undergraduate physics thesis

Department of Physics

Senior Theses

The senior thesis is the capstone of the physics major and an opportunity for intellectual exploration broader than courses can afford. It is an effort that spans the whole academic year. The thesis is a great opportunity to dive into research on an aspect of physics which most engages you. Whether your thesis is on biophysics, gravity and cosmology, condensed matter, or string theory, writing it is way to put to use all that you have learned in coursework so far—and to make a contribution to scientific knowledge. Even for topics outside of the mainstream of physics, for example with a focus on policy, or neuroscience, or finance, we expect you to apply your undergraduate physics education to the problem you focus on.

You can build on previous work in your senior thesis, for example summer work or a junior paper. However, it is equally acceptable to start a brand new project in the fall of your senior thesis with an adviser you have not previously worked with. In any case, in order to have a level playing field, your thesis will be evaluated based on work done during the academic year.

You must submit your choice of adviser and topic in Canvas by 3:00pm October 3. Your adviser must have a full-time faculty appointment at Princeton University. Your adviser can be one of your junior paper advisers, but need not be. If your adviser does not have their primary appointment in the Physics Department, you must communicate your choice of second reader in Canvas by October 3, and this second reader must have a full-time faculty appointment at Princeton University with their primary appointment in the Physics Department.

You must turn in a draft of content for your senior thesis by 3:00pm January 16, as explained in the section entitled Fall term draft .

The final version of your senior thesis is due by 3:00pm of the University's deadline for submitting the senior thesis, April 29. The requirements for formatting and submitting your final senior thesis are somewhat detailed;  please consult the section entitled Thesis Formatting and Submission . The page on important dates gives a complete listing of dates and deadlines relevant to the senior thesis. In case of any confusion about dates and deadlines, the page on important dates should be regarded as authoritative.

An oral examination conducted by the the Senior Committee at the end of the senior year serves as the senior departmental examination. This exam is described in more detail below in the section entitled Oral Examination .

Department of Physics Independent Work Guide

Senior committee.

A committee of several faculty in Physics oversees all the senior theses. In AY 2023-2024, the committee members are Professor(s) Daniel Marlow (chair), Curtis Callan, Phuan Ong and Shinsei Ryu. The senior committee is assisted by Karen Olsen, the Undergraduate Administrator. The committee meets with the seniors at the beginning of the academic year to outline what is expected and to help them get started on choosing advisers and topics. The committee may establish milestones during the year (e.g. a due date for a thesis outline and/or an oral progress report) in addition to the ones indicated on this webpage; any such additional milestones will be announced to all seniors via e-mail and clearly indicated on the important dates  page. You are encouraged at any time to approach members of the senior committee with questions or concerns about the progress of your thesis work.

Getting Started

The best advice in finding an advisor is to go to several faculty members in areas of research that you are interested in, and see what topics they propose. If you have a topic to propose yourself, great: shop it around to faculty and see what they think. Most topics come from faculty as part of the work their research groups are conducting. When you have a tentative topic in mind, start by reading some of the literature, ideally at the Scientific American level, in order to understand the highlights and context of the work you'll embark on. If you're undecided between topics, this first stage of reading should help you choose. Make sure to circle back to your prospective adviser with questions, and confirm with them before the deadline that they are in fact prepared to advise you on a topic that you have both agreed on. It's important to start this process at the very beginning of term, because false starts are possible.

The most important advice we can give is to make a fast start on your senior thesis, and focus on it particularly at the start of the fall term. Adjust your courses accordingly; for instance, senior fall is not the right time to shop five courses. Experience suggests that distractions and delays occur from time to time, both expected (e.g. grad school applications) and unexpected (e.g. your adviser disappears to a conference just when you need help). If you have a good start on your thesis you can put it aside briefly when such a delay occurs. If you don't, it becomes harder and harder to catch up. Regardless of where you are in the term—and especially early on—the best advice is to set your senior thesis at top priority.

Students considering thesis topics mostly or entirely outside of physics should consider the application procedure outlined in the section below entitled Alternative grading rubric .  Please note that time is of the essence in applying for an alternative grading rubric.

Fall Term Draft

A draft of content to be included in your senior thesis must be turned in to Canvas by 3:00pm on January 16. The second reader must be identified in Canvas at the time you turn in this draft of content. (Even if you have previously identified your second reader, e.g. because you are working with a primary advisor outside the department, please confirm this choice at the time of turning in your draft of content.) This draft of content will be assigned a P/D/F grade by your advisor and second reader, and the grade will be reported to the senior committee; however, it will not appear on your Princeton transcript. The draft of content is intended to serve as a status check and a way to start the conversation with your advisor and second reader about the spring term end game for your thesis. The guidelines for the draft of content are as follows:

• The minimum length is 7 pages, plus front matter and bibliography.
• The document should be written in full sentences and paragraphs, in the style you intend for the final version of your senior thesis. An outline of work to follow can be included at the end, but the main focus of the document should be on what you have understood and done so far.
• Formatting should be the same that you intend to use in the final version of your senior thesis; in particular, front matter (including the Student Acknowledgment of Original Work, signed), introduction, main body, and bibliography should be present, with all the formatting as you intend for the final version of your senior thesis. In short, follow the guidelines in the Primary grading rubric .  Indicate clearly in the front matter that the document is a draft of content.
• While it is anticipated that your results will be quite incomplete, do make an effort to communicate the background in an accessible fashion that starts with the fundamentals and demonstrates your understanding of the context of your ongoing work.

Thesis Formatting and Submission

You must submit your thesis electronically as a PDF file.  The first few pages of your senior thesis are called the front matter.   Front matter must include in the first two pages the title, the student's name, an abstract, the Student Acknowledgment of Original Work, and a signature following this acknowledgment. The wording of the Acknowledgment must be as set forth in the current edition of Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities: "This paper represents my own work in accordance with University regulations.”   The Page formatting should be suitable for printing on standard 8.5" x 11" paper with one to one and a half inch margins all around the main text. All fonts should be between 10 and 14 points, and line spacing should be anywhere between double spacing and 1.5 spacing. Pages should be numbered, with numbers no closer than half an inch to any edge of the page. Figures should be clear and legible, with descriptive captions.  Figures should be  your original work or else credit should be clearly given in the caption to the figure creator.  You should request permission to re-use figures made by colleagues.  There is no length requirement, but a total length (including front matter, bibliography, figures, appendices, etc) of 50 to 100 pages is about right for most topics.

The deadline for submission of the senior thesis is 3 pm April 29. For the spring semester of 2024, no hard copy submission will be required.   By that deadline, you must submit your thesis electronically in Canvas.  You must provide an electronic signature for the Student Acknowledgment of Original Work.  Your signature will serve as confirmation that the  submitted version is the official version.  By the end of the day on April 29, you must also send electronic copies of your thesis to your advisor and second reader.  You must also submit your thesis electronically to Mudd Library in order to graduate. Details on the Mudd Library submission process will come by email.  

To set high goals for the thesis, and at the same time to accommodate the breadth of experience that physics majors seek, the Physics Department has a dual rubric approach to grading. The primary grading rubric for the senior thesis is the one set forth in detail in the section below entitled Primary grading rubric .  It should be used for all theses which are primarily focused on a topic in physics, broadly construed. Applied physics, biophysics, astrophysics, plasma physics, and mathematical physics (among others) are fields in which this primary rubric should be used. Every student is advised to take pains to make their thesis accessible to physicists outside their discipline. Doing so is part of good presentation, and it is part of showing the student's own mastery of their topic. The physical principles involved should be explained clearly, starting at the level of undergraduate physics courses. Any necessary jargon should be introduced with clear explanations.

Written presentation is also important and will affect the final grade. Good presentation includes all aspects of scholarly writing, including clear explanations, organization, and citations; correct spelling, grammar, and formatting; a style that is at once accessible and precise; and a logical structure including front matter, introduction, main body, conclusion, and bibliography. 

Primary grading rubric

The main basis for the final grade will be the physics content contained in the thesis as a document. Physics content could include, for example, theoretical ideas, calculations, modeling, and predictions; experimental methods, description of apparatus, results, and data analysis; and an assessment of the significance of the work reported in the thesis against the backdrop of the larger field of which it is part. Physics content can be particularly noteworthy—for instance a really new theoretical idea or a genuinely impactful experimental result—but humbler advances, such as verification or extension of published calculations, or successful calibration of an experimental device, are also highly esteemed. In short, new research results are desirable but not required for even the highest grades.  Scholarly substance is the key.

Written presentation is also important and will affect the final grade. Good presentation includes all aspects of scholarly writing, including clear explanations, organization, and citations; correct spelling, grammar, and formatting; a style that is at once accessible and precise; and a logical structure including front matter, introduction, main body, conclusion, and bibliography.

Grade recommendations from the adviser and second reader are communicated to the senior committee, along with short text descriptions describing and assessing the thesis. The letter grade from the Oral examination will count for 10% of the senior thesis grade. The following grade descriptions are representative of Physics Department grading practices. Any individual thesis may have qualities spread across several of these descriptions, and it is ultimately up to the judgement of the Physics Department faculty to balance the considerations in any given case in order to come up with the final grade.

• A+. A substantial, professional-level contribution to some field of physics, with outstanding presentation and truly impressive content. For example, there may be original results suitable or almost suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal which physicists working in this field often publish in. Or the thesis may be a brilliantly written review paper which could usefully be shared with professional colleagues. A written statement from the advisor justifying the A+ must be included.
• A. The thesis deals with some topic in physics in an unusually thorough way, with unexpected insights and/or an especially clear presentation. The advisor should have learned new things from it. This grade should be used for work that goes far beyond "doing a good job."
• A-. The thesis covers some topic in physics well and goes into significant depth. It is written in a professional style with only minor flaws. The student shows mastery of the subject.
• B+. The thesis covers a topic in physics well, and in some depth. The presentation and physics content are good but leave room for improvement.
• B. The thesis covers a topic in physics fairly well. Presentation and physics content are fairly good, but some deficiencies may be noted.
• B-. The thesis addresses a topic in physics but without the depth expected for senior independent work. There may be significant errors or an inadequate presentation.
• C+. The thesis contains an overview of a topic in physics, but the physics content is mostly superficial. The presentation may be inadequate, and there may be significant errors or omissions.
• C. The thesis contains a partial or superficial overview of a topic in physics. The thesis gives little evidence of understanding of the relevant physics. The presentation is sloppy, and there are significant errors or omissions.
• C-. The thesis contains some correct information about a topic in physics, but it fails to show understanding of the relevant physics. The presentation is incomplete, with serious errors or omissions.
• D. The lowest passing grade. The thesis is deficient in multiple respects, with minimal physics content, poor presentation, and/or poor scholarship.
• F. There are several ways an F can result. One way is for the thesis to be largely incomplete and incorrect. A second way is for the thesis not to be turned in on time, accounting for any extensions granted, or for a document to be turned in without a clear written indication that it is the official version of the student's senior thesis. A third way is for the thesis to be turned in on time but with issues that prevent it from being accepted. Examples of this last are omitting from the first two pages the title, the student's name, the abstract, the Student Acknowledgment of Original Work, or a signature following this acknowledgment. Formatting that renders the thesis unreasonably difficult to read may also prevent it from being accepted and result in an F.

