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Gravitational wave
George Mason University

Physics, PhD

Learn to carry out independent and innovative scientific research in physics and/or astronomy.

The mission of the George Mason University Physics PhD program is to train the next generation of research physicists in academia, industry, and government.

Nathan Secrest, PhD student in physics discovers a black hole in spiral galaxy NGC 4178.

Program Highlights

  • Learn from student-oriented faculty members who are dynamic, well-known in their fields, and highly productive in research.
  • Students have opportunities to pursue research in many cutting-edge fields including astrophysics, atomic physics, atmospheric and ionospheric physics, biological physics (including neuroscience and biomedical physics), condensed matter physics, elementary particle physics, materials science, nonlinear dynamics, nuclear physics, planetary science, and space weather and plasma astrophysics.

Course Catalog

Review admission and course requirements for this degree:

Career Paths

Employment opportunities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area for physicists are especially good, and our MS and PhD graduates have had success in finding jobs. Northern Virginia is a national center for high-technology industry and federal science laboratories, with many paid internship opportunities. Current faculty have active collaborations with several of these surrounding major government facilities, including NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the Space Telescope Science Institute, the Naval Research Laboratory, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Research Opportunities

There are great opportunities to do cutting-edge research with more than 40 physicists and astronomers in applied physics, astrophysics, atomic physics, atmospheric and ionospheric physics, biological physics (including neuroscience and biomedical physics), condensed matter physics, elementary particle physics, materials science, nonlinear dynamics, nuclear physics, planetary science, and space weather & plasma astrophysics.

Policies, Procedures, and Further Information

* The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.