What is Physics phd: Definition and 176 Discussions

A physics engine is computer software that provides an approximate simulation of certain physical systems, such as rigid body dynamics (including collision detection), soft body dynamics, and fluid dynamics, of use in the domains of computer graphics, video games and film (CGI). Their main uses are in video games (typically as middleware), in which case the simulations are in real-time. The term is sometimes used more generally to describe any software system for simulating physical phenomena, such as high-performance scientific simulation.

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  1. Lagraaaange

    How does one obtain a Physics PhD in 3 years?

    I was looking a Leonard Susskinds background, and I noticed he obtained his Phd in 3 years from Cornell. Is this unheard of in theoretical physics these day. Was he just that special?
  2. R

    Admissions Admission criteria for theoretical physics PHD

    What is the most important factors that determine if a candidate can be admitted into top theoretical physics PHD program? Since undergraduate students are most likely not able to produce significant research paper, will universities put more emphasis on GRE and GPA?
  3. A

    EE MS & Physics PhD: Advantages in Job Market?

    I have recently started a Physics PhD program. The first two years are mostly coursework, and the requirements are somewhat flexible. Once you pass all your courses, you pretty much automatically get a Physics masters. But, if I choose my courses wisely, I could probably end up with an EE MS on...
  4. M

    Confused on what degree to do for theoretical physics phd

    Hi guys :) I am in the uk and will be going to university to study physics and the aim is to go on to do a phd in fundamental theoretical physics either in the uk or in the usa However I am getting confused on what is better to study at undergrad between maths and physics as a lot of the phds...
  5. H

    Rough Draft of Statement of Purpose Physics PhD

    This is a very rough draft of my statement of purpose. The plan is to use this as a base and customize it for different programs to include why those specific programs will help me achieve my purpose. The conclusion is missing because that will be specific to each program I'm applying to. All...
  6. chip747

    How to get physics PhD before 25?

    Just wondering if it is possible.Thanks
  7. W

    Teaching a Programming Language for Physics PhD students

    Hello everyone, Head of our Physics department has asked me to teach a programming course for a few of their PhD candidates (mostly theoretical) who unfortunately are very bad in programming. He has shortage in his department and he wants someone from CS to do the job. I looked around and it...
  8. M

    Physics Accelerator Physics PhD Competitivity and study in the USA

    Hello, I have just graduated from university with a decent (but not outstanding) result: 2:1, not far off of a first, with good references. I did my final year project on accelerator physics and I am currently working at the same university over the summer doing similar work on an accelerator...
  9. F

    Admissions What are the key factors for admission to top physics PhD programs like MIT?

    Hi guys, wassup? I am a physics undergraduate motivated to get into top graduate programs, namely MIT. It is not its name or prestige (only a small amount!) which attracts me to it, but the experience I desire, that is, to immerse myself to an environment, surrounded by other students of diverse...
  10. H

    Is getting a physics PhD worth it?

    What advice would you give to students who aspire to study physics at the PhD level? Do you think there is an oversupply of PhDs? Do you feel a conflict between pursuing what you like and being realistic (about getting a job)?
  11. B

    Medical Schizophrenia, anti-psychotics and Physics PhD

    Well, I was diagnosed with schizophrenia almost three years ago during my Masters degree when I was homeless since I was too paranoid to live in a house/apartment. Since then I have been on heavy anti-psychotics, completed my thesis and now am at the end of my second year of PhD of a top...
  12. AlanKirby

    Best physics PhD for going into industry?

    Hi, I'm currently thinking about what area I want my physics PhD (which i want to do anyway) to be in. I'm interested in condensed matter physics, although I'm not stuck on that idea. (I'm an experimentalist by the way.) What area is best to do a physics PhD in, in order to have a good chance...
  13. Z

    Aurora/Magnetosphere Physics PhD programs? (Texas)

    Hey everyone, I'm a 24 year old junior working on a BS in Physics. (Like everyone else) my main interest is theoretical astrophysics/astronomy. I'm a good student (3.2) and work at the observatory at my school and do a couple of other various jobs in the Physics department. I am particularly...
  14. N

    Physics PhD at 50, seeks non-traditional career options

    I finished a Physics PhD in middle age, mostly just for the love of learning about Physics. The wisdom of that choice is questionable, but it's done now so no going back. I'd hoped to return to my previous career in software development, but at nearly age 50 I find that line of work is hard to...
  15. A

    Comparing Computational Physics PhD Programs: CMU vs. Harvard, Chicago, and UIUC

    My interests are mainly computational physics and theoretical soft matter physics. How good is the PhD program in (Computational) Physics at CMU (and the Physics Department in general)?
  16. B

    Is a Physics PhD For me? last minute doubts

    Hey Everyone, So I was set. I studied and re-took the pgre. I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do in graduate school. I thought about career goals. I talked to professors and graduate students. I even submitted two apps! Two schools that I would be extremely happy to attend...
  17. A

    Engineering Electrical Engineering BS to Physics PhD

    Hello all, I'm an EE student who is curious about the possibilities of going to grad school in Physics. When I first started college I was a Math and Physics double major. However, I was pressured by peers and family to go into Engineering because of job prospects. Even though I've been content...
  18. D

    Is a physics PhD becoming unemployable

    It seems to me, correct me if I'm wrong, the vast majority of physics PhD's do not work in physics, science, or even related disciplines (applied science, engineering, etc). From what I understand, the majority seem to be working in finance, software development, and data mining. At one point...
  19. B

    As a Physics Phd student, what are the skill required for Quant?