Alternative grading rubric

Students wishing to branch out and work on a senior thesis topic that is mostly or entirely outside of physics will have their theses graded using an alternative grading rubric customized to their field of work, provided they receive approval from the senior committee of a proposal submitted electronically in Canvas no later than 3pm October 10.  The proposal must consist of the following points:

• Student's name.
• Adviser's name. The adviser must sign next to their name to indicate their endorsement of the proposed grading rubric.
• Second reader's name. As with all theses in the Physics Department, your adviser and the second reader should both have full-time faculty appointments at Princeton University, and at least one of them should have their primary appointment in the Physics Department.
• A tentative thesis title (200 characters or less).
• Summary of proposed work (1500 to 2000 characters).
• Give us a simple description of the area of scholarship your thesis falls in. For example, "Climate policy" or "Behavioral neuroscience."
• Provide a short explanation of why you are interested in this area, and why it should be of general interest to professional physicists.
• Provide an adaptation of the primary grading rubric that you feel is suitable to your thesis work. The text to adapt is the entire contents of the section entitled Primary grading rubric . Leave the second, third, and fourth paragraphs unchanged, as these sections will be applied in any case; likewise the criteria for an F cannot be changed. Changes to the rest of the text should be at the minimal level needed in order for it to be fairly applied to the work you are going to do. For example, if you are working on climate policy, replacing "physics" by "climate policy" throughout should be a good start. Topics which have some physics content but are primarily outside of physics should include in the grading rubric some measure of how well the physics is developed and presented.

The senior committee may adjust or rewrite the grading rubric you propose before approving it, and the final rubric will go to your adviser and second reader as well as to you.

Proposals that are approved will allow a thesis to be graded at the same standard as other Physics Department senior theses, but in a different direction. Students who do pursue a topic outside of physics should make a particular effort to make their thesis accessible to physicists and students of physics, and this effort will be counted as part of a good presentation. If a proposal is not received on time by the senior committee or is not approved, thesis work will be graded according to the Primary grading rubric : In particular, the physics content will then be the main basis for the final grade.

A fall term draft of content as outlined in the section entitled Fall term draft is required for all theses.

Oral examination

The oral examination will be scheduled near the end of the academic year, after you have turned in your senior thesis. You should prepare a presentation with a planned duration of 20 minutes. Use standard visual aids, i.e. PowerPoint or similar. Presentations should be well organized and thoughtful; in particular:

• If you want to use a laptop, you are responsible for making sure things work!
• Have enough paper copies of your presentation material so that every committee member can have their own copy. Paper copies are useful even when you use PowerPoint from a laptop and serve as a backup in case of a technical glitch.
• Limit your main presentation to approximately 15 slides (depending on your style). If you have more material, prioritize it and put extra material at the end as backup slides.
• Do not expect committee members to flip through your thesis during the exam; your presentation should be self-contained.
• Emphasize graphical material in your slides (including key equations).
• If you have text in your slides, focus on terse summaries and avoid long segments of text.
• Rehearse! You can rehearse before a group of friends, or your advisor, or a graduate student, or an empty room.

The senior committee is entitled to ask questions both about the thesis and about undergraduate physics. The grade for the oral depends on both the quality of the presentation and your ability to answer questions.

The oral examination will be assigned a letter grade by the senior committee.  The letter grade for the oral examination will count for 10% of the senior thesis grade.

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Home / academic-programs / Undergraduate / Senior Thesis

Senior Thesis

Changes for the senior thesis - effective 2020-2021:.

Starting with the 2020-2021 catalog, physics majors can satisfy their Disciplinary Communications (DC) requirement in one of two ways:

• Complete PHYS 182 “Scientific Communication” or
• Complete PHYS 195A “Senior Thesis I” and 195B “Senior Thesis II" 

This means that the senior thesis is optional for new students; you have the choice of taking PHYS 182 or writing a senior thesis in PHYS 195AB. If you are a continuing student, you can choose to graduate under these new catalog requirements as long as you will satisfy the other requirements. (Note that the new capstone courses are 134, 135, 135AB, or 136. You must take one of these lab courses to graduate under the new catalog requirements.)

What is the Senior Thesis?

The senior thesis is an option to satisfy the DC requirement for graduation in the Physics, Physics (Astrophysics), and Applied Physics majors. Students work on their senior thesis as coursework for PHYS 195A and PHYS 195B. The senior thesis is a clear, logical presentation of some independent, physics-related work done by the student under the supervision of a thesis advisor.  Possible forms of the thesis include: results of the student's experimental, theoretical, or numerical investigations (often in connection with on-going research at UCSC); a review of a particular topic in physics; or a significant extension of class material (for example a Physics 134 or 135 experiment). The thesis must display understanding of physics at the level of an upper-division physics course. In conclusion, the senior thesis may range between a literature review on a topic that the student will choose in agreement with an advisor and the representation of significant research effort. Examples of senior theses can be found here. These theses use LaTeX template files for the standard UC thesis format , with examples of figures, tables, references, etc.  The package has been tested with the graphical Web tool Overleaf ( overleaf.com ) but may also work with stand-alone LaTeX or other interfaces.  Please report errors to Prof. David Smith .

The Value to You of a Senior Thesis

The senior thesis is designed both as an option to complete the undergraduate physics experience and as an opportunity to develop writing and research skills that will be important for your career in physics and beyond. Complementing standard physics courses, the senior thesis emphasizes independent decision-making, activity-scheduling, and presenting of scientific material in a well-written form. It allows you to explore and develop subjects of your own choosing and develops your ability to communicate your work effective ly. Students considering graduate school are encouraged to complete a senior thesis. A reference letter from your thesis advisor will be a valuable addition to your graduate school application. Furthermore, yo ur transcript will reflect the fact that you completed the requirements by writing a senior thesis.

The Senior Thesis and PHYS 195A and PHYS 195B

The PHYS 195 course is designed to guide you through writing your senior thesis. The structure, format, and content of a senior thesis are discussed in detail. Grammatical skills, effective writing, and literature search techniques are developed. You will plan your topic and develop reference lists, outlines, and drafts. The thesis approved by your thesis advisor must be submitted before the end of PHYS 195B in order to pass the course. The se two courses should be taken in your thesis advisor’s section during the two quarters you intend to write your thesis. This means that you must identify a thesis advisor, who agrees to guide you in your thesis research and writing, before you enroll in Physics 195A. The Physics Department can help you find an advisor if you choose to write a senior thesis.

Timeline for the Senior Thesis:

Finding  a research project.

Students are encouraged to begin a thesis project between 1 and 2 years before their expected graduation. You should have identified a thesis advisor and research project at least 3 quarters before your expected graduation. As you choose a research project and begin your work, remember that unexpected results -- including null results -- are common in science. Even if your work does not yield the conclusion you first expected, there is great value in documenting and discussing your research work in the senior thesis. 

Enrolling in PHYS 195AB

Enroll in your thesis advisor’s section of PHYS 195A and PHYS 195B during the two consecutive quarters you plan to work on the thesis. For example, if you are graduating in Spring quarter, you can take PHYS 195A in Winter and PHYS 195B in Spring. (If you are graduating in Fall, enroll in PHYS 195A in Spring and PHYS 195B in Fall.) Make sure to leave enough room in your schedule for these 5-credit courses, as they reflect the amount of work you will need to do on your thesis.

Completing the Senior Thesis

The senior thesis must be submitted before the end of PHYS 195B in order to pass the course , and good progress must be made throughout the course, with first full drafts required in Week 7 of the quarter. If the thesis is not submitted in acceptable form by the end of the course, the instructor/advisor may decide to grade the work as Incomplete; in that case the usual policies apply for removing an Incomplete grade before it becomes a failing grade.

Physics Department Thesis Honors Procedure

The senior thesis of a physics, applied physics, or astrophysics major may be given an honors designation, an honor that will be mentioned in the graduation ceremony. In order that all of our majors have an opportunity to receive the thesis honors designation, we have adopted the following procedure:

1)  No later than June 3rd, 2022 the thesis advisor may provide a nomination of the honors designation to the chair.This is best done at the time the thesis advisor signs the thesis. It is important that all faculty be aware of the honors designation and give consideration to all theses that they sign.

2)  The Department Chair  or their designated assistants review the advisor’s recommendation within the context of the full set of senior theses received and either accept or reject the nomination.

3)  The honors designation is forwarded to the Physics Advisor at [email protected] to be recorded.

4)  Late theses, for example those completed over the summer, may still be given an honors designation, but no mention of that will be possible at the student’s graduation ceremony.

The following general criteria should be considered when nominating a thesis for honors:

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• Research, Internships and Jobs
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Last modified: December 4, 2023 109.248.223.228

Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate contacts.

Student Services Specialist

Director Undergraduate Studies

choosingphysics [at] stanford.edu (Pre-Major Advising)

2024 Program Dates:

• Summer: 10 weeks, June 24 - August 30, 2024

The application consists of two parts. Part 1 was due by noon, Friday, January 19, 2024.   Part 2  was due by noon Friday, February 23, 2024.  The application is now closed.

See the  How to Apply  and  FAQ  pages for more information on how to apply, as well as the page on  Research Positions .

The Summer Research Program offered by the Departments of Physics, Applied Physics and SLAC provides Fellowships to Stanford undergraduate Physics and Engineering Physics majors, plus undeclared first-year students who are considering Physics/Engineering Physics as a major, who wish to dedicate ten weeks to the Summer quarter to join a physics research group under the guidance of a faculty member.  

Students receive a base stipend of $7500.  An additional need-based supplement of up to $1500 is given to qualifying students.  Students pay for their own living expenses out of their stipend.  This can be either in on-campus housing (COVID-permitting), or anywhere else you choose to live.

The focus of the Physics Research Program is twofold:   to strongly encourage our majors to complete a Senior Thesis, and to provide an opportunity for students to experience physics research early on in their undergraduate career. The program is structured to fulfill these two goals, while at the same time serving as many students as possible with limited funding. In order to maximize the benefits of all funding sources, preference for departmental program funds is given to first-time applicants.

We accept applications from current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.  For beginning students, research experience is not required;  this is an opportunity to "try out" research in physics, by learning skills and experiencing the research environment, to help you decide if either Physics or Engineering Physics is the right major for you. All that is required is curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to learn and grow. Once a student successfully completes the Physics Research Program and continues their studies in Physics they are generally prepared to conduct research on a topic that they can develop into a Senior Thesis during their senior year.

The Physics Research Program is able to support every Physics and Engineering Physics major for at least one-quarter of funding. Funding is sometimes available for a second quarter; rising seniors applying for the second quarter of funding  must  also apply for a  Student Major Grant from Stanford Undergraduate Research and Independent Projects . There is generally no funding for a third-quarter; such students can apply for a Student Major Grant, as well as search for funding from their faculty research advisor or other sources.

In addition to working on research, program participants attend weekly professional development workshops. Examples include faculty research seminars, graduate student panels, and more. Participants are required to attend all scheduled seminars during their ten weeks of research. COVID-permitting, we will also pursue optional field trips to the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) and physics-related Bay Area attractions (e.g. NASA, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, etc.) to provide an educational "break" from research. A 6-minute presentation of your research to your peers is also required of all participants.

We recognize the following Schools, Departments, Independent Laboratories and Collaborations at Stanford  who support our research program, including:

• VPUE  (Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education)
• Department of Physics
• KIPAC  (Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology
• HEPL (Hansen Experimental Physics Lab)
• LIGO Scientific Collaboration
• School of Humanities and Sciences
• School of Engineering

Thanks to all of our funding providers!

Undergraduate Research & Honors

Introduction.

At Carolina, faculty are expected to excel in both teaching and research. The idea behind a research university, such as Carolina, is not only that faculty use their research experience for the benefit of their teaching, but also that undergraduates take advantage of research opportunities to broaden their horizon and to improve their problem-solving skills.

We strongly encourage all of our undergraduate students to get involved in research with our faculty. Some of the mandatory courses for our major (e.g., PHYS 295 or 395) involve independent research. Besides this research for credit, many of our faculty will be happy to take you on as unpaid volunteers or as paid interns. We encourage you to get involved in research before your senior year.

Once you have found a group and a research project (more on that below), please complete the steps found here . If you have any questions you may contact, Professor Rene Lopez, at [email protected]

How To Get Involved In Research

Browse the FACULTY RESEARCH pages and see what catches your interest. You can also look at the bottom of this page to see who among the faculty is currently looking for undergraduate research help. The next step is very simple: get in touch with the faculty members, via email or by personal appointment, whose research you are interested in. Simply ask them if they have a research project for you at the moment. Sometimes, they may already have enough undergrads working in their group. Don’t be discouraged, but simply contact another faculty until you find a research project that interests you.

