princeton applied physics phd

Applied Physics

Lasers are important as diagnostic tools  and in instruments whose use spans a spectrum from materials fabrication to medical applications. The underlying physics is applied to diverse areas such as advanced propulsion systems, X-ray generation, and understanding the properties of complex materials and fluids. This area includes laser technology and applications; X-ray lasers; flow field and combustion diagnostics; multiphoton processes and nonlinear optics; high-energy lasers; atomic and molecular spectroscopy; molecular dynamics; plasmadynamics; high field phenomena; controlled laser-driven molecular and acoustic processes; picosecond and subpicosecond sources; high-energy incoherent source development; advanced spacecraft propulsion; space plasma physics; active space experiments; electric discharge and radiation studies.

Craig Arnold

Emily A. Carter

Edgar Choueiri

Alexander Glaser

Egemen Kolemen

Julia M. Mikhailova

Richard Miles

Aditya Sood

Szymon Suckewer

Princeton University

Princeton engineering, princeton introduces a ph.d. program at intersection of quantum physics and information theory.

November 13, 2023

Princeton University has launched a new Ph.D. program in Quantum Science and Engineering , providing graduate training in an emerging discipline at the intersection of quantum physics and information theory.

This new field of quantum information science may enable fundamentally new technology, including new types of computers that can solve currently intractable problems, communication channels guaranteed secure by the laws of physics, and sensors that offer unprecedented sensitivity and spatial resolution.

Applications from prospective students are due December 15 for an incoming first class in Fall 2024. 

The new doctoral program is part of Princeton’s expanded commitment to quantum science and engineering research and education. The University’s growing programs, along with the ongoing recruitment of top faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, reflect the University’s recognition of the transformative potential of quantum science and technology to benefit society in the decades ahead.

According to Andrew Houck, professor of electrical and computer engineering and co-director of the Princeton Q uantum I nitiative , Princeton is “ramping up efforts across campus to remain the leading place in the world for this kind of science and engineering for many decades.”  Ali Yazdani, the Class of 1909 Professor of Physics and co-director alongside Houck, adds that Princeton’s work in this area stands apart from quantum research at other institutions due to the University’s inclusive approach across disciplines and across the spectrum from foundational science to innovative devices. 

 “A major goal of the program is to form a graduate student community spanning disciplines and research topics, and united by a common scientific language,” according to Nathalie de Leon, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and the director of graduate studies for quantum science and engineering. “Our curriculum will place students in an excellent position to build new quantum systems, discover new technological innovations, become leaders in the emergent quantum industry, and make deep, lasting contributions to quantum information science.”

De Leon says the new quantum science and engineering doctoral program is structured to take advantage of the unique interdisciplinary breadth of Princeton’s quantum community. “Research at Princeton encompasses every layer of the quantum technology stack, bringing together many-body physics, materials, devices, new quantum hardware platforms, quantum information theory, metrology, algorithms, complexity theory, and computer architecture,” explains de Leon. “This vibrant environment allows for rapid progress at the frontiers of quantum science and technology, with cross-pollination among quantum platforms and approaches.”

The initiative also benefits from a growing number of collaborations with scientists at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory managed by Princeton; the collaborative work includes designing highly specialized materials such as diamonds and superconducting magnets needed for quantum experiments and technologies.

De Leon adds, “The quantum faculty at Princeton value interdisciplinarity, collaboration, depth, and fostering a close-knit community that enables fundamental and significant advances.”

The new doctoral program will provide students with a strong foundation of fundamentals, as well as opportunities to explore the frontiers of current research, instruction on reading and understanding literature over an extensive range of topics, and many opportunities for scientific interaction and professional development. 

Princeton University’s stipend for graduate students is among the highest in the nation. The University fully funds all Ph.D. students, offering generous tailored support across all years of regular program enrollment. The graduate student experience at Princeton encompasses campus housing, a health plan and benefits, family care assistance, and a wide range of student life programs and traditions that welcome all to participate in the diverse and inclusive Graduate School community.

