Astronomy & Astrophysics• Order-of-magnitude issue:

– 25% of U.S. population– 2-3% of physics and astronomy

PhD’s (~ 4 individuals/year)

• Average among PhD granting institutions:– 1 every 13 years

Aero/Astronautical engineering

• In 2002: 201 PhD’s– 4 PhD’s to underrepresented

minorities– 77 PhD’s to foreign nationals

Number of African- and Hispanic-Americans Earning Astronomy PhDs by Year

0

1

2

3

4

5

1998

1996

1994

1992

1990

1988

1986

1984

1982

1980

1978

Year of PhD

Nu

mb

er

African Americans Hispanic Americans

Percentage of Astronomy PhDs Earned by African- and Hispanic-Americans by Year

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

1998

1996

1994

1992

1990

1988

1986

1984

1982

1980

1978

Year of PhD

Pe

rce

nt

African Percent Hispanic Percent Total Percent

Fisk-Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD Bridge Program

Get the preparation you need to earn a PhD

1. Earn a Masters degree in physics at Fisk, with full funding support.

2. Get valuable, paid research experience.

3. Receive preparation for the GRE.

4. Get fast-track admission to the Vanderbilt PhD program, with full funding support.

• Astronomy, astrophysics, space science

• Biophysics

• Materials science, nanophysics, detector development

• Imaging science

Nashville, Tennessee

Current Fisk-Vanderbilt Bridge Students