In addition, there is more you can do, especially if you are looking for summer research opportunities:

• Check the Office for Undergraduate Research (OUR) database .
• Learn about National Science Foundation REU programs and apply.
• Look into possible research projects through ACC universities .
• Consider applying to National Laboratory summer research opportunities:
• Department of Energy
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (Gaithersburg)
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (Boulder)
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Sandia National Laboratory
• National Institutes of Health
• Space Telescope Science Institute
• Air Force Research Laboratory

Doing a Senior Honors Thesis

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers an undergraduate degree with honors. The Honors Program offers exceptionally well-qualified students an opportunity to perform original research with a faculty member and graduate with an Honors Degree. The general requirements are:

• ≥ 3.3 GPA overall
• ≥ 3.4 GPA in physics & astronomy courses

Students are encouraged to enroll in the Honors program as early as possible. In order to graduate with an Honors degree, the applicant must complete the following:

Complete an original research project that is usually supervised under a faculty member of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Conducting the research project with a faculty member in another department requires justification, and pre-approval by the department honors coordinator is necessary

• Register for Physics 691H, 692H for one semester each (a total of 6 credits), Students beginning the senior honors thesis sequence may be in the second semester of their junior year or the first semester of their senior year. Coursework must be completed in consecutive semesters. Students should always select 3 credit hours when completing an Honors contract. To find your GPA in Physics & Astronomy courses, use   https://help.unc.edu/sp and the live chat option. Once you connect with an agent, a ticket is submitted and you should receive a response within 24-48 hours. Please keep in mind you must submit a proposal and learning contract for 691H and 692H separately as they will take place in separate semesters. Please see the steps to completing your proposal and learning contract found here
• Complete an honors thesis and present it as a public seminar. An examination will be conducted by a committee that is usually composed of three faculty members including the applicant’s research advisor. About one month before the deadline you should decide on the date of the talk and reserve a room. A few days before the talk you should share a working copy of the thesis with the committee.
• Submit a formal copy of the thesis meeting the guidelines, before the deadline. After completion, register the thesis.

See the following for guidelines and deadlines.

Undergraduate Research Archive

For further questions, please contact Professor Louise Dolan , the departmental coordinator for the honors program.

Undergrad Research Projects

Radioenvironmental studies with a Pairspectrometer

Undergraduate Studies

Undergraduate thesis.

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Helpful tips and guidelines for writing the theses, examples of undergraduate theses, presentation tips and rubrics...

currentundergraduateresearchprojects.pdf  (Current available departmental summer/thesis research projects)

senior_thesis_information.docx

template_and_guidelines_for_writing_your_physics_thesis.docx

mendoza-k_seniorthesis_s2015.pdf

talk_guidelines.pdf

writing_a_better_scientific_article-rmp_appendix.pdf

physics_presentation_rubric.pdf

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Relating Flows and Currents in Auroral Arcs Joshua Gutow Advisor: Kristina Lynch

A Luminosity Function for Field Ultra-diffuse Galaxies Joshua Perlmutter Advisor: R yan Hickox

An Analysis of Optical Polarization Angle Variations in Blazar Jets Tara Sweeney Advisor: Jedidah Isler

Modeling Astrospheres of Cool Main-sequence Stars According to Observable Stellar Parameters Gregory Mark Szypko Advisor: Hans Mueller

Tara E. Gallagher Fabrication and Characterization of Graphene Devices Advisor: Chandrasekhar Ramanathan  

Adam Burnett Senior Thesis: Testing Theories of Aural Radio Emissions With Direction-of-Arrival Measurements Advisor: James LaBelle

Krishan Canzius Senior Thesis: Entanglement Metrcis in Quantum Spin Chains Advisor: Chandrasekhar Ramanathan

Emily Golitzin Senior Thesis: Follow-up on a Swift/BAT Detected Seyfert II: Gas Ionization, Kinematics and the Spectral Energy Distribution of SWIFT J0446.4 + 1828 Advisor: Ryan Hickox

Raphael Hviding Senior Thesis: Understanding the Galactic Scale Effect of AGN with Fabry-Perot Spectroscopy from SALT Advisor: Ryan Hickox

Alana Juric Senior Thesis: Studying the Space Weather of Exoplanets in Binary Star Systems Advisor: Hans Mueller

Chenguant Li Senior Thesis: Memory Reactivation in Neural Networks Advisor: Alex Rimberg

Katherine Mentzer Senior Thesis: Extracting Density-Density Correlations From Quantum Degenerate Gases Advisor: Kevin Wright

Saba Nejad Senior Thesis: Does Gravity Enforce Macrorealism Advisor: Miles Blencowe

Andrew Sun Senior Thesis: Time-Dependent Simulation of Neutral Helium in the Heliosphere Advisor: Hans Mueller

Douglas Tallmadge Senior Thesis: Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion as an Undergraduate Laboratory Advisor: Robyn Millan

William Tremml Senior Thesis: Methods of Approximating Divergence-Free Vector Fields for Ionospheric Data Advisor: Kristina Lynch

Kent Ueno Senior Thesis: Entanglement Spectra of Engineered NMR Spin Hamiltonians Advisor: Chandrasekhar Ramanathan

Erik Weis Senior Thesis: Benchmarking Quantum Computers Using Electronic Structure Algorithms Advisor: James Whitfield

Anne Woronecki Senior Thesis: Optical Trapping and Transportation of an Ultracold Cloud Using a Focus Tunable Lens Advisor: Kevin Wright

Samuel Greydanus Senior Thesis: Approximating Matrix Product States with Machine Learning Advisor: James Whitfield

Margaret Lane Senior Thesis: X-Ray Spectral Modeling of Obscured AGN with Torus Models and Comparison to Mid-IR Emission Advisor: R yan Hickox

Jack Neustadt​ Senior Thesis: Optical Observations of Galactic Supernova Remnants Advisor: R obert Fesen

Lucas Bezerra​ Senior Thesis: Fast Wavefront Characterization of Optical Traps for Quantum Gases Advisor: Kevin Wright

Pawan Dhakal​ Senior Thesis: High Precision Helium Spectroscopy and Quantum Gravity Effects Advisor: R oberto Onofrio

Oscar Friedman​ Senior Thesis: Time Evolution of the Wigner Flow Function Advisor: Miles Blencowe

Muhammad Kiani​ Senior Thesis: Fabrication and Characterization of Graphene Devices Advisor: Chandrasekhar Ramanathan

Luis Martinez​ Senior Thesis: Bubbles in My Scalar Field Soup: A Study on Oscillons in Cosmology Advisor: M ercelo Gleiser

Jonathan Vandermause​ Senior Thesis: Characterization and Control of Nuclear Spin Systems Advisor: Chandrasekhar Ramanathan

Kathryn Waychoff​ Senior Thesis: Zonal Wind Variability of the Jovian Planets Advisor: Robyn Millan

William Athol Senior Thesis: Design and Validation of a Zero Field and Low Field EDMR System Advisor: Chandrasekhar Ramanathan

Matthew Digman Senior Thesis: Gravitational Anomaly in Anistropic Spacetimes Advisor: Robert Caldwell

Nina Maksimova Senior Thesis: Testing Alternatives to the Standard Cosmological Model using the Cosmic Microwave Background Advisor: Robert Caldwell

Laurel Anderson Senior Thesis:  Experimental Control of Spin Chain Dynamics Advisor:  Chandrasekhar Ramanathan

Todd Anderson Senior Thesis:  Orbital Dynamics Model of a CubeSat Swarm Under Aerodynamic Torque in LEO Advisor:  Kristina Lynch

Spencer Diamond Senior Thesis:  Plasma Etch Characterization for Use in Cavity Optomechancis Experiment Advisor:  Alex Rimberg

Peter Horak Senior Thesis:  Attitude Estimation for Rocket-Borne Sensorcraft Advisor:  Kristina Lynch

Sarah Pasternak Senior Thesis:  Design and Early Verification of an Electrically Detected Magnetic Resonance (EDMR) System Advisor:  Chandrasekhar Ramanathan

Nathan Utterback Senior Thesis:  Kinematic Modeling and Analysis of the Galactic Supernova Remnant 3C58 (G130.7 + 3.1) Advisor:  R obert Fesen

Benjamin Katz Senior Thesis: Special-Relativistic Effects of a Microscale Oscillator on a Macroscopic Quantum State Advisor:  Miles Blencowe

Alexander Meill Senior Thesis: Implementing Measurement-Based Quantum Computing in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Advisor:  Chandrasekhar Ramanathan

Michael Chilcote Senior Thesis: Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Ionospheric Sounding Using AM Radio Advisor: James LaBelle

Aryeh Drager Senior Thesis: Using Multimedia Pre-Lecture Assignments to Improve the Introductory Physics Experience Advisor: Robyn Millan

Emily DeBaun Senior Thesis: Nonlinear Dynamics of a Biological Cell in a Uniform Electric Field Advisor: Miles Blencowe

Nicholas Knezek Senior Thesis: An Analysis of Energetic Oxygen Interaction with Europe in the Jovian Magnetosphere Advisor: Robyn Millan

Amanda Slagle Senior Thesis: Vector Field Mapping and Analysis Using Finite Sensor Swarms Advisor: Kristina Lynch

Dhrubo Jyoti Senior Thesis: Numerical Explorations of Dipolarly-Coupled Chaotic Quantum Spin Systems Advisor: Lorenza Viola

John Roland Senior Thesis: Fabrication of Nano-Mechanical Resonators for the Study of the Quantum to Classical Transition Advisor: Alex Rimberg

Julianna Scheiman Senior Thesis: The Feasibility of Using POES Satellite Data and Ground-Based Riometer Data to Examine Relativistic Electron Events Advisor: Robyn Millan

Ian Boneysteele Senior Thesis: Delta Pion Channels Advisor: Timothy Smith

Laura DeLorenzo Senior Thesis: The Non-Linear Dynamics of a DC Voltage Biased Microwave Cavity With An Embedded Josephson Junction Advisor: Miles Blencowe

Ian Hayes Senior Thesis: Microwave Resonators for the Study Of the Quantum-To-Classical Transition Advisor: Alex Rimberg

Umair Siddiqui Senior Thesis: Design, Calibration and Use of a Collimated Electron Source for Plasma Sheath Studies Advisor: Kristina Lynch

Evan W. Brand Senior Thesis: Dynamics of an Oscillating Classical Heisenberg Spin Chain Advisor: Miles Blencowe

Benjamin Chapman Senior Thesis: Nonlinear Effects in Oscillator Chains Advisor: Miles Blencowe

Matthew Schenker Senior Thesis: VLBI Mapping of H2O Megamasers in MRK 1419 Advisor: John Thorstensen

Wendell Smith Senior Thesis: The Entangled Twin Paradox Advisor: Miles Blencowe

Steven J. Weber Senior Thesis: Radio Frequency Quantum Point Contacts With On-Chip Inductors Advisor: Alex Rimberg

Phillip Bracikowski Senior Thesis: Study of Mesospheric Dust Advisor: Kristina Lynch

Alexander Crew Senior Thesis: Data Analysis of Magnetic Fields from the ROPA Sounding Rocket Advisor: Kristina Lynch

Parker Fagrelius Senior Thesis: Understanding Quantum Mechanics: Entangling our Reality Advisor: Marcelo Gleiser

Brendan Huang Senior Thesis: Investigation of Microscopic Photon and Phonon Non-Demolition Schemes Advisor: Miles Blencowe

Leon Maurer Senior Thesis: Low Temperature Coulomb Blockade Advisor: Alex Rimberg

Bennet Meyers Senior Thesis: Bremsstrahlung X-Rays Produced in Lightning Stroke Events Advisor: Robyn Millan

David Strauss Senior Thesis: VLF Propagation Study at 24kHz Advisor: James Labelle

Karl Yando Senior Thesis: Monte Carlo Simulation of the NOAH POES Particle Detector Module and Analysis of Relativistic Electron Fluxes Advisor: Robyn Millan

Jordan Zastrow Senior Thesis: An Optical Study of the Circumstellar Medium in Cassiopeia A Advisor: Robert Fesen

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Digital Commons @ USF > College of Arts and Sciences > Physics > Theses and Dissertations

Physics Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2024 2024.

