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 in this publication.

Admission and Financial Support. Students should refer to the Higher Degrees in Chemistry portion of this 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 five half-courses.

      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 Physics 262 or Applied Physics 284.

C)  Applied Mathematics 201, 202;

      Chemistry 158;

      Applied Physics 195, 282, 292, 295a, 295b, 296r, 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 Committee.

2)   present and defend a research proposal in their second year of residence before a faculty committee following the same rules as those used for physical chemistry.

Rotations. Entering graduate students (G1s) are required to participate in a minimum of two rotations of eight weeks each, and are encouraged to conduct additional rotations. However, students may join a research group upon completion of the second eightweek rotation. 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 in the department.

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 Englishspeaking institution will have their English proficiency tested by Harvard’s Institute of English Language (IEL). Remedial work in English may be required of students whose proficiency is deemed inadequate.

 

Dissertation. The preparation of a satisfactory dissertation normally requires at least four years of full-time research. The instructor in charge of a student’s research 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.

Final Examination. A brief oral final examination is given on the subject of the dissertation and related topics.

Information regarding courses and programs of study in chemical physics may be obtained by writing to the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, or from the department’s Website, www.chem.harvard.edu. Information about admission and financial aid may be obtained by writing to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Holyoke Center, 3rd floor, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138. We encourage online submission of the application. See www.gsas.harvard.edu.

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

 

 
SEO by Artio