Physics in NUS

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Physics in NUS
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Department of Physics
A regional centre of excellence with global
collaborations
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Where are we?
Department of Physics Blk S12 Mezzanine Floor 2
Science Drive 3 Singapore 117542 Tel [phone]
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Physics The Most Fundamental

• Physics is one of the most fundamental of all
  sciences, and is the basis of our scientific
  knowledge of the physical world
• Covers phenomena ranging from subnuclear
  interactions to nanostructures to cosmological
  events like the Big Bang

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About the Department

• The Physics Department has more than 30
  dedicated faculty members
• and some 40 research staff members
• Research thrusts in frontier areas
• Nanoscience
• Quantum information technology
• Optical and magnetic materials
• Biophysics

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Our Mission

• Our primary objective is to advance knowledge of
  physics and to train qualified manpower needed by
  Singapore to acquire and develop an economy based
  on high technology
• Our aim in research development is not only to
  acquire new knowledge in fundamental areas, but
  to also tackle problems of relevance to
  Singapores industrial development

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Frequently Asked - Why Study Physics?

• We offer you a programme of critical scientific
  thinking, which provides experience in both
  theory and experiment
• Prepares you for a wide range of careers
• Education
• Research and development
• Microelectronics, optical, and other industries
• Computational simulations
• Higher degrees
• 
  

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Teaching Mission To provide rigorous training in
scientific fundamentals and frontier knowledge,
and in advances in technological innovations
pertaining to the Singapore economy
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• Teaching
• To deliver high quality, broad-based
• and flexible education

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Our Faculty Staff
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Undergraduate Programmes

• Major in Physics
• Major in Physics (Concentration in Applied
  Physics)
• Second Major in Physics
• Minors
• Physics
• Optical and Semiconductor Technology
• Biophysics
• Nanoscience
• GEM (General Education Modules)
• Engineering Physics

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• Aims
• Wide choice of modules in the third year and
  higher year
• Understanding of subjects through critical
  thinking
• Analytical skills through laboratory experiments
• Ability to carry out analysis of data by written
  reports
• Development of communication skills by oral
  presentations of experimental results

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Major in Physics

• A programme which is academically coherent,
  encompassing both depth and breath in physics
  knowledge, and sufficiently broad in education to
  facilitate progression to a wide variety of
  careers
• Covers traditional areas such as
  electro-magnetism, quantum mechanics, atomic and
  nuclear physics, and mathematical methods

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Major in Physics

• B.Sc. 16 physics courses (63/64 MCs)
• B.Sc. (Honours) 25 physics courses (95/96 MCs)

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Concentration in Applied Physics

• Prepares graduates directly for work in
  industrial RD as well as manufacturing
• Combines fundamental training in physics with
  emphasis on broad applications in modern
  technologies
• Covers areas such as optics, photonics,
  semi-conductor physics and biophysics

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Second major in Physics

• The Department of Physics offers a Second Major
  in Physics which comprises of modules related to
  the fundamentals of physics as well as its
  applications.
• It is open to students with an A-level pass in
  Physics, who are interested in widening their
  intellectual horizons or would like to better
  prepare themselves for future careers.

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Minors (24 MCs)
1. Nanoscience

• For students from any discipline with an
  interest in the latest developments

2. Optical and Semiconductor Technology

• For non-physics majors covering the physics
  basics and device processing
• Useful for employment in the microelectronics
  and optical industry

3. Minor in Physics

• Very flexible in choices of modules
• Syllabi will accommodate a wide range of
  interests for multi-disciplinary study

4. Biophysics

• Train students with the core knowledge of
  physical science to tackle biological problem.

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Contributions to Broad-based EducationGeneral
Education Modules offered by Physics
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Other Degree Programmes

• 1. BPhil-BSc (Hons) Program with ANUProgram
  requirements - ANU students-Students enrolled
  at ANU will spend their first 2 semesters of
  study at the home institution. Students enrolled
  at NUS will spend their first 3 semesters of
  study at the home institution.2. Joint PhD
  Program with ANU- Students spend at least 2
  semesters at each University during the PhD
  candidacy 3. Double Degree Programme with
  French Grandes Ecoles4. Physics and Life
  Science Programme (ASTAR scholarships
  available) 5. Double Degree Programme in
  Materials Science (B.Eng.) and Physics
  (B.Sc./B.Sc.Hons.)6. Engineering Science
  Program (B. Eng.)