Development and Evaluation of Novel Applications for the Ethos CBCT-Guided Online Adaptive Radiotherapy System , Nour Nasser

Interfacial Magnetism and Anisotropy in Dirac and Weyl Semimetals , Noah Schulz

Theses/Dissertations from 2023 2023

Influence of Thickness and Capping Materials on the Static and Dynamic Properties of Ferrimagnetic Thin Films , Noha Alzahrani

Evaluation of a Prototype Deep Learning-based Autosegmentation Algorithm on a High Quality Database of Head and Neck Cancer Radiotherapy Patients , Jihye Koo

Void Formation in Model Liquids, Polymer Glasses, and Granular Materials , Kai Nan

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Coarse-grained Modeling Studies of Entangled Semiflexible Polymers: Melts, Glasses, and Granular Media , Joseph Fox D. Dietz

First-principles-based Modeling of Energy Converting Properties of Conventional and Emerging Ferroelectrics , Maggie Kingsland

Ultrafast Magneto-optic Study of Exchange Interactions in Magnetic Materials , Hengzhou Liu

Exploring Magneto-Excitons in Bulk and Mono-Layer Semiconductors Using Non-Linear Spectroscopy Techniques , Varun Mapara

Light-Controlled Magnetism and Magnetic Sensing in Two-Dimensional Vanadium Dichalcogenides and Related Semiconductors , Valery Ortiz Jimenez

Magnetic and Structural Effects in Interfacial Magnetism: Molecular Magnets and Ferrimagnetic Alloys , Jenae E. Shoup

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

MBE Growth and Modifications of Early Transition Metal Tellurides , Paula Mariel Coelho

Spin Coupling in Magnetic Core - Shell Nanoparticles , Corisa Kons

Third-Order Frequency-Resolved Photon Correlations from a Single Quantum Dot's Resonance Fluorescence , Yamil A. Nieves González

Texturing in Bi 2 Te 3 Alloy Thermoelectric Materials: An Applied Physics Investigation , Oluwagbemiga P. Ojo

Probing the ground state magnetism in materials with competing magnetic interactions , Richa Pokharel Madhogaria

Crystal Structure Prediction of Materials at Extreme Conditions , Ashley S. Williams

Carbon and Other Low-Z materials Under Extreme Conditions , Jonathan T. Willman

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Laser-Induced Modifications in Two-Dimensional Materials , Tariq Afaneh

The impacts of membrane modulators on membrane material properties at microscopic and nanoscopic levels , Chinta Mani Aryal

Origins of Amyloid Oligomers and Novel Approaches for their Detection , Jeremy Barton

Van der Waals Epitaxy of Ultrathin Early Transition Metal (Ti & V) (di)Selenides: Charge and Magnetic Order in the Ultrathin Limit , Manuel Bonilla Lopez

Spontaneous Raman Scattering Enhancement with Microcavities and Multipass Resonators for Trace Gas Detection , Juan Sebastian Gomez Velez

Atomistic Simulations of Novel Materials at Ambient and High Pressures , Joseph M. Gonzalez

Controlling Properties of Light: Metamaterials Design and Methodology , Darrick Hay

Van Hiele Problem Solving Logic Levels applied to Force Concept Inventory Problems using the Resources Framework , Charles Mason Hemphill

Investigation into Reduced Thermal Conductivity for Half-Heusler Alloys and Identification of Novel Multinary Chalcogenides Possessing Intrinsically Low Thermal Conductivity , Dean Hobbis

A Novel Magnetic Respiratory Sensor for Human Healthcare , Kee Young Hwang

Study of the therapeutic effects of synchronization-modulation of the Na/K pump on muscle fatigue , Jason E. Mast

Growth and Characterization of Spatially Ordered Nanostructures of Functional Materials , Domingo J. Mateo Feliciano

Data-driven Modeling of the Causes and Effects of Interneuronal Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease and Dravet Syndrome , Carlos Perez

Thermoelectric transport control using single phase materials and metamaterial composites , Wencong Shi

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Development and Validation of Advanced Techniques for Treatment Planning and Verification in Megavoltage Radiotherapy , Saeed Ahmed

Phase Evolution and Dynamic Behavior in Materials with Noncollinear Spin Textures , Eleanor M. Clements

Modulations of Lipid Membranes Caused by Antimicrobial Agents and Helix 0 of Endophilin , Nawal Kishore Khadka

Water and Salt at the Lipid-Solvent Interface , James M. Kruczek

The modified Synchronization Modulation technique revealed mechanisms of Na,K-ATPase , Pengfei Liang

First-Principles Simulations of Materials under Extreme Conditions , Kien Nguyen Cong

Amyloid Protein Aggregation and Associated Toxicity , Chamani A. Niyangoda

Novel Macroscopic and Microscopic Concepts in Thermoelectricity , Troy Stedman

Study of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Via Linear and Non-Linear Spectroscopy , Christopher E. Stevens

Development of a Voxel-Based Monte Carlo Radiation Dosimetry Methodology for a Targeted Alpha Particle Therapy , Christopher John Tichacek

Millimeter-wavelength characterization of the CO emission of comets 174P/Echeclus, 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, and C/2016 R2 (PanSTARRS) , Kacper Wierzchos

Measuring and Utilizing High-Dimensional Information of Optical Fields , Ziyi Zhu

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Surface and Interface Effects of Magnetoimpedance Materials at High Frequency , Tatiana M. Eggers

A Fundamental Investigation into Low Thermal Conductivity p -Type Chalcogenides and Skutterudites with Potential Thermoelectric Applications , Dean Hobbis

Spin Seebeck effect and related phenomena in functional magnetic oxides , Vijaysankar Kalappattil

Towards Fundamental Understanding of Thermoelectric Properties in Novel Materials Using First Principles Simulations , Artem R. Khabibullin

Coarse-grained Modeling Studies of Polymeric and Granular Systems , Hong Trung Nguyen

Characterization of Computed Tomography Radiomic Features using Texture Phantoms , Muhammad Shafiq ul Hassan

Computational Discovery of Energetic Polynitrogen Compounds at High Pressure , Brad A. Steele

Novel Magneto-LC resonance Sensors for Industrial and Bioengineering Applications , Ongard Thiabgoh

Analyzing the effects of Ca 2+ dynamics on mitochondrial function in health and disease , Patrick Toglia

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

18F-FDG PET/CTCT-based Radiomics for the Prediction of Radiochemotherapy Treatment Outcomes of Cervical Cancer , Badereldeen Abdulmajeed Altazi

Interference of Light in Multilayer Metasurfaces: Perfect Absorber and Antireflection Coating , Khagendra Prasad Bhattarai

Photopolymerization Synthesis of Magnetic Nanoparticle Embedded Nanogels for Targeted Biotherapeutic Delivery , Daniel Jonwal Denmark

Application of Metamaterials to RF Energy Harvesting and Infrared Photodetection , Clayton M. Fowler

Complex Electric-Field Induced Phenomena in Ferroelectric/Antiferroelectric Nanowires , Ryan Christopher Herchig

Organometal Halide Perovskite Solar Absorbers and Ferroelectric Nanocomposites for Harvesting Solar Energy , Chaminda Lakmal Hettiarachchi

Growth, characterization, and function of ferroelectric, ferromagnetic thin films and their heterostructures , Mahesh Hordagoda

Surfaces and Epitaxial Films of Corundum-Structured Mixed Metal Oxides. , Alan Richard Kramer

Two Dimensional Layered Materials and Heterostructures, a Surface Science Investigation and Characterization , Yujing Ma

Thermodynamic and Kinetic Aspects of Hen Egg White Lysozyme Amyloid Assembly , Tatiana Miti

Coherent Response of Two Dimensional Electron Gas probed by Two Dimensional Fourier Transform Spectroscopy , Jagannath Paul

Towards Violation of Classical Inequalities using Quantum Dot Resonance Fluorescence , Manoj Peiris

Manipulating Electromagnetic waves with enhanced functionalities using Nonlinear and Chiral Metamaterials , Sinhara Rishi Malinda Silva

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Reduced Dimensionality Effects in Gd-based Magnetocaloric Materials , Hillary Faith Belliveau

Preparation and Characterization of Van der Waals Heterostructures , Horacio Coy Diaz

Biophysical Characterization and Theoretical Analysis of Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Cell Interactions with Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogels , Michael C. Cross

Exciton Dynamics and Many Body Interactions in Layered Semiconducting Materials Revealed with Non-linear Coherent Spectroscopy , Prasenjit Dey

The Role of Partial Surface Charge Compensation in the Properties of Ferroelectric and Antiferroelectric Thin Films , Elena Glazkova

Surface Properties of Titanium dioxide and its Structural Modifications by Reactions with Transition Metals , Sandamali Halpegamage

Inquiry of Lipid Membranes Interacting with Functional Peptides and Polyphenol Drug Molecules , Chian Sing Ho

Resonant Light Scattering from Semiconductor Quantum Dots , Kumarasiri Konthasinghe

Structure-Interaction Effects In Novel Nanostructured Materials , Nam B. Le

Polymer Characteristics of Polyelectrolyte Polypeptides , Jorge Monreal

Biophysical Investigation of Amyloid Formation and Their Prion-like Self-replication , Mentor Mulaj

Novel Magnetic Nanostructures for Enhanced Magnetic Hyperthermia Cancer Therapy , Zohreh Nemati Porshokouh

Increasing 18F-FDG PET/CT Capabilities in Radiotherapy for Lung and Esophageal Cancer via Image Feature Analysis , Jasmine Alexandria Oliver

Microcavity Enhanced Raman Scattering , Benjamin James Petrak

Confinement Effects and Magnetic Interactions in Magnetic Nanostructures , Kristen Lee Stojak Repa

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Effects of disorder and low dimensionality on frozen dynamics in Ca3Co2-xMnxO6 , Brian Wesley Casas

Surface Science Studies of Graphene Interfaces , Arjun Dahal

Enhanced Magnetoimpedance and Microwave Absorption Responses of Soft Ferromagnetic Materials for Biodetection and Energy Sensing , Jagannath Devkota

Synthesis, Characterization and Ferroelectric Properties of LN-Type ZnSnO 3 Nanostructures , Corisa Kons

Low Dimensionality Effects in Complex Magnetic Oxides , Paula J. Lampen Kelley

Coherent Digital Holographic Adaptive Optics , Changgeng Liu

In Vacuo Fabrication and Electronic Structure Characterization of Atomic Layer Deposition Thin Films , Michael Schaefer

The Evaluation and Study of Modern Radiation Dosimetry Methods as Applied to Advanced Radiation Therapy Treatments Using Intensity Modulated Megavoltage Photon Beams , Cassandra Stambaugh

Thermal Fluctuations Tunneling in Doped Conjugated Polymers , Troy C. Stedman

Nanomechanical and Nanotribological Characterization of Sub-Micron Polymeric Spheres , Himanshu Kumar Verma

Investigation of Low Thermal Conductivity Materials with Potential for Thermoelectric Applications , Kaya Wei

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Analysis of Critical Behavior in Magnetic Materials , Dustin David Belyea

Magneto-optical Kerr Eect Study of Magnetic Anisotropy in Soft Ferromagnets , Tatiana Marie Eggers

High Dimensional Non-Linear Optimization of Molecular Models , Joseph C. Fogarty

Solvent Dependent Molecular Mechanics: A Case Study Using Type I Collagen , Heather Harper

Photophysical and Electronic Properties of Low-Bandgap Semiconducting Polymers , Evan Lafalce

First-Principles Atomistic Simulations of Energetic Materials , Aaron Christopher Landerville

Photocatalysis and Grazing-Ion Beam Surface Modifications of Planar TiO2 Model Systems , Timothy Luttrell

A Study of Fe 3 O 4 Magnetic Nanoparticle RF Heating in Gellan Gum Polymer Under Various Experimental Conditions for Potential Application in Drug Delivery , Gabriel Marcus

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Undergraduate Thesis Examples

This page contains examples of Undergraduate Theses from students who have graduated with research distinction in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

All undergraduate theses completed at The Ohio State University are stored at the  Knowledge Bank at OSU Libraries  and can be accessed via their  Search Interface .

