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The Applied Physics program merges fundamental physics education with specialized research, focusing on practical applications across scientific and engineering disciplines. Students can explore diverse research domains such as nanotechnology, innovative materials, condensed matter physics, sustainable energy solutions, quantum computing and photonics, biophysics, astrophysics, and plasma physics. The Ph.D. program in Applied Physics (AP) offers a customizable, research-driven doctoral path aligned with each student's academic goals. AP integrates core physics coursework with specialized study, typically in one of the aforementioned fields. Doctoral candidates participate in interdisciplinary research, applying their physics expertise in collaborative settings. Rather than a comprehensive exam, the program emphasizes coursework in essential physics topics like quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, statistical mechanics, and advanced experimental methods.
The Applied Physics Ph.D. program is designed as an individualized, research-focused doctoral track. It blends foundational physics training with specialized investigation in fields that bridge physics with technological applications or other scientific disciplines. The program welcomes applicants with undergraduate degrees in physics, related physical sciences (such as chemistry), or engineering fields.
Biophysicists examine living systems through the lens of physical principles, employing physics-based approaches to decipher biological structures and functions. Cutting-edge research on fundamental biological mechanisms and medical diagnostics is expanding the boundaries of physics. Numerous faculty within the Applied Physics program lead active biophysics research initiatives and maintain strong teaching programs in this area. These research teams foster cross-disciplinary partnerships with Cornell faculty across campuses, including Weill Cornell Medical College, as well as with international collaborators.