, Texas. Over the upcoming summer, Benally will be a graduate intern with IBM Research in Yorktown Heights, New York. As a quantum hardware engineer, he will be working on cutting edge cryogenic electronics for large-scale superconducting quantum computers.

Benally has accepted the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and feels honored to start delivering on his proposed ideas on supporting quantum supercomputing through spintronics and new architectures. 

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program helps “ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States.” Learn about the program and eligibility requirements.

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campus awards

Jim reardon wins wiscience lillian tong teaching award.

Each year, the University of Wisconsin–Madison recognizes outstanding academic staff members who have excelled in leadership, public service, research and teaching. These exceptional individuals bring the university’s mission to life and ensure that the Wisconsin Idea extends far beyond the campus and the state. Ten employees won awards this year , including Dr. Jim Reardon, Director of Undergraduate Program with the department of physics.

Jim Reardon’s love of running and his excellence as a physics instructor recently came together in the classroom in a big way with Physics 106: The Physics of Sports, a course he developed and now teaches. The new course applies physical principles to competitive sports, helping students better understand athletic performance. It’s proven exceptionally popular, attracting almost 140 students in only its third semester.

Reardon’s expertise at course development, his mastery at instruction and his exemplary support of teaching assistants have made him indispensable to the Physics Department. As director of the undergraduate program, he implemented standardized assessments in the department’s large introductory courses. This provided a baseline for successful course modifications and allowed nationwide peer assessment comparisons. As the administrator of the teaching assistant program, Reardon expertly matches the strengths of TAs with the needs of the department.

Reardon is no less valued in the classroom. Students routinely give him the highest of marks. Writes one, “I have never seen a professor or teacher work so effectively and patiently to ensure his students understood the information.”

“Jim is unique in his broad and ready grasp of the subject matter combined with a passion for teaching and making sure that ALL students have access to that subject matter.”

— Sharon Kahn, graduate program manager, Department of Physics

Engineering student studying flight physics of birds

Sameer pokhrel is working towards advancement in unmanned aerial vehicles.

After earning a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in Nepal, Sameer Pokhrel came to the United States to further his education. From an early age, he had a lifelong fascination with aviation. As an adult, he transformed this fascination into a career, pursuing a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati's historic program. Here, he has succeeded in research, instruction, and was named Graduate Student Engineer of the Month by the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Why did you choose UC? What drew you here?

Sameer Pokhrel is a doctoral candidate in aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati. Photo/provided

I chose the University of Cincinnati primarily because of its strong reputation in aerospace engineering and research.

From an early age, I was fascinated by airplanes and rockets. UC's esteemed reputation in the field of aerospace engineering made me feel like it was the perfect place for my graduate studies. Even though I didn't have the opportunity to visit campus before applying, hearing positive feedback about the university's facilities, resources, and faculty helped my decision.

UC offers the ideal environment for me to grow academically and is preparing me to thrive in my field. I'm glad I chose to be a Bearcat!

Why did you choose your field of study?

When I was young, I would often go plane spotting whenever possible. I remember I used to get very excited when I saw space exploration documentaries on TV.

Later, I realized I could turn this fascination into a career, so I chose mechanical engineering for my undergraduate degree. As aerospace engineering was not directly available at the time in Nepal, I chose it as my minor.

After completing my undergraduate studies, I worked as a design engineer on a fixed wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for medical delivery in the hilly region of Nepal. There, I realized my interest in dynamics and control, which led me to pursue a graduate degree in aerospace engineering, focusing on dynamics and control. 

Describe your research work. Why does it inspire you?

In my research, I focus on studying the application of unconventional control techniques in bio-inspired systems of UAVs. My work can be divided into two main parts: theoretical developments and applications. On the theoretical front, I work nonlinear control techniques, particularly Extremum Seeking Control, which is a model-free, adaptive control technique. I aim to develop tools to better analyze and improve the structures of such control systems for real-life applications. On the application front, I explore the flight physics of soaring birds, which fly long distances without flapping their wings. I investigate whether we can mimic the optimized flight of these birds in UAVs by examining the relationship between extremum seeking control and their flight patterns. 

What inspires me most about this research is the opportunity to push the boundaries of current literature and bridge the gap between theory and practice.

I'm driven by the prospect of developing novel control techniques that are versatile and less dependent on specific models. Furthermore, if we can replicate the dynamic soaring flight maneuver of birds, it could lead to substantial technological advancements in UAVs. Imagine the possibility of flying UAVs for hundreds of kilometers like soaring birds.

This perspective is truly miraculous and motivates me to continue exploring and innovating in this field. 

What are a few accomplishments of which you are most proud?

Academically, I'm proud to have published my research work in prestigious journals such as the SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics, the International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems, and Bioinspiration and Biomimetics.

I believe these publications have not only validated my research efforts but have also contributed to the academic community. Moreover, presenting my research at conferences like the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech, the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) Conference of Control and its Applications, and the SIAM Conference on Life Science was immensely beneficial. 

These experiences allowed me to share my work with peers and experts while simultaneously providing me with valuable learning and networking opportunities.

Additionally, participating in events like the Graduate Student Mathematical Modeling Camp and the Mathematical Problems in Industry Workshop 2023 helped me experience practical industry problems. The time I spent with bright minds during the brainstorming sessions is something I will never forget.

Also, I'd like to give a huge shoutout to the UC Piloting Club for providing me with a real flying experience by putting me in the co-pilot seat of a real airplane. All of these experiences have been instrumental and impactful in shaping my academic and personal journey during my time at the university. 

When do you expect to graduate? Do you have any other activities you'd like to share?

I expect to graduate in the summer of 2024 and hope to get experience in industry before returning to academia. I also love to travel and experience new things. Traveling provides the necessary break between projects and reenergizes me for my upcoming work. I also love watching and playing sports, especially soccer, which I play on a regular basis. 

Want to learn more?

Explore graduate programs at the College of Engineering and Applied Science. 

Featured image at top: UAV flying. Photo/pixabay

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• Student Experience
• Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics

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