2021 Graduates

Abigail aronica.

Building a New Galactic Synthesis Model to Aid in the Detection of Exoplanets Thesis Advisor: Dr. Scott Gaudi, Department of Astronomy

Devin Bennett

Comparison of the Chemical Evolution of Simulated Milky-Way Type Galaxies Thesis Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Johnson, Department of Astronomy

Collin Christy

Classifying Stellar Variability in the V and g bands with the All-Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae Thesis Advisor: Dr. Krzysztof Stanek, Department of Astronomy

Evan Fitzmaurice

Migration and Stability of Multi-Planet Circumbinary Systems Project Advisor: Dr. David Martin, Department of Astronomy Thesis Advisor: Dr. Scott Gaudi, Department of Astronomy

Jessica Kulp

Recreating the "Origins of the Elements" Planetarium Show and Curriculum Module Project Advisor: Dr. Wayne Schlingman, Department of Astronomy Thesis Advisor: Dr. Richard Pogge, Department of Astronomy

Analyzing Unusual Stars in Kepler Project Advisor: Dr. Mathieu Vrard, Center for Cosmology and Astro Particle Physics Thesis Advisor: Dr. Marc Pinsonneault, Department of Astronomy

Maria Pudoka

Inspecting Stellar Angular Momentum Evolution and Ages using High-Resolution Spectroscopy Thesis Advisor: Dr. Donald Terndrup, Department of Astronomy

Michael Rothman

Biosignature Detection in Exoplanetary Atmospheres Using Monte Carlo Simulations Thesis Advisor: Dr. Anil Pradhan and Dr. Sultana Nahar, Department of Astronomy

Robert Von Holle

Active Galactic Nuclei and the Correlated Properties of Neighboring Galaxies Thesis Advisor: Dr. Barbara Ryden, Department of Astronomy

2020 Graduates

Serena cronin.

The Local Environments of Low-Redshift Supernovae Project Advisor Dr. Dyas Utomo, Department of Astronomy Thesis Advisor: Dr. Adam Leroy, Department of Astronomy

Dhvanil Desai

Galaxy Alignment with Surrounding Large-Scale Structure Thesis Advisor: Dr. Barbara Ryden, Department of Astronomy

Conor Hayes

Spectroscopic Confirmation of Four Ultra Diffuse Galaxy Candidates Project Advisor: Dr. Johnny Greco, Center for Cosmology and Astro Particle Physics Thesis Advisor: Dr. Paul Martini, Department of Astronomy

Jared Kolecki

Measuring Elemental Abundances in Metal-Poor Stars Thesis Advisors: Dr. Ji Wang and Dr. Jennifer Johnson, Department of Astronomy

Sophie Lebowitz

The Dragonfly Galaxy III. An Imposter Radio Galaxy in the High Redshift Universe   Project Advisor: Dr. Bjorn Emonts, The National Radio Astronomy Observatory Thesis Advisor: Dr. Donald Terndrup, Department of Astronomy

Jeniveve Pearson

An Analysis of the Historically Observed Period Change of UV Piscium, RT Andromedae, and XY Ursae Majoris Using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo Approach Thesis Advisor: Dr. Donald Terndrup, Department of Astronomy

Gabriela Torrini

Studying angularly extended gamma-ray sources with VERITAS Project Advisor: David Kieda, University of Utah Thesis Advisor: Dr. Laura Lopez, Department of Astronomy

Jack Warfield

An Intermediate-Age α-Rich Galactic Population Beyond the Solar Neighborhood Thesis Advisors: Dr. Marc Pinsonneault and Dr. Jennifer Johnson, Department of Astronomy

2019 Graduates

Dominic flournoy.

Intrinsic Shape Alignment of Early versus Late Type Galaxies Thesis Advisor: Dr. Barbara Ryden, Department of Astronomy

Ness Mayker

HI Balmer Jump Temperatures for Extragalactic HII Regions in the CHAOS Galaxies Project Advisor: Dr. Danielle Berg, Department of Astronomy Thesis Advisor: Dr. Richard Pogge, Department of Astronomy

2018 Graduates

Macy huston.

Making Microlensing Predictions With a New Population Synthesis Galactic Model Project Advisor: Dr. Matthew Penny, Department of Astronomy Thesis Advisor: Dr. Scott Gaudi, Department of Astronomy

Michael Macuga

The Fraction of Active Galactic Nuclei in the USS 1558-003 Protocluster at z = 2.53 Thesis Advisor: Dr. Paul Martini, Department of Astronomy

2012-2017 Graduates

Lawrence capuder.

Contribution of Solar Mass Loss to the Solution the Faint Young Sun Paradox for Physically Motivated Mass Loss Prescriptions Thesis Advisors: Dr. Marc Pinsonneault & Dr. Scott Gaudi, Department of Astronomy

James Derrick

The Green Valley: Separating Galaxy Populations in Color-Magnitude Space Thesis Advisor: Dr. Barbara Ryden, Department of Astronomy

Andrew Gallagher

Searching for Dark Galaxies Via Their Distorted Companions in the SDSS Thesis Advisor: Dr. Barbara Ryden, Department of Astronomy

Zachary Hartman

Looking for the dM in sdB+dM Systems Thesis Advisor: Dr. Donald Terndrup, Department of Astronomy

Denise Hung

Metallicities and Temperatures for Two Metal-Rich and Two Metal-Poor Galaxies Project Advisor: Dr. Kevin Croxall, Department of Astronomy Thesis Advisor: Dr. Richard Pogge, Department of Astronomy

Circumbinary Planets via Microlensing Thesis Advisor: Dr. Scott Gaudi, Department of Astronomy

Mallory Molina

Inter-Percentile Velocity Width: An Alternative Parametrization of the Velocity Field of the Broad-Line Region Thesis Advisor: Dr. Bradley Peterson, Department of Astronomy

Elizabeth Otto

Chemical Abundances of CH Stars in Omega Centauri Thesis Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Johnson

Rachel Patton (Cannata)

Exploring Sources of Contamination in Kepler Surveys for Stellar Rotation Thesis Advisor: Dr. Donald Terndrup, Department of Astronomy

Joseph Shulze

Characterization of LP133-373: A Double-line, Eclipsing dMe Binary Thesis Advisor: Dr. Donald Terndrup, Department of Astronomy

Andrew Taylor

A Possible Evolutionary Channel for the Recently Discovered Class of Millisecond Pulsars in Long, Eccentric Orbits Thesis Advisor: Dr. Todd Thompson, Department of Astronomy

Erika Wagoner

Testing Stellar Models for M Dwarfs Project Advisor: Dr. Sarah Schmidt, Department of Astronomy Thesis Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Johnson, Department of Astronomy

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Thesis Undergraduate Research in Physics

Physics 4999: thesis undergraduate research in physics, semester(s) offered:, course filters:.

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This collection of MIT Theses in DSpace contains selected theses and dissertations from all MIT departments. Please note that this is NOT a complete collection of MIT theses. To search all MIT theses, use MIT Libraries' catalog .

MIT's DSpace contains more than 58,000 theses completed at MIT dating as far back as the mid 1800's. Theses in this collection have been scanned by the MIT Libraries or submitted in electronic format by thesis authors. Since 2004 all new Masters and Ph.D. theses are scanned and added to this collection after degrees are awarded.

MIT Theses are openly available to all readers. Please share how this access affects or benefits you. Your story matters.

If you have questions about MIT theses in DSpace, [email protected] . See also Access & Availability Questions or About MIT Theses in DSpace .

If you are a recent MIT graduate, your thesis will be added to DSpace within 3-6 months after your graduation date. Please email [email protected] with any questions.

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MIT Theses may be protected by copyright. Please refer to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy for permission information. Note that the copyright holder for most MIT theses is identified on the title page of the thesis.

Theses by Department

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Collections in this community

Doctoral theses, graduate theses, undergraduate theses, recent submissions.

A development in East Boston, Massachusetts 

Operating and financial policy of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, 1921-1926 

A study of rotational flow in a pipe line 

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Home > Arts and Sciences > Physics > PHYSICSHONORS

Physics Undergraduate Honors Theses

Honors theses from 2024 2024.

An Analysis of the Physical Properties of Diatom-Based Solutions for 3D Printing Applications , Grace Cha

Designing a Battery Management System and Optimizing the Prototyping Process of a Video Laryngoscope , Angela Huang

Dimensionlessly Comparing Hydrogen and Helium Plasmas at LAPD , Lela Creamer

Faraday Rotation Results Associated with the Photoionized Gas of IC 1396 , Ramisa Akther Rahman

Identifying Transitions in Plasma with Topological Data Analysis of Noisy Turbulence , Julius Kiewel

Modeling the Neutral Densities of SPARC Using a Python Version of KN1D , Gwendolyn R. Galleher

Streamlining Care: Empowering Healthcare Providers through iOS Development , Claudia Smith

Utilizing User-Centered Design to Optimize the Mechanical and Electrical Components of a Wireless Video Laryngoscope for First Responders , Julia Ann Merti

Validation of Kinetic Transport Code for Improved Modeling of Neutral Densities in Tokamaks , Nick Holland

Honors Theses from 2023 2023

A Study of Reciprocal Underwater Motion and its Use in Algae Harvesting , Marguerite Bright

Black Hole Entropy in AdS/CFT and the Schwinger-Keldysh Formalism , Luke Mrini

Design of an Apparatus for Strain Tuning of Materials. , Ubaid Kazianga

Development of a 780 nm External Cavity Diode Laser for Rubidium Spectroscopy , Catherine Sturner

Finite Temperature Holographic QCD via the Hard Wall Model , Jude Bedessem

Inclusive Double Differential Muon Neutrino CC Cross Sections on Various Nuclear Targets in MINERvA , Sarah M. Hawkins

Investigating Electron Transport in Tokamaks Using Computer Simulation and Machine Learning , Javier Chiriboga

Materials Characterization for Microwave Atom Chip Development , Jordan Shields

Modeling Plasma Physics Using Qubit Lattice Algorithms , Paul Anderson

Monoenergetic neutrinos from WIMP annihilations in Jupiter , George French

Pion Detection for the MOLLER Parity-Violating Electron Scattering Experiment , Michael Tristan Hurst

Priming Coconut Vasculature for Self-Healing Applications , Ben Sanders

Spatial Variability of Alkali-metal Polarization , Lauren Vannell

STARS: Scope Temperature Auto-Regulation System , Tyler Hutchison

The Development of an AI Video Laryngoscope , Tianchen Shi and Avi Urbach

The Development of an AI Video Laryngoscope , Avi Urbach and Tianchen Shi

Trivializing Maps for the O(2) Model in Two Dimensions , Balin Armstrong

Honors Theses from 2022 2022

Alkali Linewidths under High Temperatures and Pressures of 3He , Michael Parker

An Atomic Magnetometer based on Nonlinear Magneto-Optical Polarization Rotation , Jiahui Li