Prospective students are encouraged to review the degree program requirements and indicate on the application their interest in the broad research areas of quantum systems experiment, quantum systems theory, quantum material science, or quantum computer science. 

Related News

Engineers use AI to wrangle fusion power for the grid

Celebrating Black History Month: Computer vision to reconstruct lost history, and chemistry as ‘a beacon of hope’

Three faculty members named Sloan Research Fellows

Princeton researchers, industry leaders drive new era of innovation in wireless and networking technologies

Justice Department designates Mayer to serve as first chief science and technology adviser and chief AI officer

Quantum engineering expert Stephen Lyon wins Schowalter Award

Nathalie de Leon

Quantum Engineering

Related departments.

Computer Science

Electrical and Computer Engineering

• Seminars & Events -
• Directions -
• IT Support -
• Search for:
• Catalysis / Synthesis
• Chemical Biology
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Spectroscopy / Physical Chemistry
• Theoretical Chemistry
• Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment
• Princeton Institute for Computational Science and Engineering
• Princeton Materials Institute
• Princeton Catalysis Initiative
• Research Facilities Overview
• Biophysics Core Facility
• Crystallography
• Merck Catalysis Center
• NMR Facility
• Mass Spectrometry
• Other Spectroscopy
• Small Molecule Screening Center
• Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy
• Industrial Associates Program
• Libraries & Computing
• Frick Chemistry Laboratory
• Administration & Staff
• Business & Grants Office
• Frick Event Guidelines
• Faculty & Academic Jobs
• Seminars & Events
• Postdocs Overview
• New Postdocs
• Family-Friendly Initiatives
• Graduate Program Overview
• Academic Program
• Campus Life
• Living in Princeton
• Graduate News
• Undergraduate Overview
• Summer Undergrad Research Fellows in Chemistry
• Other Summer Research Opportunities
• Outside Course Approval
• PU Chemical Society
• Our Commitment
• Resources and Reporting
• Visiting Faculty Research Partnership
• Join the Department

New lecturers in chemistry, math, physics help make the difference in foundational courses

Sitting in the front row of a General Chemistry class at McCosh last fall, tracking questions and taking notes as earnestly as any undergraduate, Ana Mostafavi was a reassuring fixture in one of the University’s biggest courses.

Her lecture hall presence as support and adviser was no accident. She is part of a bold new program called the Lecturer Corps.

Conceptualized by the Office of the Dean of the College , the program puts highly credentialed master teachers front-and-center in the University’s foundational STEM courses. While enrollment in these courses is surging among undergraduates, many arrive on campus with different levels of preparation that can make classwork more arduous than it needs to be.

With six new lecturers across chemistry, physics, and math, the Corps meets students where they are.

“I’ve taught at five different institutions throughout my educational career, and I’ve seen how they value teaching not just in their missions but in the programs they offer. In other words, where they put their money,” said Mostafavi, a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry. “Princeton does it better than anyone.

“Having the administration recognize this kind of need is quite significant. They’ve hired us to help students succeed,” said Mostafavi. “Our positions provide more resources to support students who may find the courses less accessible. We’re able to think critically about what the issues are and develop solutions to enrich student learning . ”

  Over multiple hours and on multiple days, these lecturers hold problem-solving precepts, lead sessions on foundational concepts, offer guidance on course sequences, work with the faculty, and generate new resources that students—many of whom must take these classes as prerequisites for other concentrations—use to bolster their grasp of the coursework.

Deputy Dean of the College Elizabeth Colagiuri.

Elizabeth Colagiuri , deputy dean of the college, said the program emphasizes pedagogy and curricular interventions. Undergraduates frequently change their majors: the College wants to make sure that’s because they’ve found something more appealing, not because the coursework has derailed them.

“We’ve been looking for ways to build out the on-ramps into STEM for students who may be coming to Princeton with less preparation. How do we create better and potentially longer on-ramps for students who may need that? How do we invest in good teaching and pedagogy to really figure out what is needed?” said Colagiuri.

“Math, physics, chemistry: these are subjects that many, many students at Princeton take because they are prerequisites for a whole lot of things you might major in at Princeton. If a student can’t get the foundational coursework done, then it’s hard to keep going into the other things they need to do.”