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Strategy of Curriculum Design

• Benchmarked against overseas universities
• Appropriate breath and depth
• Examination questions are discussed among staff
• Tutorial problems devoted to problem solving
  skills
• Small group teaching to consolidate understanding
  of subject
• Some of the more mathematically demanding courses
  have associated lectures on the mathematics
  background required
• A host of specialized demonstration setups to
  match to the lectures

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Careers of our Physics Undergraduates
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Graduate Programmes

• Master of Science by Coursework
• Master of Science by Research
• Doctor of Philosophy

• Admission
• Attract and recruit high quality applicants
  worldwide
• Regular recruitment team to visit campuses
  abroad
• NUS graduates - BSc with at least 2nd Upper
• GRE ( gt1600) and TOFEL (where applicable, gt600)
• PhD Requirements
• PhD Qualifying Exam a requisite to read PhD
• Two external referees required for PhD thesis

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Graduate Thesis Research

• Strong linkage or collaboration with industry
• to foster enterprise activities
• Semiconductor physics
• Nanoscale devices
• Photonics and optical characterization
• Microwave devices
• Computational physics

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Careers of M Sc and Ph D in Physics
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ResearchFocus on Quality
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Research Groups

• Biophysics Research Groups
• Nanomaterial and Colloidal Systems Laboratory
• Theoretical and Computational Condensed Matter
  Physics
• Laser Brillouin Spectroscopy Group
• Nanophotonics Laboratory
• Femtosecond Laser Spectroscopy Lab 
• Chaos group
• Center for Quantum Technology (CQT)
• Theoretical Physics (High Energy Physics)  
• Advanced Batteries Lab Organic Nano Device Lab
  (ONDL)  
•  Surface Science Laboratory
•  Centre for Ion Beam Applications (CIBA)
•  Centre for Superconducting and
  magnetic_materials (CSMM)  
• Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and
  Processing (CRISP)

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Teaching Laboratories
Level 1 Lab
Physics E Lab
Level 2 Lab
Level 3 Lab
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The Good Olde Days
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Before Recent Renovation
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Our Dedicated Supporting Staff
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Activities in the Lab
Briefing before performing experiment
Honours student explaining to first year
undergraduate
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Projects Enrichment, UROPS, Honours
Student working on a UROPS (Undergraduate
Research Opportunities Programme in Science)
project
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Student Exchange Programme

• The Physics Department welcomes exchange
  students from all over the world
• An exciting and inspiring time
• take part in ongoing research
• work through interesting and challenging modules
  
• explore one of the most interesting parts of the
  world

For further information, contact Assoc Prof
Thomas Osipowicz SEP Coordinator Phone (65)
6156 6745 email phyto_at_nus.edu.sg
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Exchange and Joint Programmes
To promote global interactions and experiences
Joint PhD degree in Physics with Australian
National University 50 foreign students came for
attachments (one semester to one academic year)
in the academic years 2002/03 and 2007/08
(partial list) University of Illinois, Urbana
Champaign (US) Prudue University (US)
University of California, Los Angeles (US)
MacMaster University (Canada), University of
British Columbia (Canada) Technische
Universitat Munich (Germany) Technical
University of Darmstadt (Germany) University of
Heidelberg (Germany) Imperial College
(London). University of Lund (Sweden) Royal
Institute of Technology (Sweden) University of
Bergen (Norway) Waseda University (Japan)
Ecole Nationale Superieure (France) Moscow
State University (Russia) Peking University
(China) Fudan Uninversity (China)
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Engineering Physics

• 1500 students

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Outreach

• Junior Colleges (JCs) and schools are invited to
  the department for talks and lab tours. Regular
  courses for school teachers.
• Physics Enrichment Camp during the June holidays.
  Several hundreds of JC students participate each
  year in the camp.
• Actively supports various research programmes for
  schools-Science Research Programme-Science
  Vision-NUS Science Mentorship Programme
  (academic mentor)

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Physics Alumni

• Launched in November 1997
• Comprises graduates of Physics Department from
• National University of Singapore
• University of Singapore and of the Nanyang
  University
• Staff members of the Physics Department, NUS
• A rallying point for our physics graduates
• Regular newsletter
• Promote physics education in schools and junior
  colleges
• Physics through public lectures by eminent
  physicists and news bulletins

http//www.physics.nus.edu.sg/alumni/alumni.html
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Alumni Inaugural Dinner
October 1997 Inaugural dinner at Shangri La
Hotel. Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony Tan,
patron of the Physics Alumni graced the dinner as
the Chief Guest together with Mrs Tony Tan. MIT
Professor Jerome Friedmann, Nobel Laureate in
Physics (1990) was the guest of honour.
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Visit Our Website
http//www.physics.nus.edu.sg