A Study of Transport in the SOL Region of Tokamaks , Gordon Jameson Crouse

Co-planar Waveguides for Microwave Atom Chips , Morgan Logsdon

Design of Environment-Controlled Analog Audio Effects , Jacob Brotman-Krass

Development of a Vector Magnetometer based on Electromagnetically Induced Transparency in 87Rb Atomic Vapor , Alexander Toyryla

Development of a Video Laryngoscope with AI Assisted Epiglottis Bounding and Automatic Recording , Carson Stillman

Development of Convolutional Neural Network for Particle Identification in the GlueX DIRC Detector , Joshua O'Cain

Investigation of Tertiary Impact Cratering and Relation to Impact Physics Theory , Mikayla Huffman

Method for Protecting Satellites from Solar Energetic Particles Using Chaotic Magnetic Fields , Seth Gnesin

Optical Fiber-Linked Magnetometer Employing Artificial Intelligence for Magnetic Field Measurement , Sofia Brown

Honors Theses from 2021 2021

Composite Gravity in Curved Spacetime , Austin Batz

Exploring the $\phi\eta'$ Final State at GlueX , Elizabeth Salata

Nonlocal Lorentz-violating Modifications of QED , Qian Niu

Progress Towards Electromagnetic Manipulation and Trapping of Micro-particles , Andrew John Beling

Simulation and optimization of kinematics measurements for the MOLLER parity-violating electron-electron scattering experiment , Lauren Carver

Topology of the O(3) non-linear sigma model under the gradient flow , Stuart Thomas and Christopher Monahan

Honors Theses from 2020 2020

Atomic Magnetometry for the Detection of Cardio-magnetic Fields , Alexander Fay

Computational Simulations of Temperature-Dependent Dynamics in Type II Superconductors Using a Material Specific Formulation of Ginzburg Landau Theory , Aiden Harbick

Conservation of Orbital Angular Momentum in Degenerate Four-wave Mixing via Rubidium Vapor , Kangning Yang

Data Acquisition and Analysis for Helicity-Correlated Asymmetries in PREx-II , Quinn Campagna

Development and Upgrade of a Laser Cooling and Trapping System of Ultracold Potassium Atoms , Bennett Atwater

Development of Convolutional Neural Nets for Κ/π Differentiation at the GlueX Experiment , Matthew McEneaney

Development of Wearable Sensors for Gait Analysis , Jorden Smyth

Four-Wave Mixing with Orbital Angular Momentum Transfer , Hana Warner

Studies in SEOP Hyperpolarized 3He: Measuring Ko and the Spatial Dependence of Alkali Polarization , Michael Cairo

Studying and Correcting for Helicity-Correlated False Asymmetries in the PREx II and CREx Experiments , Carrington Metts

Honors Theses from 2019 2019

A Qubit Algorithm for Simulating the Nonlinear Schroedinger Equation , Connor Simpson

Chiral Transport in Anisotropic Materials , Jacopo Gliozzi

Construction of an Auger Microscope , Charles Soulen

Exclusive neutral pion production and Compton scattering at GlueX , Zach Baldwin

Exploring Stochastic Quantum Mechanics and Emergent Gravity , John Mitchell

Machine Learning and Electron Track Reconstruction for the MOLLER Experiment , Mary Robinson

Measuring Magnetic Field Gradients using Electromagnetically Induced Transparency in Rb Vapor , Ravn Jenkins

Median Energy Imaging of Supernova Remnants with Chandra X-ray Observatory , Anne Blackwell

MINERvA High Energy Test Beam Calibration , Jessica Sydnor

Pion Identification through Machine Learning for the MOLLER Experiment at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility , Anne-Katherine Burns

Reducing Quantum Uncertainty via Spatial Optimization , Austin T. Kalasky

Honors Theses from 2018 2018

Enhancing the Capabilities of Infrared Microscopy Apparatus , Ryan Wilmington

External Cavity Diode Laser for Ultra-cold Atom Experiments , Benjamin Halkowski

Pion Charge Exchange Cross Section on Liquid Argon , Kevin Nelson

Spectral Analysis of Lattice QCD Two-Point Correlation Functions , Elena Amparo

Timelike Compton Scattering in the GlueX Experiment at Jefferson Lab , Alexandra Cramer

Two-Mode Squeezing and Conservation of Optical Angular Momentum via Four-Wave Mixing in Rubidium , Nathan Super

Honors Theses from 2017 2017

3-3-1 Models With Unique Lepton Generations and Analysis of Higgs Decays , Karen Ficenec

An Analysis of the Effects of Isocurvature Fluctuations in Dantes Inferno Multi-Field Inflation Models , Brandon M. Buncher

A Numerical Study of Non-Perturbative Unification , John C. Donahue

Characterization of Venusian atmospheric dynamics using Venus Express images and ground-based observations , Jacob L. Gunnarson

Characterizing the Growth Rate of a Corrosion Layer on Stainless Steel in a Molten Salt Environment , Calvin E. Hensler

Continuing Improvements of the Sharkduino Animal Tag System , William Laney

Examination of Noninvasive Alternatives to Blood Pressure Waveform Measurement in Preterm Infants , William E. Lawrence

Exploring the Multi-Mode Structure of Atom-Generated Squeezed Light , Melissa A. Guidry

Hawking Radiation and Classical Tunneling: a Numerical Study , Dmitriy Zhigunov

Holographic Non-perturbative Thermodynamic Systems , Michael C. Kopreski

Infrared Study of Recluse Spider Silk , Stephanie Wang

Wrinkleless Mylar Cylinders: Design and Prototyping for the BONuS detector at Jefferson Lab , Wenqing Zhao

Honors Theses from 2016 2016

Black Holes and Finite-Temperature Field Theory in AdS/CFT , Jackson Cross Olsen

Corrosion in a Molten Salt Environment , Samuel Peter Paiewonsky Girdzis

Development of a Digital Offset Laser Lock , Ian W. Hage

Improving Optical Gyroscope Sensitivity Using a Fast Light Regime , Owen R. Wolfe

Increasing Quantum Limited Sensitivity of Interferometers Using Electromagnetically Induced Transparency , Hunter Blake Rew

Light Entanglement via Four Wave Mixing through a Rubidium Vapor Cell , Haley Bauser

Memory as Bayesian inference: On the connection between memory and the second law of thermodynamics , Wade Daniel Hodson

Quantifying the Sensitivity of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis to Isospin Breaking , Matthew Ramin Hamedani Heffernan

Sensitivity Determination in the CHIPS Neutrino Detector , Eve Adde Chase

Studies on the DAQ System of GRINCH detector , Peibo An

Honors Theses from 2015 2015

3D Printing Scintillating Detectors for Field Emission Detection in Niobium SRF Cavities , Alice E. Perrin

A Study of the Cosmic Ray Rate in the CHIPS-M Prototype Detector , Brandon Taylor Kriesten

Effect of Hyperons on Pion Asymmetries Measured in the Qweak Experiment , Marcus S. Starman

GEANT4 Simulation of Detector Properties in the MOLLER Experiment , Christopher R. Haufe

Growth and Characterization of Gold Nanostructures Produced from Diatomaceous Algae , David A. Specht

Measurements of the lead-hydrocarbon cross section ratio for charged-current neutrino interactions , William F. Bergan

Near-Field Effects in Radio Frequency Emission from Particle Showers in a Dense Medium , Rachel J. Hyneman

Persistent Population Biases in Branching Random Walk Algorithms , David J. Geroski

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Thesis Information

Upcoming thesis defenses.

If you are defending this term and do not see your information listed, please contact Sydney Miller in the APO.

Forming a Thesis Committee

When : Doctoral Students – After completing the written and oral exams and generally by the beginning of their third Year of study. Forming their committees at this stage will allow students to consult with all members of the committee during their studies and can provide additional advice and mentorship for them.

How : Register for thesis research under subject number 8.ThG, form a thesis committee, meet with full committee, and submit a formal thesis proposal to the department.

Thesis Committee Formation

Student should consult with their Research Supervisor to discuss the Doctoral Thesis Committee Proposal Form which will name the 3 required members of the Physics Doctoral Committee and a descriptive preliminary thesis title. 

Doctoral Committee must include 3 members with MIT Physics faculty appointments:

• Committee Chair: Research Supervisor from MIT Physics Faculty or Research Supervisor from outside MIT Physics + Co-Supervisor/Chair from MIT Physics Faculty
• Selected Reader: from MIT Physics Faculty (in the same/similar research area, selected by student and supervisor)
• Assigned Reader: from MIT Physics Faculty (in different research area, selected by the Department’s faculty Graduate Coordinator.)

The Form should include the names of the Student, Chair, and Selected Reader and a Thesis Title, when it is forwarded to the Academic Programs Office via email to [email protected] and Sydney will work with Faculty Graduate Coordinator Will Detmold , who will identify the Assigned Reader.

Following the consultation with their supervisor, the student should reach out to the proposed Selected Reader to secure an electronic signature or email confirmation in lieu of signature to serve on this committee. (Form should include either signature or date of email agreement.) It will take approximately 2-3 weeks before an Assigned Reader will be added and Sydney will provide an introduction to this final member of your Doctoral Committee. Please note: you may not form your committee and defend your thesis in the same semester.

Thesis Committee Meeting and Proposal

Once the Thesis Committee is established, the student should send all members a draft description of the proposed thesis topic and set up the first committee meeting with all members attending together in real time. A formal 2-page written Thesis Proposal should result from this important meeting and be sent to Sydney for the student’s academic record.  

Thesis Proposal

You should discuss your thesis research with your committee members all together in real time at your first committee meeting. Following this full discussion about your thesis topic, please write up your formal Thesis Proposal to reflect the mutually-agreed thesis plans and forward the Proposal to the graduate program at the APO using [email protected] for Sydney to document in the department’s academic records.

Thesis Research

Following the formation of the doctoral committee and submission of the thesis proposal, the student will continue to work on their thesis research in consultation with their Research Supervisor and other members of their Committee. This important communication paves the way for the thesis defense and degree completion.

When students are ready to defend, they should complete an ‘ Application for Advanced Degree ’ with the Registrar and schedule a thesis defense with all committee members attending in real time, whether in person or by video. Announcements for the defense will be coordinated by the Academic Programs Office and students should be in close contact with Sydney Miller during their final term or study.

Further details about this last stage of your studies will be available separately.

Thesis Defense

If there is even a slight possibility that you may finish this term, please complete an Application for Advanced Degree at the Registrar’s website at the beginning of the term. It is easy to remove your name if your plans change, but this timely step will avoid late fees!

Once you have scheduled your defense, please send this information to Sydney at [email protected] :

• Thesis Title:
• Committee Members:
• Meeting Details: (can be sent in the final week before the defense)

She will create the email notifications for our physics community and the MIT Events and Physics Calendar listings. This information you provide her is also used to generate the defense grade sheet for your defense.

Please send your committee members a thesis draft to help them prepare for your defense and plan to spend around two weeks making thesis revisions after your successful defense. The date you submit your thesis document to the department will determine whether it is for a Fall, Spring, or Summer degree.

Thesis Formatting

Archival copies of all theses must adhere carefully to principles specified by the MIT Libraries for formatting and submission. For complete information about how to format your thesis, refer to the  Specifications for Thesis Preparation .

Graduate Program Coordinator Sydney Miller can review your title page and abstract for accuracy before you submit the thesis. You may send these to her at  [email protected].

Required Signatures and Documentation

• Signatures:  The MIT Archives require an electronic PDF document and the Department needs a separate additional stand-alone title page with electronic/scanned signatures of   the student, research supervisor, and co-supervisor (if applicable). Theses are accepted by Associate Department Head, Professor  Lindley Winslow . Please send your documents to  [email protected]  and the APO staff will forward your thesis submitted to the MIT Library Archives.
• Thesis defense grade sheets:  Before accepting a PhD thesis, the Academic Programs Office must have a signed thesis defense grade sheet from the research supervisor indicating a “Pass” on the thesis defense.
• Thesis letter grade:  Before accepting an SM thesis, Academic Programs must have received a letter or email from the research supervisor, assigning a final thesis grade of A, B, or C.

