Boston University Physics Department Orientation August 31, 2012 Room 352, Metcalf Center for Science and Engineering 1:00 Introductions of new students 1:10 Welcome by Prof.
Download ReportTranscript Boston University Physics Department Orientation August 31, 2012 Room 352, Metcalf Center for Science and Engineering 1:00 Introductions of new students 1:10 Welcome by Prof.
Boston University Physics Department Orientation August 31, 2012 Room 352, Metcalf Center for Science and Engineering 1:00 Introductions of new students 1:10 Welcome by Prof. Sid Redner, Physics Dept. Chair 1:15 Review of essential information by Prof. Redner 2:00 Refreshments and introduction to departmental administrative staff and to graduate student council 2:30 Get photographed, fill out forms Last Name Ballado Bhat Birzu Christopher Curme Daley Huang Iadecola Jacob Menon Mokhtarzadeh Rankin Sherman Su Verma First, middle Arman Uttam Gabriel Jason Chester Jonathan Po-Hao Thomas Colin Rajita Mahsa Dylan Alex Ting-Yi Rashi Weinberg Yigitbasi Yuan Zhang Evan Efe Xin Cancan Entry year 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 Advisor Andy Cohen Sid Redner Claudio Chamon Bennett Goldberg Bill Klein Shyam Erramilli Claudio Chamon Martin Schmaltz John Butler Bill Skocpol Ophelia Tsui Andy Cohen Ophelia Tsui Ken Lane Martin Schmaltz Richard Brower/Rebbi Martin Schmaltz Bill Skocpol Ken Rothschild Overview of Graduate Program Post Bachelor’s students: I. COURSES: Total number required –(Post Bachelor’s) 16; (Post Masters) 8 •At least 10 lecture courses from the 500-850 levels, including: • The required 5 initial sequence theoretical courses + PY961 Scholarly Methods in Physics • The required Advanced Laboratory (PY581); • 2 distribution courses from outside the student's field of specialization. •Up to 6 non-lecture courses: these include directed research, directed study (2 maximum), or seminar (2 maximum). • Students who have completed equivalent courses may petition for specific course waivers. II. WRITTEN COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION •Post-bachelor degree students must officially take the exam by August of the start of their second year in residence at Boston University . •Post-Master degree students must officially take the exam in January during their first year in residence at Boston University. III. ORAL QUALIFYING EXAMINATION •Oral Exam within one calendar year after successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam, no later than January of the third year. •Completion of Advanced Laboratory required before a student is eligible for the Oral Examination. •Four committee members selected at least 3 weeks before the examination. •One page abstract to the committee at least 2 weeks before the examination. IV. INTERIM PROGRESS REPORT •During the fourth year. V. DEPARTMENTAL SEMINAR •Seminar must occur within two years of the Oral Qualifying Examination and at least 6 months before the dissertation defense. •Thesis proposal to the committee at least 2 weeks before the seminar. VI. PhD DISSERTATION AND DEFENSE (approx. deadlines: mid-April for May graduation, mid-December for January graduation). •Approved thesis abstract received by the Graduate School at least 3 weeks prior to the defense. •Draft of thesis received by the thesis committee at least 2 weeks prior to the defense. Timeline Year 1: Year 2: Year 3: Year 4: Year 5-6: Entering orientation/TF workshops TF/DF Core courses: 5+elective+PY961 Comprehensive exam (Sept/Jan) Advanced/Topical courses TF/RA Join Research Group Preliminary Oral Exam Interim Progress Report Departmental Seminar (T-6 mos) Dissertation defense Academic guidelines Formal Requirements for Master’s and Ph.D. – see website Coursework – Don’t get grades less than BKeep Fall 2012 dates and deadlines in mind Last date to Add a course – Monday, Sept 17 Drop a course w/o a “W” grade - Tuesday, Oct 9 Drop a course w/ a “W” grade – Friday, Nov 9 (Not covered by GRS fin aid – pay yourself!) Start search for a research adviser: Physics Eng, Photonics, Chem, Bio,… Documents 1) I-9 paperwork: Domestic students, complete in the Physics Dept. International students, must go to ISSO, 888 Comm. Ave (Certification of SSN at Social Security Adm., 10 Causeway St., Boston) 2) Register for courses 3) Obtain ID cards 4) Computer account: Kerberos password: http://www.bu.edu/tech/accounts/kerberos. Email account: http://www.bu.edu/tech/accounts/email. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to check your BU e-mail account. Contact Guoan Hu if you have questions or problems: [email protected] Funding guidelines 1) 1st Year: guaranteed Teaching Fellowship (TF). 2nd year: contingent on satisfactory grades & teaching Beyond 2nd year: Research Asst (RA) 2) Summer: Research Assistant position; gain research experience. 