    First of all I read a lot info from post by twofish-quant but I am not sure if its outdated already. So I am currently in the second year of my grad school (PhD program) in physics, specialized in observation cosmology (galaxy survey aiming at Dark Energy/inflation/BAO/...). As much as I like...
  20. B

    What are the skills required to become a Quant as physics PhD?

    First of all I read a lot info from post by twofish-quant but I am not sure if its outdated already. So I am currently in the second year of my grad school (PhD program) in physics, specialized in observation cosmology (galaxy survey aiming at Dark Energy/inflation/BAO/...). As much as I like...
  21. I

    Programs Starting a Physics PhD years after undergraduate degree?

    I’m graduating with a Physics degree next year but for various reasons I cannot go straight to grad school and get a PhD. I probably won’t be back to school for some time (I’m projecting 10-15 years). Will it be hard to start a Physics PhD after so long? Is there ageism in academia? Thanks
  22. E

    Career choices after a physics PhD?

    Dear all, I am currently a physics PhD student and will finish my PhD at a quite respectable university (top 25 in world rankings) soon. Therefore I have to think about my plans for after my PhD. And here comes the difficulty. I don’t really know what I should do (actually I really don't...
  23. T

    Can I qualify for Physics PhD?

    can I make myself eligible for pursuing Ph.D if I compltee graduation and Masters from some distance course... Currently I am in India
  24. P

    What mathematics do physics phd students learn?

    Hello again PF! I think I ask excessively often here so I tried my best to search in google. The result I got was this: http://superstringtheory.com/math/math1.html Well, that appears as all the math there is (no offense to mathematicians)! Likely the field of super string theory is the most...
  25. J

    What options are available for pursuing a PhD in computational physics?

    Undergrad here. Does anyone on this forum have experience working in a computational physics research group at the graduate level? I noticed Carnegie Mellon has "computational physics" as a research area for its physics PhD students. It sounds like it would be right up my alley but it's unclear...
  26. B

    Plasma Physics PhD in the US vs UK

    I'm a Physics student in the UK planning to apply for a PhD in Plasma Physics this autumn, in the area of Magnetic Confinement Fusion (MCF) specifically. The UK has a rather limited MCF university network, with only 3 universities playing a significant part. Two of these, Oxford and Imperial...
  27. M

    Getting onto the Theoretical Physics PhD program at Imperial?

    Hello, I am in my third year of a 4 year integrated MPhys at the University of Liverpool, and I'm starting to think about applying to PhD places. Me and my girlfriend are intending to move to London when we graduate, so I'm planning on getting a job as a graduate software developer or some...
  28. G

    Are there rejected physics PhD theses?

    Historically, I can only think of http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Pierre_Maurice_Marie_Duhem.aspx#1, whose first thesis in physics was rejected, but his second thesis in mathematics was accepted. But, Are there other famous physicists who wrote a PhD thesis that was subsequently...
  29. E

    Prospects for a Physics PhD in two years

    So I have been reading this forum for a while and I have heard more than a few people say things like the employment rate for physics PhDs is worse than it is in the humanities and way, WAY worse than for med school, so that doing a physics PhD as opposed to a med school degree is a huge...
  30. P

    Admissions Cornell physics PhD admissions? Is it pointless for me to even apply?

    I graduated 4 years ago from a small university and received a dual BS in EE and physics. I went into a decently ranked EE PhD program but dropped out after a year. I attempted to go back a couple times but just didn't care too much for the courses and dropped my classes both times. I have...
  31. C

    Physics PhD: industry jobs abroad

    Hi guys, I did have a search through the forum but I didn't find anything quite like my question. Perhaps someone might offer me some advice. I'm a UK physics PhD student, with about 18 months before I graduate (in principle). At this point I am beginning to get a little fed up of academia and...
  32. T

    CV for physics PhD - what to include?

    Hi, currently I have the following sections: Personal info, education, research experience, computer skills, extra-curricular activities. Is there anything I am missing? Also, in the education section should I include breakdown on marks in different subjects, or my class each year (UK...
  33. N

    Programs Doing a Physics PhD without a Physics Undergrad Degree?

