PhD Program
Physics

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 astrophysics, 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 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 stipended graduate assistantships (teaching and research), full tuition toward degree requirements as well as coverage in NU’s student health plan (NUSHP).

  • 90 percent of department faculty have major research grants
  • Over 100 papers published annually
  • Approximately 100 enrolled PhD students
  • Highly competitive fellowships available to applicants
  • Associated institutes and centers include the Nanomedicine Innovation Center, Center for Complex Network Research (CCNR), Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Complex Systems (CIRCS) and the Quantum Materials Science Institute (QMSI). In addition, Physics faculty are an integral part of the Network Science Institute
  • The department is home to the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics (CTBP), which is one of nine National Science Foundation Physics Frontiers Centers. CTBP partner institutions include Northeastern, Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine and University of Houston.
  • Faculty are leading members of the National Science Foundation’s newly established Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions, which is a joint institute that spans MIT, Harvard, Tufts and Northeastern.

Our graduates pursue careers within academia and beyond.

  • National Institutes of Health
  • Quid
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Capital One
  • Pocketgem
  • Houston Rockets
  • Infor
  • Reactive Innovations, LLC
  • Athena Health
  • Smoothies Technologies Inc.
  • Gamelan Labs Inc.
  • Boston University
  • Genedata
  • 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
  • GRE Physics – recommended, but not required
  • Resume
  • Proof of English Proficiency for all applicants

Application

Priority deadline for completed applications: December 1st

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

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