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The degree of doctor of philosophy in chemical physics was established to meet the needs of students wishing to prepare them­selves for the study of chemical problems by the methods and theories of modern physics. The Committee on the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Physics is composed of members of the Departments of Chem­istry and Chemical Biology, Physics, and Astronomy, and of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, with special interests in the field commonly known as chemical physics. The program of study includes courses in these subjects, and research on an appropriate problem under the direction of a member of one of these departments.

In general, candidates have access to the facilities and are eligible for the fellowships and scholarships of these departments. For further information, consult Higher Degrees in Chemistry and Higher Degrees in Physics.

Admission

Applications for admission to study for the PhD degree in chemical physics are accepted from students who have received the bachelor’s degree or have had equivalent preparation. These applications should be initiated during the fall of the year preceding the September when admission is desired. Normally, students are admitted only for September.

Applicants must take the GRE general and chemistry examinations. These must be taken no later than November of the year prior to admission and preferably earlier so that score reports arrive by the December applica­tion deadline. TOEFL is required of all foreign applicants other than those whose native language is English.

We encourage prospective students to submit their applications online whenever possible at the website. We also ask the student’s recommenders to submit their letters online whenever possible.

Financial Support

Students should refer to the Higher Degrees in Chemistry supplement. 

Master of Arts (AM)

No master’s degree is offered in chemical physics. However, a prospective candidate for the doctoral degree in this subject may apply to the Department of either Chemistry and Chemical Biology or Physics for the AM degree in the corresponding subject. The requirements for the AM degree in either Chemistry or Physics are described in the GSAS Handbook under the Chemistry and Chemical Biology or Physics sections. 

Requirements for the PhD

Prerequisites for Admission. A sufficient prep­aration in intermediate physical chemistry, physics, and mathematics. The GRE General Examination is required, as is the subject exam, in either chemistry or physics.

Qualifying Requirements. Students in the Program for the PhD in Chemical Physics are required to: 

1) pass fi ve half-courses with average grades of B or higher. Grades of B- will count as a pass if balanced by a B+ or better on a one-for-one basis.

There are two tracks:

Either one course from A), one course from B), and three courses from C);
or
two courses from A), one course from B), and two courses from C).

A) Chemistry 242; or Physics 251a, 251b.
B) Chemistry 161 or 240; or Physics 262 or Applied Physics 284.
C) Applied Mathematics 201, 202; Chemistry 158; Applied Physics 195, 282, 292, 295a, 295b, and 298r; Physics 151, 153, 181 (or Eng. Sci. 181), 218, 232, 253a, 253b, and 268r.

Equivalent courses may be substituted with the approval of the chemical physics committee.

2) present and defend a research proposal in All entering graduate students (G1s) are required to take “Chemistry 299hf. Scientific Teaching and Communication: Practicum” in their first year. This course will teach graduate students how to communicate scientific concepts in the classroom.

In addition to taking Chemistry 299hf, all first-year chemical physics graduate students are required to take “Chemistry 300P. Physical Chemistry Seminar” in their first year.

Rotations. Entering graduate students (G1s) are required to participate in three 4-week rotations in different laboratories, OR they may conduct one 8-week and one 4-week rotation in two different laboratories. The goal of the rotations is to broaden a student’s scientific perspective by exposing him or her to the science and environment of different laboratories.

Advising. At the end of their first year, students are expected to constitute their Grad­uate Advising Committee (GAC) in accor­dance with GAC guidelines. The GAC meets yearly, beginning in the student’s second year of residence, to assess research progress and discuss future plans. Students are expected to present and defend an independent proposal anytime between the beginning of their second year and the end of their fourth year in the presence of the GAC (including their advisor). In addition, they will have meetings with the GAC in the first semester of their second year, and anytime in the third and fourth years. The independent proposal meeting will serve as one of the three required meetings for their G2, G3, and G4 years. Students may have a voluntary meeting in their G5 year and, if necessary, a mandatory meeting with their GAC in their G6 year. The objective of these meetings is to bring focus to the timely completion of the degree requirements, to foster (non-advisor) faculty-student interac­tions, and to provide career counseling.

Oral Examinations. Students are expected to present and defend a research proposal anytime between the beginning of the second year and the end of the fourth year. The presentation will be before a faculty committee in accordance with the Graduate Advising Committee guidelines. Addition­ally, all students are expected to provide a public presentation of their Ph.D. research as part of their program requirements. The dissertation defense will be comprised of two parts: 1) a public presentation of the student’s Ph.D. research to which members of the CCB community will be invited, followed by 2) the private Ph.D. dissertation defense before the Dissertation Defense Committee (generally the GAC). 

Teaching. Students are expected to teach in the spring term of their first year and one term of their second year based on teaching needs. With his or her advisor’s concurrence, a student may teach in subsequent years.

Continuance. Continuation in the degree program is contingent on the following: satis­factory completion of required coursework, (2) successful presentation and defense of a research proposal in accordance with policy set by the Graduate Advising Committee (GAC), (3) admission to a research group during the second term in residence, unless extension of time has been approved by the director of graduate studies, and (4) satisfactory progress in 300-level research courses.

Dissertation. The PhD dissertation is based on independent scholarly research, which, upon conclusion, is defended in an oral exami­nation before a PhD committee made up of the student’s advisor and at least two other readers. One of the readers must be a faculty member of the department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology (generally the advisor). Two members of the committee must be members of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Faculty members from other schools at Harvard who hold appointments on GSAS degree commit­tees as well as FAS emeriti and research profes­sors may serve as members of the dissertation committee. Faculty of institutions outside of Harvard may serve as a member of the disser­tation committee providing the requirement of two readers from FAS (one being a CCB faculty member; generally the advisor) is met. The preparation of a satisfactory dissertation normally requires at least four years of full-time research. The student’s advisor decides when the work has progressed to a point justifying the presentation of a dissertation. The final manuscript must conform to the requirements described in The Form of the PhD Dissertation. 

PhD in Chemical Physics

Selected PhD Dissertation Titles

Carl Barrelet, “Semiconductor Nanowires: From Photonic Devices to Photonic Circuits”

Patrick Charbonneau, “Problems in Super Cooled Liquids and Gels: Simulation and Theory of Dynamical Heterogeneities, Rheology, and Phase Diagrams”

Dick Tung Pall Co, “Development of a Laser-Induced Fluorescence Instrument for the in situ Atmospheric Measurements of Iodine Monoxide”

Param Dhillon, “Slow Dynamics and Aging in Metastable Systems”

Michinao Hashimoto, “Generation and Applications of Bubbles and Droplets in Microfluidic Systems”

Julius Lucks, “Biophysics of Polynucleotide Unzipping, Viral Codon Usage, and Crystal­line Defects”

Christopher Roland, “Barriers in Sequence and Mechanical Configuration-Space”

Jie Xiang, “Semiconductor Nanowires and Nanowire Heterostructures: Fundamental Transport Phenomena and Application in Nanoelectronics”