A flexible corps

By design, each of the three departments has the freedom to deploy lecturers as they see fit so that the pedagogy follows real-time needs.

Lecturers in the Department of Physics , for example, are focusing on a series of hallowed student learning guides that are outdated and need some judicious editing, as well as a summer course designed by a professor to provide an alternative, three-semester pathway for students who may need more time to develop their skills in the introductory physics sequence, said lecturer Katharine Moran , who works alongside lecturer Grace Bosse .

“This provides a useful experience intended to get them back on track without having to retake a whole year of physics,” said Moran. “[Another] component that is noticeably lacking is any initial assessment of a student’s prior knowledge when coming into these courses. More meaningful assessments throughout the semester would determine the current ‘width’ of the on-ramp and where the limiting factors are.”

David Villalobos is a lecturer in the   Department of Mathematics along with John Sheridan . They’ve created a series of self-placement workshops to help students identify where they fall in the hierarchy of essential skills.

“Many students come in with different math backgrounds, yet simultaneously want to get their major’s math requirement out of the way as soon as possible,” said Villalobos. “This has led to our amped-up advising presence for the first couple of weeks of the semester.”

Corey Clapp finishing up with a chemistry class at Taylor Auditorium in Frick Lab.

In addition, he said, the department has extended the ability for students to move between classes until the fourth week of the semester. This reshuffling option can help land people where they need to be.

Beyond that, the biggest factor in student success is time during the semester, so summer classes are proving especially beneficial.

“Many students who struggle with our classes in the academic year suddenly turn things around and do very well in the summer,” said Villalobos. “Still, we are exploring ways to make our summer classes more appealing, making them six rather than nine weeks long this year so students can pursue other activities.”

‘More attention’ in chemistry 

It was during his postdoc work in chemistry at Harvard University that Corey Clapp really started thinking about how science education can enrich individual lives, even for those who don’t plan to stay in a STEM field.

That thinking guides his work today as a lecturer in chemistry.

“Education is the primary means through which we realize our vision for society, whatever that might happen to be,” said Clapp. “The best of the American ideals of an egalitarian reality will only happen through a quality education for everybody.

“We’re all working with the same students. They’re highly motivated but they have heterogeneous backgrounds, and that’s our biggest shared problem. Seeing different perspectives and how different departments have taken other approaches really benefits us in trying to figure out the reasonable next step to get students where they need to be.”

Professor of Chemistry Michael Hecht said the addition of the lecturers gives him more latitude to do what he does best: teaching.

“It allows me to give more attention to the lectures and the course as a whole because I had Ana’s assistance. She was keeping an eye on things. On many of the details, she was mentoring, she was precepting, she was helping to organize and write the exams,” said Hecht.

“It freed me up to do a lot more connecting with students in the big lectures. Princeton has the resources for these kinds of programs, and it helps. And that’s a good thing, right?”

• Request Info
• Admissions Overview
• Visit UMass Boston
• Financial Aid
• First-Year Students
• Transfer Students
• Graduate Students
• International Students
• Academics Overview
• Majors & Programs
• Online Learning
• Colleges & Schools
• Academic Calendar
• Healey Library
• Student Equity, Access & Success
• Global Programs
• Study Abroad
• Fellowships
• Campus Life Overview
• Student Groups & Activities
• Housing & Dining
• Health & Wellness
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Safety & Security
• Orientation & New Students
• Research Overview
• Community-Driven Research
• Recognizing Excellence
• Student Research
• Centers & Institutes
• Core Facilities
• Research & Sponsored Programs
• About Overview
• Leadership & Administration
• Mission & Vision
• Facts & Figures
• Accreditation & Rankings
• History of UMass Boston
• Student Consumer Information
• Athletics Overview
• Recreation at UMass Boston
• Current Students
• Parents & Families
• Faculty & Staff

UMass Boston

• Applied Physics PhD

Pursue the highest level of academic expertise in applied physics.