    Hi I will be graduating with an MChem (4 year integrated Masters Chemistry Degree) next year and I'm thinking about potential PhD's to go into. I was just wandering what kind of flexibility you have in choosing what field you go into. I was looking at some programmes in physics that have...
  34. J

    Interesting new career after physics phd

    Hi, I am looking for an interesting new career after a physics phd. I had obtained my phd in physics about 7 years ago. In the last few years, I've fallen behind in publishing papers due to some unfortunate events in my personal life. Despite my interest in research, I think that maintaining...
  35. F

    Finishing physics PhD: broad interests, few jobs

    Greetings Physics Forums, Yes, checking for typing errors apparently is not my strong point! I'm a few months away from my defense, and have been considering the next step for a few months now. My PhD will be from a physics department, but I have been doing what amounts to biological...
  36. A

    GRE Math Sub for Physics PhD program

    I am a rising junior in a US college and I plan to apply to a top physics PhD program. I am both a physics and a math major, and I am more interested in theoretic physics rather than experimental. So should I also take the GRE Math Subject Test?
  37. M

    Physics PhD with Engineering Advisor

    My question is whether it is a bad idea to be a physics graduate student with an EE advisor. I ask this because I'm interested in nanophysics at Carnegie Mellon University. On the physics website on the nanophysics page they have listed 6 EE professors and 5 physics professors. It seems likely...
  38. A

    Looking to Apply to Medical Physics PhD Program

    I'm looking to apply for a PhD program in Medical Physics. I am currently majoring in Medical Physics, but my GPA is only a 3.33. I have been doing research and see people who are applying with much higher GPAs than mine. My question is: if I don't get accepted anywhere, what should I do?
  39. N

    Job hunting advice for theoretical physics PhD

    I've often heard on PhysicsForums that career prospects are bright for theorists who paid attention to their math fundamentals and learned to program. That's me! It's also several of my fellow grad students. I suspect many others on this forum are in similar situations, and they may also benefit...
  40. S

    Schools Graduate School Reputation & Industry Job Market for Physics PhD

    (I've been reading PF for years now, and decided I should finally contribute. Unfortunately, my first significant post is a question, but I hope that will change in the near future!) I'm graduating in May with a double major in Physics and Mathematics, and I have a couple offer for graduate...
  41. J

    Schools Physics PhD from a mediocre university

    I feel like this question has probably been asked but i couldn't find it anywhere. Is getting a PhD in physics from just a local university that's not highly ranked worth it? In general, how better off would someone be if they graduated from an ivy league? Do the majority of the tenured...
  42. R

    Programs Math for Physics PhD: Preparing for Top 10 PhD Programs

    I'm currently a second-year university student considering applying to a PhD program in physics. I'm leaning towards theoretical physics, although I haven't really experienced enough to make a clear decision. I'm beginning to be involved in research with a theorist this semester, but I was...
  43. C

    Programs M.S. comp science -> Physics PhD?

    Finishing up my B.S. in Computer Science, with a minor in physics. My GPA is only about 2.5 and very little academic research experience. Yea, I agree I messed up. But I'm fixing things now, reading up hard and practicing for GRE. I plan to attend George Mason's computational science M.S...
  44. C

    Programs Chemical physics PhD questions

    For those of you who have experience with these programs, I have some questions. How competitive are they generally? They don't seem like they get a lot of applicants. Is it a bad idea to ONLY apply to chemical physics programs as a chemistry major? There are 5 schools I know of with chemical...
  45. H

    Admissions Applying for Medical Physics Phd

    Hi all, I am just looking for some help in applying for a medical physics Phd, preferably in the area of Radiation Therapy. A bit of background: I have a B.A. in Physics and a M.Sc. in Medical Physics from Trinity College Dublin. I also have two years experience as a part II clinical...
  46. M

    Programs Can I get on a theoretical physics PhD course?

    I have accepted an offer to study physics at Warwick University in England this September, however I have not decided yet as to whether or not I would like to proceed into an experimental or theoretical career and would just like to know whether or not it would be possible to get onto a...
  47. T

    Programs Physics PhD programs WITHOUT formal coursework

    Hi all, I'm wondering if there are any PhD programs in the US (or abroad, for that matter) that do not have formal coursework requirements. That is, suppose someone took a standard graduate load while in undergrad and was prepared for quals right away: are there any programs that allow you to...
  48. K

    Programs BsC in Physics, Master in Math. Can he go to Physics PhD

    My friend enrolled has a BsC in Physics and he also did a Master's in math in order to be able to cope with the math needed for Theoretical Physics. Can he pursue a physics PhD in USA (he studied in Greece)?
  49. N

    Programs Physics PhD in USA with a Master's Degree?

    Normally students in America start a PhD degree after their undergrad, since there the so-called "Master level education" is glued together to the "Doctorate" (correct me if I'm wrong!). So what is the usual track for students from Europe who have done their Master degrees in Europe but would...
  50. S

    Physics Where to look fo jobs w/ physics phD

    I should be getting my physics phD in a year. I wouldn't say I will have done a great job of it. The earlier years were spent more on writing software, and in the later years I find the research to be contrived. I have my name on two papers, and I'm trying to write my first first author paper. I...
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