3) Domestic students: Apply for NSF graduate fellowships. International students: MUST participate in evaluation of English language skills at CELOP, 730 Comm Ave. Department Communication (a) Mailing Address: Physics Department Boston University 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Rm 255 Boston, MA 02215 USA (b) Office Telephone: (617)-353-2600 FAX: (617)-353-9393 (c) Personal mail should be sent to your home address, NOT to the department. (d) Any changes – please inform office staff, GRS (and ISSO for International students) immediately. Safety & Emergencies (a) Emergencies: Campus Police x3-2121; Boston Police: 911 (b) Building emergencies: Larry Cicatelli x3-9457 Marco Goncalves x3-3842 Emergency B&G (24 hr) x3-2105 (c ) Safety orientation: Compulsory for laboratory research (d) Building Hours & Security: Main doors unlocked 7AM-6PM Mon-Fri 24-hr card access through authorization Keys to office Notify BUPD or Boston Police of suspicious persons in building. Facilities (a) Metcalf Science Center (SCI), 590 Commonwealth Avenue (b) Physics Research Building (PRB), 3 Cummington Street (c) Printers in the graduate lounge and the undergraduate resource room are always free. You will have a $36 printing credit for use on other printers. Copies for courses you are teaching can be charged to an account. (d) TFs are assigned an office by Larry Cicatelli. See Winna Somers or Larry for keys. (e) Undergraduate resource room, SCI 121 – TF office hours & tutorials Stipends (a) TFs and RAs: generally after 11 AM every Friday; direct deposit recommended. If you don’t have a social security # your paycheck will need to be picked up at the Student Employment Office at 881 Commonwealth Avenue, 2nd. Floor. (b) Lost paycheck: Contact the Graduate School Finance Office (Room 112, 705 Commonwealth Ave) immediately. (c) Cash advance – see Janette Countryman, GRS. (d) Questions regarding health insurance, etc – contact Student Accounts x3-2264 or take a look at their website: http://www.bu.edu/studentaccountingservices/ Physics (a) Read research webpages and contact faculty members directly. Good source of info – senior graduate students. (b) Physics colloquia – attendance is compulsory for all students (c) Departmental seminars – attend seminars in fields of interest (d) Boston Area Physics calendar – combined calendar of Physics talks in local universities. (e) Student seminars – organized by students Research and Resources (a) Science Library, 38 Cummington Street Library access to a large number of local libraries (b) Preprint archive arxiv.org Online journals (c) Writing: Papers, posters to conferences Speaking: Departmental student seminars, oral examinations (d) Join the American Physical Society as a student member (free Physics Today and meeting registration discount) – www.aps.org. Scholarly Methods in Physics – PY961 • • • • All first year students must attend Meets Tuesdays at 5:00 Introduction to graduate program by DGS Steve Ahlen (Sept. 4) Teaching workshops led by Bennett Goldberg (Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25 and Oct. 23, 30, and Nov. 27) • Introduction to research at BU: – – – – – – – Oct. 2 – Bill Klein Oct. 16 – Martin Schmaltz Nov. 6 – Ed Kearns Nov. 13 – Rick Averitt Nov. 20 – Jim Miller Dec. 4 – Shyam Erramilli Dec. 11 – Rama Bansil Research/Teaching Personnel 43 faculty + ~ 16 affiliated faculty 108 graduate students (~ 20/yr) 24 research Faculty & postdoctoral fellows Administrative Personnel 1. Chair: Prof. Sid Redner 2. Director of Academics: Prof. Karl Ludwig 3. Director of Graduate Studies: Prof. Steve Ahlen 4. Physics Departmental Office: Rachel Meisel, Business Manager Larry Cicatelli, Purchasing & Facilities Manager Courtney Clark, Undergraduate Program Coordinator Anita Gupta, Grants Administrator Kelly Graska, Administrative Assistant to the Chair Solomon Posner, Program Coordinator Winna Somers, Senior Administrative Secretary Nancy Kostowski, Senior Accounts Technician Jerry Morrow, Administrative Secretary (Polymer Ctr) Bob Tomposki, Senior Program Assistant (Polymer Ctr) Guoan Hu, Computer Resources Manager Richard Laskey, Computer Systems Analyst Mirtha Cabello, Graduate Program Coordinator (a.k.a Most Important Person in Your Life) 5. Teaching Labs: Erich Burton, Mark Badway, Val Voroshilov 6. Graduate Student Committee: Elsa Abreu, Alan Gabel, Ying Tang, Jiayuan Luo, Sebastian Remi, Alex Lang, John Ogren, Carsten Madler, Kun Geng, David Sperka, Kyle Vigil Teaching • Guidelines: • Enroll in 2-credit course, GRS 699 • Graded by course professor (observation, student feedback) • Grade affects future TF assignments • Basic Rules: • Professional behavior – No discrimination: racial, religion, gender.. • Preparation essential – Discussions, Labs • Punctuality – do not be late • Identify students in academic trouble & tell the professor • Grading to be done promptly • Office hour presence – mandatory • Proctor and grade examinations • Spoken English training (CELOP) • Vacations – you cannot fly home before the end of exams Professional Behavior • Abuse of authority will not be tolerated • No fraternizing between TF and any student in the class (even if not in your section) • Graduate College: strict rules on sexual harassment • No discrimination based on race, gender, religion… Resources: • Undergraduate Resource Room – office hours for intro courses Shared resource. Point students to schedule outside. URR Computers – only for study, homework, not browsing etc. Lock when you are the last to leave at the end of the day. Undergraduate Teaching Program PY105-106: Elementary Physics I & II – Pre-medical students, non-calculus Offered both semesters, as well as SummerI/SummerII • PY211-212: General Physics I & II – Engineering/Phys Sci; calculus Offered both semesters, as well as SummerI/SummerII • •PY241-PY242: Calculus based Physics for Bio/Chem/Medical majors. •PY 251-252: Principles of Physics I & II. Physics Majors. •PY 313: Waves and Modern Physics. Follow-up to PY211/PY212. •PY354: Modern Physics at Sophomore level •PY4xx: Junior & Senior courses for Physics majors •PY 5xx: Beginning graduate courses (senior TFs as graders) •PY581: Advanced Laboratory Summer Teaching: Two summer terms of 6 weeks each. A limited number of TF slots available. 2-month stipend for 6-week course at the end of the term.