Physics: Postgraduate Opportunities

Transcription

1 Physics: Postgraduate Opportunities Dr. Gavin Bell Graduate Admissions Tutor

2 Why a Research Degree? Einstein s reason: I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious. The Career reason a higher degree will help you stand out / open doors to a science career. The Student reason you still enjoy being at University in an academic learning environment. The Default reason you can t think of anything better to do!

3 Which Project? PhD or MSc? PhD programme typically 3 or 3.5 years (maximum 4) full-time. MSc by Research is 12 months. Part-time students are welcomed. Choose a project you think you will like and a supervisor you think you can work well with but keep an open mind!

4 Eligibility Registration for a funded PhD requires: class 1 honours BSc*. class 1 or 2(i) honours MSci or MPhys*. at least a 2(ii) honours plus an MSc. The MSc by research requires: class 1 or 2(i) honours BSc*. class 1 or 2(i) honours MSci or MPhys*. * We will certainly consider students at a class lower research project, enthusiasm and aptitude count!

5 Sources of Funding Research Councils Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EPSRC Science and Technology Facilities Council STFC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BBSRC Scholarships Warwick Postgraduate Research Scholarships Industry Fully funded, CASE awards and WCPRS Scholarships

6 EPSRC Funded Studentships EPSRC fund mainly students in Condensed Matter Physics, Medical Physics & Theory. The Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics also accesses EPSRC funding. Project studentships guaranteed, attached to a particular supervisor and project. Doctoral Training Account (DTA) studentships spread around the university & department.

7 DTA Studentships The DTA is shared out through the university and within departments. We try to match students and flexible funding to their preferred supervisors and projects. DTA projects of strategic priority will be highlighted on our admissions web site alongside project studentships.

8 STFC and Industry Funding Most students in Astronomy and Particle Physics are funded by STFC. These groups offer a fixed number of studentships. Either EPSRC or STFC studentships can also be CASE awards, with a company or other body. Often (not always) increases your stipend. Additional supervisor/contact outside the University.

9 Mmmm Lovely Money The standard stipend for is Your fees are paid for you. Many (not all) PhD students assist with undergraduate teaching, open days, etc. These activities are paid at an hourly rate by the department.

10 What about an MSc? MSc by research is 12 months full time or 24 months part time. Usually self-funded (no stipend / fees support). Some research groups may have their own money to help support an MSc by Research. Not all research groups offer MSc projects. The full-time fee is 3390; the annual part-time fee is 2034.

11 Why choose an MSc? You re interested in research but not ready to commit to a 3-4 year PhD programme. You want a well-recognised post-graduate qualification to help you stand out in the graduate employment market. You want a Masters degree but didn t do a 4 year first degree. You want a funded PhD and need the MSc on top of a 2(ii) BSc or similar qualification.

12 Overseas PhD/MSc Students Generally overseas students need to find their own source of funding. Annual research degree fees are full time and 8370 part time. PhD scholarships are available but the limited number of awards makes them competitive. WPRS International Office Lots of support during and after application.

13 Why Warwick? First-class research groups and academics. Strong links to worldwide science facilities. Excellent equipment and technical support. Friendly department with thriving PG community. Top-quality training and skills development. Progress monitoring independently of your supervisor and high rate of completion within funded time.

14 Stay or Go? Generally no disadvantage to stay on in the same university it s a common thing to do. Do you want to broaden your experience by moving elsewhere? Maybe we do not cover a research area in which you are passionately interested? It may be wise for you to consider other places even if Warwick is top choice. If you do, talk to actual PhD students in the group you want to work in!

15 Applications Procedure #1 Fill in and submit an on-line application form. This gets you in the system and is essential. To be considered in Round 1 (of 2), submit the form by January 8 th. You will need two academic referees who will vouch for your ability to do research go and talk to these people now! You must submit these references to the Graduate School yourself.

16 Filling in the form FAQs Course Details - Course of Study P-F3P0 Physics (PhD) (green: PhD) P-F3P2 Physics (MSCR) (purple: MSc) - Start Date 04/10/ /10/2010

17 Filling in the form FAQs Most recent employment - Only put in relevant stuff - URSS or other summer science projects can go in the Supporting Information section During summer 2009 I undertook an 8-week project in the Microscopy group with Dr. Ana Sanchez, studying a Dalek time-virus from the Martian Death Zone.

18 Filling in the form FAQs Finance and Funding - How will you be funding yourself at Warwick? Research Council Studentship Self-funded - Name of award applied for WPRS EPSRC DTA Priority Studentship STFC Studentship

19 Filling in the form FAQs Supporting information - Research proposal discussed with a Warwick staff member Dr. Peter Wheatley and Prof. Tom Marsh - Supporting information I am interested in any area of condensed matter physics but especially semiconductors (SiGe, quantum dots, solar cells). I would like to work in experimental particle physics and have discussed PhD options with Dr. Tim Gershon. I am interested in an MSc project in medical or bio-physics, or in condensed matter if these are not available.