Finalizing and Submitting your Thesis to MIT

Departments collect the thesis documents on behalf of the MIT Thesis Library Archives and Physics graduate students will submit their thesis to Sydney Miller.  Review overall information from MIT about  thesis specifications and format .

Please see the attached doctoral title page format for Physics and send your draft of the title/cover page and abstract to Sydney for review and any necessary edits. Once these are approved, please prepare the full document, with pagination appropriate for double-sided printing.

Theses may be completed and signed on any date of the year and the degree requirements are completed when the thesis is submitted. This is the final day of student status and payroll. (International students are eligible for Optional Practical Training starting on the following day.)

MIT awards degrees at the end of each term:

• Fall Term degree is in February. (Theses due second Friday in January.)
• Spring Term degree is in May. (Theses due second Friday in May.)
• Summer Term degree is in September. (Theses due second Friday in August.)

Thesis submissions are electronic files and you will submit the following to Sydney:

• A complete thesis document, without signatures
• A title page with electronic signatures from yourself, your supervisor (and co-supervisor, if required). Sydney will work with the Associate Head, Lindley Winslow , whose signature is required for the department and this will be added after you submit your document to the department/Sydney.
• A separate abstract page

Doctoral students also complete and submit the  Proquest/UMI form  (PDF), with attached title page and abstract (no signatures).

In addition to submitting your thesis to the department for the library archives, you may also  add your thesis to DSpace .

Digital Submission Guidelines

All theses are being accepted by the MIT Libraries in  digital form only . Digital theses are submitted electronically to the Physics Department, along with a separate signed title page. Students on the degree list will receive specific guidance about submission from the Academic Programs Office.

General Thesis Policies

All theses are archived in the MIT Libraries. An archival fee must be paid before a student’s final candidacy for a degree can be officially approved.

After all required materials have been submitted to the Academic Programs Office, a thesis receipt will be sent by email.

Thesis Due Dates

Check the MIT Academic Calendar for deadlines to submit your online degree application.

Thesis submission deadlines Graduating in May: Second Friday in May Graduating in September: Second Friday in August Graduating in February: Second Friday in January We strongly recommend that your defense be scheduled at least three weeks prior to the submission date. Consult with Academic Administrator Shannon Larkin to determine your thesis submission timeline.

Thesis FAQs

The information on this page is applicable for both PhD and Masters (with the exception of an Oral defense) degree candidates.

How do I submit a Thesis Proposal? When is it due?

Students register for thesis research units and assemble a thesis committee in the term following passing the Oral Exam.

The first step is for the student and research supervisor to agree on a thesis topic. An initial Graduate Thesis Proposal Cover Sheet (PDF) (Master’s Degree candidates should see process in section below) must be submitted to Academic Programs by the second week of the term.

The form requires

• an initial thesis title
• the name and signature of the research supervisor
• the name of one additional reader for the thesis committee agreed upon by the student and advisor

A third reader from the MIT Physics faculty, who is not in the same research area but whose background makes him or her an appropriate departmental representative on the committee, will be assigned by the Graduate Program Faculty Coordinator. If a student has a co-supervisor (because the main supervisor is from outside the MIT Physics faculty), the thesis committee will consist of four people: research supervisor, co-supervisor, selected reader, and assigned reader.

After the student is notified of the assigned reader, he or she should convene an initial thesis committee meeting within the same term. The student should also register for 8.THG beginning in this term, and in each term thereafter. 8.THG registration should be for up to 36 units, depending on whether the student is also still taking classes and/or receiving academic credit because of a teaching assistantship. All post-qual students should routinely register for a standard total 36 units.

Master’s degree candidates should complete an SM Thesis Proposal Cover Sheet (PDF). A second reader for the Master’s degree thesis committee is assigned by the Graduate Program Faculty Coordinator. Note that there is no public defense required for an SM degree.

See the Doctoral Guidelines for additional information.

I am going to graduate soon–what do I have to do in terms of paperwork etc.?

Please reference the Registrar’s complete graduation checklist . Students should reference this list at the START of the semester prior to graduation. Your research area’s administrative office and the Physics APO will also help you manage the final stage of your degree.

How do I get on/off the Degree List?

Fill out the Degree Application through the student section of WebSIS . Petitioning to be on the degree list for a particular commencement is required. Note that it is easier to be removed from the degree list to be added, so students are encouraged to apply for the degree list if there is any reasonable chance they will complete the PhD in the coming term.

The WebSIS degree list is used to communicate information about thesis defense announcements and grade sheets, thesis formats, and completion dates, so it is important to file a degree application to be on the list in a timely way. The standard deadline for filing a degree application without being assessed a late fee is the Friday of the first week of the term in which a student anticipates graduating. Removing oneself from the degree list requires an email to Academic Programs .

When is my thesis due? Can I get an extension?

Students can defend and submit their thesis on any dates that work for their committees, but MIT confers degrees only 3 times each year: in May, September and February. Thesis submission deadlines Graduating in May: Second Friday in May Graduating in September: Second Friday in August Graduating in February: Second Friday in January We strongly recommend that your defense be scheduled at least three weeks prior to the submission date. Consult with Academic Administrator Shannon Larkin to determine your thesis submission timeline.

Note that these deadlines are already more generous that the Institute thesis deadline. Students desiring extensions should contact the Academic Administrator, Shannon Larkin .

How do I find a room for my Thesis Defense?

Many Divisions have conference and/or seminar rooms which can be used for oral exams and defenses. These locations are recommended to keep your Thesis Defense comfortable and in familiar territory. Students who cannot book a room in their research area should contact Sydney Miller in the Physics APO to check availability of a Physics departmental conference room (often difficult to schedule due to heavy demand) or to help schedule a classroom through the Registrar’s Office.

When I submit my thesis to Physics Academic Programs, what do I need to bring?

Please refer to the Graduate Thesis Submission Guidelines .

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Theses written by recent former students of the group, listed by main supervisor

Joseph Conlon Searches for Axion-Like Particles with X-ray astronomy Nicholas Jennings (2018) Astrophysical signatures of axion and axion-like particles Francesca Day (2017) Cosmology & Astrophysics of Dark Radiation Andrew Powell (2016) Phenomenology of Dark Radiation & String Compactifications Stephen Angus (2014)

Andre Lukas Aspects of string model-building and heterotic/F-theory duality Callum Brodie (2019) Calabi-Yau Manifolds, Discrete Symmetries & String Theory Challenger Mishra (2017) Heterotic string compactification & quiver gauge theory on toric geometry Chuang Sun (2016) Heterotic Compactification on Spaces of General 6-Structures Eirik Eik Svanes (2014) (with Prof Xenia de la Ossa Maths) Elementary Particle Physics from String Theory Compactifications, Michael Klaput (2014) Heterotic string models on smooth Calabi-Yau threefolds Andrei Constantin (2013)

John March Russell Radiation from Black Holes George Johnson (2020) Aspects of massive spin-2 effective field theories James Bonifacio (2017) (with Prof Pedro Ferreira Astro) Multimetric theories of gravity James Scargill (2016)  (with Prof Pedro Ferreira Astro) Searching for New Particles at the Large Hadron Collider: Theory and Methods for Extradimensional Supersymmetry James Scoville (2015)  (with Prof Alan Barr PP) New Phenomenology from Asymmetric Dark Matter Robert Lasenby (2015) Supersymmetry and Electroweak Fine Tuning Edward Hardy (2014) Aspects of Asymmetric Dark Matter James Unwin (2013) (with Prof Philip Candelas   Maths) The String Axiverse and Cosmology David Marsh (2012)

Gavin Salam Precision fits for the LHC and beyond Emma Slade (2020) (with Juan Rojo, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam) Precision Physics at the Large Hadron Collider Frederic Dreyer (2016) (with Matteo Cacciari, LPTHE, Paris Diderot University) Theoretical & experimental study of electroweak corrections for inclusive production of jets and development of methods for detecting extreme topologies Nicolas Meric (2013)  (with Philippe Schwemling, LPNHE, Paris Diderot University)

Subir Sarkar

On the impact of new, light states in some astrophysical and laboratory systems Giacomo Marocco (2022) (with John Wheater ) Investigating new physics with high power lasers  Konstantin Beyer (2021) (with Gianluca Gregori , ALP)

Inhomogeneities in Cosmology David Kraljic (2016) From the LHC to IceCube Jim Talbert (2016) (with Dr Guido Bell) The Standard Model to the Planck scale Kyle Allison (2015) (with Prof Graham Ross) Phenomenology of Asymmetric Dark Matter Felix Kahlhoefer (2014)

Andrei Starinets Holographic Approaches to Strongly-Interacting Systems Nikola Gushterov (2018)  (with  Dr Andrew O'Bannon Southampton) Applications of the gauge/gravity duality Jonas Probst (2017) Gauge/Gravity Duality & Non-Equilibrium Dynamics of Strongly Coupled Quantum Systems Philip Kleinert (2017) Hidden structures in scattering amplitudes & correlation functions in supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories Jakub Sikorowski (2015) (with Prof Luis Fernando Alday Maths) Hydrodynamics: from effective field theory to holography Saso Grozdanov (2014) Holographic quantum liquids Nikolaos Kaplis (2013) Excitations in holographic quantum liquids Richard Davison (2012)

John Wheater

On the impact of new, light states in some astrophysical and laboratory systems Giacomo Marocco (2022) (with Subir Sarkar )

Topics in quantum gravity and quantum field theory Dennis Praveen Xavier (2022) Spin systems and boundary conditions on random planar graphs Aravinth Kulanthaivelu (2020) Naturalness in beyond the standard model physics Isabel Garcia Garcia (2017) Random Matrices, Boundaries and Branes Benjamin Niedner (2015) Spectral dimension in graph models of causal quantum gravity Georgios Giasemidis (2013)

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Undergraduate Thesis Research Published

Undergraduate Mike Rushka C’20 recently published the first part of his undergraduate thesis in the American Journal of Physics. Mike worked with Prof. Freericks on developing an operator theoretic method to calculate the wavefunctions of the simple harmonic oscillator. The title of the publication is “A completely algebraic solution of the simple harmonic oscillator.” Mike has also submitted a second publication from his thesis project to the Journal of Mathematical Physics. This work was honored with the undergraduate thesis prize from the Department of Physics in 2020. The paper is available at  https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0001702 (new window)

Knox Named 1st Endowed Chair of Physics and Astronomy

• by Courtney Tompkins
• June 25, 2024

The nature of dark energy, the origins of the universe and the afterglow of the Big Bang.

These are just a few of the mind-bending phenomena Professor Lloyd Knox will continue exploring as the first Michael and Ester Vaida Endowed Chair in Cosmology and Astrophysics.  

The Vaida Chair — the first endowed faculty position in the Department of Physics and Astronomy — was established with a $1.5 million estate gift from Michael L. Vaida, Ph.D. ’73, and his wife, Ester Vaida. The Vaidas also pledged $200,000 to support a graduate fellowship and undergraduate scholarships. 

“I am incredibly grateful to Michael and Ester for this remarkable gift,” Knox said. “It will support our missions of research, teaching and service for as long as there is a UC Davis.”

Endowed chairs are prestigious academic positions established through a significant philanthropic gift. Funds are invested in perpetuity, with a portion of generated returns used each year to allow the faculty holder to pursue ambitious research projects, mentor students and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their field.

At a ceremony held last month to thank the donors and celebrate Knox’s appointment, the cosmologist called it “the highest honor” he has ever received.

“I feel very deeply the responsibility to honor this gift, and the trust of my colleagues, by putting these resources and this title to good use,” he said. “Like the Starship Enterprise, I am now on a five-year mission. I promise I’ll do my best.”

