2015-AEP-PhD New Grad Orientation-Cornell

8/18/2019 2015-AEP-PhD New Grad Orientation-Cornell

1/11

Ph.D. Program


2/11

Applied Physics Graduate Orientation

Gregory D. Fuchs

Director of Graduate Studies

228 Clark Hall

DGS Office Hours:

W, R 3-4 pm


3/11

Tuesday, August 25Instruction Begins

Thursday, August 27Faculty/Students/Staff Bowling Party Get Together

Helen Newman Bowling Center – 4:30-6:30pm

Monday, September 07Labor Day/Holiday/No Classes

Tuesday, September 08Last day to ADD a course or change Credit Hours

Saturday, October 10 – Fall Break BeginsWednesday, October 14 - Classes Resume

Tuesday, October 20Last day to DROP a course w/out “W” appearing on transcriptLast day to CHANGE Grade Options (from S/U to Letter or Letter to S/U)

Important Dates


4/11

Temporary Advisors

Lena Kourkoutis

Bruce Kusse

Manfred Lindau

Make appointment to see advisor during first week of

class

Give advisor your diagnostic exam before you meet


5/11

EXAMS

•Diagnostic Exam- Guide for advising courses

- Not part of your permanent record

•Qualifying Exam – (written)

- Core curriculum- Taken in May of the first year

•A Exam (oral)- Broad range of physics, research project

- Must be taken before beginning 7th semester

•B-Exam

- Thesis defence


6/11

Core Curriculum for Graduate Students inApplied Physics

All graduate students in the Field of Applied Physics are expected toachieve competence in:Applied Mathematics - AEP 4210 & AEP 4220Classical Mechanics - AEP/PHY 3330Electrodynamics - AEP 5570 or PHY 6561 (AEP 3550/3560 is close)Statistical Mechanics – PHY6562 or CH 7950 (AEP 4230 is close)Quantum Mechanics – PHY 6572 (AEP 3610/3620 is close)

Experimental Physics – PHY 6510 (required)

Minor Subject Courses (not AEP or Physics)Typically 2 – 3 courses

(starts after you have decided on your minor committee member)

Research Courses

First Year Course Load

2 – 3 courses per/semester + TA or GRA assignment

Advice: “shop” for courses for the first week or two of semester


7/11

Special Committee

Start with a temporary advisor- Choose classes for first year

Find your research advisor by ~ March/April 2016- Does not have to be in Field of Applied Physics

- Be explicit in your discussions with advisors – youhave not joined a group until the faculty tells you theywill support you with a GRA starting a particular time

Pick your minor subject and minor advisor

- Finish your minor requirement by the A-exam

Form your Special Committee- No later than the end of the 3rd semester


8/11

External Fellowships

Flexibility, $$$, prestige

Database of fellowship programs on Graduate School website

NSF, NDSEG, Hertz, …

Primarily for domestic students

Application includes (general) research proposal/essay Deadlines in November

- identify research area soon

- faculty in that area can provide guidance

- recipients can provide guidance

External Fellowship Application Info (on-line video)http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/costs-and-funding/fellowships

http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/costs-and-funding/fellowshipshttp://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/costs-and-funding/fellowships


9/11

“Soft Skills” are important


10/11

Misc. I-9’s:

Please see Cynthia – Clark 261

(Must complete to receive pay/stipend)

Pay Dates: Fellowship- August 17 – One check for the semester TA – 15th & 31st of each month (1st check on 31st)

See Donna Mazza (Clark 262) with any questions

Students’ mailbox:Clark 271B (next to Cynthia’s Office)

TA’s:See Renee for work-related supplies & copy machine access

(Clark 271)

PhD Study Room:(Clark 245)If your ID card does not work today, please see Renee


11/11

Documents

2015-AEP-PhD New Grad Orientation-Cornell