20 Applications Procedure #2 Round 1: applicants who have submitted their form by 8 th January are ranked and those we wish to see are invited for interviews and visits to relevant research groups in late January. Round 1 applicants may be held over for consideration in Round 2. They will not be interviewed in January. All Round 1 applicants will be notified of the status of their application by early February.

21 Applications Procedure #3 Round 2: the deadline for submission of the form is 24 th February. Applicants are ranked again. Interviews take place through March and April. Offers are made as soon as possible afterwards. If you are made an offer it will come with guaranteed funding, usually EPSRC or STFC. MSc applicants may submit their forms at any time: there are no rounds or cut-off dates. But we prefer to admit MSc students alongside the PhDs.

22 Scholarships WARWICK POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP For outstanding students competition across all disciplines. Payment of your academic fees at the Home/EU rate. A maintenance grant at the UK Research Council stipend. First round deadline November 30 th, second round February. For further details and how to apply for the WPRS You must discuss these applications with me first.

23 Research Areas at Warwick Experimental Condensed Matter Physics Astronomy and Astrophysics Fusion, Space and Plasma Physics Elementary Particle Physics Theoretical and Computational Physics Medical and Biological Physics

24 Experimental Condensed Matter Physics Surfaces and Interfaces Bell, McConville, Robinson, Veal, Woodruff Semiconductors and SIMS Leadley, Dowsett Glass Ceramics Holland Superconductivity and Magnetism Petrenko, Paul, Lees, Balakrishnan X-ray Scattering Duffy, Cooper, Hase Magnetic Resonance Brown, Smith, Newton, Dupree Multiferroics and Crystallography Thomas Ultrasonics Edwards, Dixon Microscopy Wilson, Sloan, Beanland

25 Medical and Biological Physics Medical Physics Tissue Modelling and Imaging Wilson Theoretical Bio-physics Dixon, Turner Solid State NMR of Bio-materials Brown, Dupree, Howes, Smith Interdisciplinary Centres Life Sciences DTC MOAC Systems Biology

26 Astronomy and Astrophysics Marsh, Wheatley, Gaensicke, Levan, Steeghs Stars and planets: how they live and die; exotic physical processes. An observational group - use of a wide range of ground-based telescopes: ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile. Isaac Newton Group of telescopes (ING), Canary Islands. NASA's Chandra ESA's XMM-Newton X-ray observatories Hubble Space Telescope

27 Experimental Particle Physics Harrison, Ramachers, Barker, Boyd, Gershon Research into the fundamental particles of matter and the forces by which they interact. Experiments: BaBar COBRA T2K Neutrino Factory Physics

28 Fusion, Space and Plasma Physics Chapman, Nakariakov, Hnat, Dendy, Arber, Verwichte, Peeters, Gericke Plasma physics applied to the grand challenges of fusion power, space physics, solar physics, and astrophysics. Theory, observation, and the analysis of experimental data, combined with high performance computing. Joint work with UKAEA Culham (Open Day 25 th November) space plasma observation missions solar observation missions

29 Theoretical and Computational Physics Ball, Staunton, Allen, Dixon, Turner, d Ambrumenil, Roemer, Szymanska, Nicodemi, Somfai Quantum Transport and Dynamics Ab-initio Electronic Structure Molecular Simulations Soft Condensed Matter Non-linearity and Self Organisation Work with Experimental groups in physics and chemistry Interdisciplinary research centres

30 Research Centres Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics Centre for Scientific Computing Doctoral Training Centre in Complexity Science Molecular Organisation and Assembly in Cells (MOAC) Doctoral Training Centre Life Sciences Doctoral Training PhDs Systems Biology Doctoral Training Centre

31 Complexity Science DTC Complex Systems are everywhere! Physics, social sciences, engineering, finance, healthcare... Students should have mathematical and practical motivation, and anticipate a good degree in a mathematically based subject. Research students are offered an integrated 4 year training combining PhD by research with supporting taught MSc courses. Research themes include: Agent-based modelling Networks and Emergent Behaviour Self-Organisation and Assembly Non-linear Dynamics [email protected]

32 Warwick Physics is part of the Midland Physics Alliance Graduate School (MPAGS). MPA: Birmingham - Nottingham - Warwick The Alliance is built on current high quality research in each of our departments (all RAE grade 5). Initial funding of 4M from HEFCE to develop the Graduate School.

33 High quality specialised graduate-level teaching across 3 departments. Access Grid lectures + workshops. Director: Dr. David Leadley [email protected]

34 Group Contacts Dr. Peter Wheatley Astronomy Dr. Bogdan Hnat CFSA Dr. Yorck Ramachers Particle Physics Condensed Matter Physics Medical and Bio-physics Theoretical Physics contact me directly

35 Contacts Dr. Gavin Bell Postgraduate Admissions Tutor Room P428, 4 th floor of Physics [email protected] Extension You will be able to find a PDF version of this talk on the web site.