PhD in Physics

The Physics Department at SMU is looking for talented people who have a passion for physics and are prepared to seek a Ph.D. in frontiers such as particle physics and the search for dark matter. Our department provides an intellectually stimulating research environment where our graduate students can participate in and make substantive contributions to frontier research projects. The research projects provide opportunities to work in leading particle physics laboratories: CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, Fermilab near Chicago, and the Soudan Underground Laboratory in Minnesota.

We have an excellent faculty-student ratio, and an established history of training exceptional students; our recent Ph.D. graduates took prestigious postdoc positions with Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in California, Caltech, the Fermi National Laboratory, and the University of Barcelona in Spain. All of our experimental faculty members have federal support for their research, and this enables us to fund RA positions and allow students to travel to topical conferences and workshops.

Ph.D. Program

Students in the Ph.D. program benefit from small classes, accessible faculty and research staff, and a wide range of opportunities for research in the areas mentioned above. Many students begin research projects during their first year. All students in good standing receive teaching or research assistantships during the academic year, along with tuition waivers. Summer support is also available. Excellent applicants to the program may also be eligible for additional SMU Graduate Fellowships, which are university-wide competitive fellowship programs that augment the baseline departmental graduate stipend. The department can nominate up to two applicants per year for this competitive fellowship, and we act based on candidates whose applications are received by the priority deadline.

Students typically receive support for work as teaching assistants during their first two years, and, after successful completion of the Ph.D. core proficiency examination, research support until completion of their thesis and degree.