The Physics Ph.D. program provides students with opportunities to perform independent research in some of the most current vital areas of physics.
Students will develop a solid and broad base of physics knowledge through our core curriculum, departmental colloquia and training. They conduct research in astrophysics and cosmology and in high energy, condensed matter and biological physics that is interdisciplinary and international in scope. Our graduate students train with 30 physics professors and 12 joint and affiliated faculty, primarily in engineering, applied mathematics, biology, and chemistry. Multidisciplinary inquiry is encouraged. The academic program is rigorous yet flexible, combining strong core training with multiple options for more specialized studies. We foster a strong sense of community not always found in larger departments. Brown's affiliations provide national and international research opportunities. Easy access to seminars and courses of the greater Boston area universities enriches our intellectual life.
Upper-level courses and departmental seminar series subsequently provide more specialized exposure. Armed with the core knowledge, a graduate student joins a research group working in an area of particular interest. This research is performed in very close collaboration with one or more of our faculty, whose interests span a wide range of physics fields.