Although the gift was initially included in the Vaidas’ estate plan in 2014, the pair chose to activate it early so they could see benefits of it within their lifetime. 

“I am very happy we did it that way,” said Michael Vaida. “This field studies fundamental questions about our universe – these are things I’ve been curious about for most of my life.” 

Cultivating curiosity

Knox’s immersion in science began as soon as he could read. From regular trips to the library for the latest astronomy books to attending summer science programs as a young boy, Knox found countless ways to fuel his curiosity. 

He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Virginia and a doctorate in physics from the University of Chicago.  Knox joined the UC Davis faculty in 2001 , with a research focus on the fundamental laws of nature and origins of the universe.

“The universe is a great, huge mystery,” Knox said. “We’re all a part of this natural system that includes simple rules that seem to apply everywhere, and we have no idea why it’s like that. I feel a great privilege to be part of the conversation.”

His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, NASA and the Department of Energy. In 2004, Knox was named a UC Davis Chancellor’s Fellow, and in 2012, he was elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society in recognition of his work. He is also a senior member of the Planck and South Pole Telescope collaborations — international teams of scientists working together to unlock secrets about the cosmos. 

Knox's research with these large collaborations has been highly cited, and he and his team of graduate students have made notable discoveries such as their  detection of a signal from the “cosmic neutrino background” in 2015 . These ghost-like particles, called neutrinos, were released after the birth of the universe more than 13 billion years ago.

Estella Atekwana, dean of the College of Letters and Science, said the gift is a testament to the strength of the physics and astronomy program and the donors’ belief in the college’s impacts on the world.

“With this endowment, Michael and Ester have guaranteed our students continued, transformative personal connection to the most influential scientific minds in the world while simultaneously supporting key research that helps us understand our universe,” Atekwana said.

While discovering knowledge about the universe is a priority for Knox as the Vaida Chair, he is also passionate about using resources to strengthen the department’s culture, mentor more students and support diversity efforts across campus.

"I want this to be a place where more people feel the kind of support I have felt over the years, where we all respect and care for each other, and where we all feel free to take the kinds of risks that support learning and discovery," Knox said.

Donors’ legacy lives on in the cosmos

As a graduate student in the early 1970s, the department’s collaborative and inquisitive environment made a lasting impression on Michael Vaida.

“I saw firsthand the fruitful results you get from a multidisciplinary approach,” said Michael Vaida, who earned a doctorate in computer science and computational physics in 1973. “I used the expertise I learned in my computer science classes to solve physics problems, and that became my thesis.”

His journey to UC Davis began in Soviet-era Romania, where he was raised by his maternal grandparents. He graduated in 1965 with a degree in physics from one of the country’s top public research universities, but he always dreamt of living in the U.S.  

Michael Vaida migrated to New York by way of Yugoslavia, France and Italy, and ultimately landed in Central California in the fall of 1968.

He earned a master’s degree from California State University, Fresno, where he met his beloved wife. A pioneer in the field of data analytics, he founded Vaida Health Data consultants in 1986 and worked with hospitals and hospital associations across the country.

Ester Vaida also built a career in health care, working as a surgery coordinator for Sutter Women’s Health in Sacramento. A native of Guatemala, she often served as a Spanish translator for many migrant workers and their families who sought services there. 

Although Michael Vaida did not pursue a career in physics, he retained a keen interest in the subject, particularly astrophysics. And since Ester Vaida shares his fascination with the stars, they chose to let their legacy live on through the cosmos.

“When I suggested we bequest our estate to charity, Ester was very supportive of the idea,” Michael Vaida said. “If this gift to UC Davis leads to any new discoveries about the universe, we would be delighted.”

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2024 Faculty of Science Excellence Award winners announced

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Michelle Maillet (Academic Associate), Lauren Kay (Clerical), Chantal Marotte (Management), and Moshe Dalva (Technical) have been named recipients of the Faculty of Science Excellence Awards.  

These awards, announced at the Faculty of Science Council meeting on May 21st, recognize the outstanding contributions made by members of the Faculty’s administrative and support staff during the 2023-2024 academic year.  

Read below the citations prepared by the Faculty of Science Excellence Awards Committee. 

Michelle Maillet, Department of Geography, Faculty of Science Excellence Award for Academic Associates  

As Undergraduate Advisor, Michelle Maillet has been responsible since 2014 for guiding students through their programs in the Department of Geography. Her job expanded in 2019 when she became full-time advisor for the Interfaculty program in Sustainability Science and Society. As a steadfast supporter of students’ interests, Michelle consistently goes the extra mile to provide students with outstanding support. One of many examples of this is her organization of extra mid-semester activities centered around arts and crafts that enable students to connect, socialize, and let off steam. She has a university-wide reputation as an exceptionally caring undergraduate advisor, to the point where many students name their interactions with her as their favourite part of being a Geography student.  For all these reasons and many more, I am very happy to present the Faculty of Science Excellence Award for Academic Associates to Michelle Maillet. 

Lauren Kay, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science Excellence Award for Clerical Staff  

Since 2010, Lauren Kay has served the Department of Physics with great distinction as the Graduate Program Coordinator. This is a huge responsibility, as Physics has about 200 graduate students, many of whom are international, with around 80 new entrants to be selected and around 80 who complete their programs each year. Lauren has made exceptional efforts to ensure that students progress through their thesis work smoothly, from streamlining procedures for paying them to constituting their thesis committees and coordinating their final defenses. She handles changing or exceptional circumstances, such as students having sudden visa problems, with considerable skill and good grace.   For all these reasons and many more, I am very happy to present the Faculty of Science Excellence Award for Clerical staff to Lauren Kay. 

Chantal Marotte, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science Excellence Award for Management Staff   

Chantal Marotte has been with the Department of Chemistry for 38 years and has been managing the graduate program in Chemistry since 2003. She handles a range of activities, including filling TA positions, assessing graduate applications, and, perhaps most importantly, ensuring the well-being of graduate students with exceptional dedication and skill. At one point, she intervened extensively to find financial support for a student who experienced substantial loss because of a fire in their residence building. How much Chantal has touched the hearts of Chemistry students was made evident by a compilation of video testimonials that students and alumni made in 2021 to thank her for her efforts.  For all these reasons and many more, I am very happy to present the Faculty of Science Excellence Award for Management staff to Chantal Marotte. 

Moshe (Mike) Dalva, Department of Geography, Faculty of Science Excellence Award for Technical Staff   

Moshe (Mike) Dalva has been a Research Technician in the Department of Geography since 2004 and is also an MSc graduate from the same department. He couples exceptional understanding of the theory behind the intricate, complex, and sometimes old, pieces of equipment in Burnside Hall with remarkable technical skill in operating and fixing them. In one instance where an equipment failure appeared to be terminal, Mike was able to diagnose and begin fixing the problem within an hour, potentially saving the student who relied on this equipment many months of delay. He is deeply dedicated to ensuring that researchers conduct their work safely, not just in a laboratory setting but also in remote field locations, where he also provides essential support.   For all these reasons and many more, I am very happy to present the Faculty of Science Excellence Award for Technical staff to Moshe Dalva. 

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• by Courtney Tompkins
• June 25, 2024

The nature of dark energy, the origins of the universe and the afterglow of the Big Bang.

These are just a few of the mind-bending phenomena Professor Lloyd Knox will continue exploring as the first Michael and Ester Vaida Endowed Chair in Cosmology and Astrophysics.  

The Vaida Chair — the first endowed faculty position in the Department of Physics and Astronomy — was established with a $1.5 million estate gift from Michael L. Vaida, Ph.D. ’73, and his wife, Ester Vaida. The Vaidas also pledged $200,000 to support a graduate fellowship and undergraduate scholarships. 

“I am incredibly grateful to Michael and Ester for this remarkable gift,” Knox said. “It will support our missions of research, teaching and service for as long as there is a UC Davis.”

Endowed chairs are prestigious academic positions established through a significant philanthropic gift. Funds are invested in perpetuity, with a portion of generated returns used each year to allow the faculty holder to pursue ambitious research projects, mentor students and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their field.

At a ceremony held last month to thank the donors and celebrate Knox’s appointment, the cosmologist called it “the highest honor” he has ever received.

“I feel very deeply the responsibility to honor this gift, and the trust of my colleagues, by putting these resources and this title to good use,” he said. “Like the Starship Enterprise, I am now on a five-year mission. I promise I’ll do my best.”

Although the gift was initially included in the Vaidas’ estate plan in 2014, the pair chose to activate it early so they could see benefits of it within their lifetime. 

“I am very happy we did it that way,” said Michael Vaida. “This field studies fundamental questions about our universe – these are things I’ve been curious about for most of my life.” 

Cultivating curiosity

Knox’s immersion in science began as soon as he could read. From regular trips to the library for the latest astronomy books to attending summer science programs as a young boy, Knox found countless ways to fuel his curiosity. 

He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Virginia and a doctorate in physics from the University of Chicago.  Knox joined the UC Davis faculty in 2001 , with a research focus on the fundamental laws of nature and origins of the universe.

“The universe is a great, huge mystery,” Knox said. “We’re all a part of this natural system that includes simple rules that seem to apply everywhere, and we have no idea why it’s like that. I feel a great privilege to be part of the conversation.”

His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, NASA and the Department of Energy. In 2004, Knox was named a UC Davis Chancellor’s Fellow, and in 2012, he was elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society in recognition of his work. He is also a senior member of the Planck and South Pole Telescope collaborations — international teams of scientists working together to unlock secrets about the cosmos. 

Knox's research with these large collaborations has been highly cited, and he and his team of graduate students have made notable discoveries such as their  detection of a signal from the “cosmic neutrino background” in 2015 . These ghost-like particles, called neutrinos, were released after the birth of the universe more than 13 billion years ago.

Estella Atekwana, dean of the College of Letters and Science, said the gift is a testament to the strength of the physics and astronomy program and the donors’ belief in the college’s impacts on the world.

“With this endowment, Michael and Ester have guaranteed our students continued, transformative personal connection to the most influential scientific minds in the world while simultaneously supporting key research that helps us understand our universe,” Atekwana said.

While discovering knowledge about the universe is a priority for Knox as the Vaida Chair, he is also passionate about using resources to strengthen the department’s culture, mentor more students and support diversity efforts across campus.

"I want this to be a place where more people feel the kind of support I have felt over the years, where we all respect and care for each other, and where we all feel free to take the kinds of risks that support learning and discovery," Knox said.

Donors’ legacy lives on in the cosmos

As a graduate student in the early 1970s, the department’s collaborative and inquisitive environment made a lasting impression on Michael Vaida.

“I saw firsthand the fruitful results you get from a multidisciplinary approach,” said Michael Vaida, who earned a doctorate in computer science and computational physics in 1973. “I used the expertise I learned in my computer science classes to solve physics problems, and that became my thesis.”

His journey to UC Davis began in Soviet-era Romania, where he was raised by his maternal grandparents. He graduated in 1965 with a degree in physics from one of the country’s top public research universities, but he always dreamt of living in the U.S.  

Michael Vaida migrated to New York by way of Yugoslavia, France and Italy, and ultimately landed in Central California in the fall of 1968.

He earned a master’s degree from California State University, Fresno, where he met his beloved wife. A pioneer in the field of data analytics, he founded Vaida Health Data consultants in 1986 and worked with hospitals and hospital associations across the country.

Ester Vaida also built a career in health care, working as a surgery coordinator for Sutter Women’s Health in Sacramento. A native of Guatemala, she often served as a Spanish translator for many migrant workers and their families who sought services there. 

Although Michael Vaida did not pursue a career in physics, he retained a keen interest in the subject, particularly astrophysics. And since Ester Vaida shares his fascination with the stars, they chose to let their legacy live on through the cosmos.

“When I suggested we bequest our estate to charity, Ester was very supportive of the idea,” Michael Vaida said. “If this gift to UC Davis leads to any new discoveries about the universe, we would be delighted.”

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