Chemical Physics

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 (or physics) 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.

Prospective students should submit their applications online. To apply to the Chemical Physics program, please select Chemistry and Chemical Biology in the drop down box in the Preliminary Questions section of the online application. You will be able to select Chemical Physics as a subject within Chemistry and Chemical Biology. Please note: Chemical Physics is a separate and distinct program from Chemistry and Chemical Biology. Applicants selecting Chemical Physics and admitted to the Chemical Physics program will receive a PhD in Chemical Physics.

Application must be submitted online.

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 pass five 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:

1) Either one course from A), one course from B), and three courses from C);

2) 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, 296r, 298r; Physics 151, 153, 181 (or Eng. Sci. 181), 218, 232a, 232b, 253a, 253b, 268r.

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

All entering graduate students (G1s) are required to take “Chemistry 301hf. Scientfic Teaching and Communication: Practicum” in their first year. This course will teach graduate students how to communicate scientific concepts in the classroom.

During CCB Orientation Week, each entering student meets with an assigned member of the Curriculum Advising Committee (CAC) to formulate a Plan of Study (course selections). The CAC advises students on their academic plans, approves required courses, and assists in decisions related to the PhD program. Any changes to the original Plan of Study must be discussed with and approved by a member of the CAC.

Students normally satisfy the letter-graded course requirements in the first two years of
graduate studies.

Admission to a research group is strongly encouraged at the start of or during the student's second term. All students should enter a research group by June 30 of their first year.

Rotations

Entering graduate students 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

All students should enter a research group by June 30 of their first year. Once a student joins a research group, the faculty member of that group becomes the student's advisor. If a student subsequently finds that another area of research more closely matches his or her interests, the student should consult with the director of graduate studies.

At the end of their first year, students are expected to constitute, in consultation with the director of graduate studies, their Graduate Advising Committee (GAC). The GAC consists of the student's advisor and two other faculty members, one of whom must be a CCB faculty member. The committee meets yearly, beginning in the student's second year, to assess research progress. Students are expected to present and defend an independent proposal anytime between the second term of their second year and the end of their fourth year in the presence of the GAC. In addition, they will have meetings with the GAC in the second term of their second year, and by June 30 of their third and fourth years. The independent proposal defense will serve as one of these three required meetings. Students may have a voluntary meeting in their fifth year and, if necessary, a mandatory meeting in their six year. The objective of these meetings is to bring focus to the timely completion of the degree requirements, to foster (nonadvisor) faculty-student interactions, and to provide career counseling.

Students are encouraged to consult with the director of graduate studies on any issues that affect graduate student life.

Oral Examinations

Students are expected to present and defend a research proposal anytime between the second term 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.

Language

A thorough command of oral and written English is required. Incoming PhD students who are non-native speakers of English and who have not received their undergraduate degree from an English speaking institution will have their English proficiency tested by the Institute of English Language (IEL). Students who are not deemed proficient will be required to take courses at the IEL to develop their English language skills as part of their preparation for teaching and their professional development. Students will not be allowed to teach until they are deemed proficient.

Teaching

It is expected that all students will participate in teaching sections or laboratory for two terms. Most students teach in the spring term of their first year and the fall term of their second year. 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: (1) 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 preparation of a satisfactory dissertation normally requires at least four years of full-time research. The final manuscript must conform to the requirements described in the booklet The Form of the PhD Dissertation, included in the dissertation preparation packet of procedural and deadline information that may be obtained from the CCB department office.

All students are expected to provide a public presentation of their PhD research. The dissertation defense will be comprised of two parts: 1) a public presentation of the student’s PhD research to which members of the CCB community will be invited, followed by 2) the private PhD dissertation defense before the dissertation defense committee (generally the GAC). One of the readers must be a faculty member of the department of Chemistry and 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.

PhD in Chemical Physics

Selected PhD Dissertation Titles

Nathalie de Leon Snapp, "Quantum Plasmonic Circuit Elements" (Park Group)

Michinao Hashimoto, "Generation and Applications of Bubbles and Droplets in Microfluidic Systems" (Whitesides Group)

Brian Landry, "Semiclassical Methods for Many-Body Systems" (Heller Group)

Alejandro Perdomo, "Designing and Probing Open Quantum Systems: Quantum Annealing, Excitonic Energy Transfer, and Nonlinear Fluorescence Spectroscopy" (Aspuru-Guzik Group)

Alexander Shalek, "Nano- and Microstructured Interfaces for Interrogating Living Cells" (Park Group)

Sangwoo Shim, "Quantum Dynamics in Biological Systems" (Aspuru-Guzik Group)

Jie Xiang, "Semiconductor Nanowires and Nanowire Heterostructures: Fundamental Transport Phenomena and Application in Nanoelectronics" (Lieber Group)