The PhD Program in Theoretical Physics

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The Department of Physics offers a new doctoral program in Theoretical Physics will start as of 2008.
The educational objectives of the new program are:
• to provide an advanced training in physics
• to develop experience in independent fundamental research

The program provides students with opportunities to perform independent research in some of the most current vital areas of physics. The relatively small size of the department allows for close student-faculty interaction and individually-guided research and study.


	Admission Requirements

	The applicant must hold a BS or MS degree in physics. Admission is determined on a competitive basis by evaluating the following: • Academic transcript • Three letters of recommendation • GRE test results (general + subject) • TOEFL score if applicable • Interview that may be requested by the Department The application procedure and the deadlines are set by the Admissions Office.


	Program Completion

	• Completing of the course program of a minimum 27 credits beyond the BS level with a cumulative grade 85 or above • Passing a Comprehensive examination • Defense of a PhD thesis based on independent original research. Publication or acceptance of a research paper in an international refereed journal is required


	Financial Support

	Graduate assistantships covering the tuition fees and stipend of $800 per month are awarded upon admission to the PhD program. In return, students are expected to help in teaching undergraduate labs and recitations of introductory courses.


	Faculty Research Directions

	Khalil Bitar, PhD YaleUniversity: Theoretical high-energy physics, lattice gauge theories Ali Chamseddine, PhD London University Imperial College Supergravity, supersymmetry, non-commutative geometry Mounib El-Eid, PhD Darmstadt University Theoretical astrophysics, star evolution and nucleosynthesis Samih Isber, PhD University of Montpellier Experimental solid state physics, magnetism and superconductivity in thin films Leonid Klushin, PhD Polymer Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences. Theoretical soft matter physics, phase transitions in macromolecules Dimitry Polyakov, PhD Rutgers University String theory, stochastic quantum field theory Wafic Sabra, PhD London University Queen Mary College Black hole physics Malek Tabbal, PhD École Polytechnique, Montréal Experimental thin film and plasma physics Jihad Touma, PhD MIT Theoretical astrophysics, non-linear dynamics of self-gravitating systems The PhD program will initially cover only theoretical directions of research. Experimental fields are to be included in the PhD program at a later stage. Current MS program includes theoretical as well as experimental directions of research.


	Facilities

	• Up-to-date library facilities includeing electronic access to journals • Computational Physics lab with a local cluster • High-performance computing cluster at the Center for Advanced Mathematical Sciences The PhD program in Theoretical Physics is supported by the Center for Advanced Mathematical Sciences at AUB, a premiere center of excellence for research in the mathematical sciences in the Middle East. The activities of the Center include organizing conferences, seminars and workshops, hosting international scholars and promoting regional and international cooperation.


	Library Resources and Services

	Students will have access to the University Libraries print and virtual collections. Jafet Library, the main library, is centrally located on campus, and has branch libraries in engineering, architecture, the pure and agricultural sciences. Its total holdings include over 600,000 volumes and a print journal collection of around 2500 titles and approximately 22,000 titles within electronic databases. The books and journals cover topics such as nuclear physics, quantum field theory, lattice theory, particles, cosmology, nuclear astrophysics, and chaotic behavior in systems, etc. Of the virtual resources, the University Libraries subscribe to the following databases, among others: APS Online Package, AIP Online Package, IOP Online Package, Inspec, and Scopus, as well as to eBook packages: Lecture Notes in Physics, Safari Technical Books. Subscriptions also include four major multidisciplinary online journal packages: Elsevier Science Direct, Blackwell Synergy, Kluwer /Springer Link and Wiley. The services of the University Libraries include an active program of enrichment to support PhD programs, research assistance offered in classes and on an individual basis and Document Delivery Services for material not available in the collections. http://staff.aub.edu.lb/~webjafet/

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Last updated: 11/15/2007
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