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The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in physics equips students for diverse scientific careers. Participants gain essential expertise to pursue advanced roles in scientific innovation or education, leading to opportunities in academic, governmental, and private sector research and development.
The department provides research options in theoretical, experimental, and computational astronomy/astrophysics, biophysics, and condensed matter/materials physics. Doctoral candidates collaborate with faculty mentors to design a customized study plan, culminating in a dissertation defense featuring original, publication-worthy research.
This research focuses on stellar mass loss phenomena. Our broader investigations include:
stellar evolution, particularly late-stage transitions from red giants to planetary nebulae,
astropaleontology, examining astronomical history through circumstellar material analysis,
radiation transfer in dusty cosmic environments,
infrared observations of dusty media,
and astromineralogy, studying the formation and composition of interstellar and circumstellar dust.
Our team employs numerous global observatories, both space-based (like Hubble) and terrestrial (including Mauna Kea and European Southern Observatory facilities).