UMass Boston's Applied Physics PhD program is for current UMass Boston Applied Physics master's students who want to earn a PhD. Since the early 1980s, long before it became fashionable, UMass Boston's Physics Department has offered a terminal master's degree in applied physics. Because of the match between the skills taught in that program and the needs of employers in the technology sector of the economy, the MS program has grown to become one of the largest and most successful terminal master's programs in the country. Over the last couple of decades, the research profile of the UMass Boston Physics Department has developed to the point where it became desirable to include the option of continuing on to a PhD for some of our master's students.

Because of this history, the Applied Physics PhD has a structure that is distinct from other programs.   All students must apply to the   Applied Physics MS program , even if they already have a master's degree.   Students who already hold a master's degree may receive transfer credits for some of their previous coursework.

Where it makes sense to extend from a master's thesis into a doctoral dissertation, students in the master's program who develop a research relationship with a faculty member are transferred into the PhD upon successful completion of a portion of the Qualifying Exam. In rare cases, where a student enters with an existing relationship with a faculty member, and where they have sufficiently strong preparation to pass qualifiers upon entrance into the master's program, those students will be advanced into the PhD after their first semester.

Plan Your Education

How to apply.

Students who enroll in the Applied Physics MS program may, upon completion of MS degree requirements, potentially transition to the PhD program upon successful completion of PhD qualifying exams. External applicants who already hold an equivalent MS degree and are interested in applying directly to the PhD program are encouraged to contact the program.

Deadlines & Cost

All students must apply to the Applied Physics MS program , even if they already have a master's degree. Students who already hold a master's degree may receive transfer credits for some of their previous coursework.

Course Requirements

Core courses (16 credits).

Complete the courses below if not already taken as part of the MS degree.

Courses may be waived if the student passes the corresponding examination section prior to enrolling in the course.

• PHYSIC 611 - Theory of Classical Mechanics and Fluid Mechanics 4 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 612 - Electromagnetic Theory 4 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 613 - Quantum Mechanics, Atomic, and Molecular Physics 4 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 614 - Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics 4 Credit(s)

Electives (32 Credits)

Complete eight from below.

Courses already completed for the MS may be applied toward this requirement.

• PHYSIC 600 - Electronic Instrumentation I: Analog 4 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 601 - Electronic Instrumentation II: Digital 4 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 602 - Laser Optics Laboratory 4 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 607 - Experiments in Squishy Physics 4 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 610 - Topics in Medical Imaging 4 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 616 - Mathematical Methods for Physicists 4 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 623 - Quantum Mechanics: Scattering and Many-Body Physics 4 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 632 - Advanced Laser Optics (with Lab) 4 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 635 - Physics on the Back of an Envelope (Estimation in Physics) 4 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 638 - Quantum Measurement Theory 4 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 645 - Cancer Biophysics 4 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 662 - Computational Science 4 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 680 - Readings in Physics 3-6 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 690 - Projects in Physics 3-6 Credit(s)
• PHYSIC 697 - Special Topics in Applied Physics 1-8 Credit(s)

Dissertation (24 Credits)

• PHYSIC 899 - Doctoral Dissertation Research 1-15 Credit(s)

Graduation Criteria

Complete 72 credits from 18 courses, including four core courses, eight electives, and 24 credits of dissertation courses.

Doctoral candidacy: Completion of the foundational and lab courses of the MS program and passage of written comprehensive examinations and an oral candidacy examination. Dissertation: Compose and defend a dissertation based on independent experimental or theoretical research. For students who have already published at least one peer reviewed article in a high impact journal, their published work may be used in place of a dissertation at the discretion of the committee and graduate program director, though an oral defense is still required.

Statute of limitations: Eight years.

Graduate Program Director Jonathan Celli jonathan.celli [at] umb.edu (617) 287-5715

Administrative Manager Moriah Roache moriah.roache [at] umb.edu (617) 287-6092

Department of Physics

Learn more about UMass Boston's Physics department, our research, and our faculty.

College of Science & Mathematics

Learn more about the faculty, research, and programs that make up our College of Science and Mathematics.