Physics Graduate Student Orientation -- Part 2 and 3
August 22/29, 2007
Richard G Palmer, Director of Graduate Studies (DGS)
Donna Ruger, Assistant to DGS
Curriculum
Exams
- Placement Exams
- August 2007: QM, CM, MM, EM
- January 2008: SM
- Qualifier Exams
- 4 written exams, CM, EM, QM, SM
- Level of the advanced undergraduate courses at Duke
- January and May
- Must attempted all sections by May 2008
- Must passed all sections by January 2009
- Each section can be passed in two attempts
- Preliminary Exam
- Must be taken by Spring Term 2010
- Ph.D. Defense
Research
- Your primary goal as a
graduate student is to perform independent research
(Best
Practices)
- Finding a research group and an advisor:
- Seminar course (Physics 351, Fall 2007)
- Research
rotations
- Individual investigation: web sites and group members
- February 2008: begin conversations with research groups in preparation
for finding a group to join for summer 2008
- First Year Summer Support 2008 -- full time research!
- If you and the your group want to continue your relationship, inquire
about RA funding for the Fall 2008
- Research expectations
- Trial period
- Agreement: time and results commitment
- Annual reports are due to the DGS by 31 March, 2009, 2010, ...
Teaching
- Time: about 12-15 hours per week (average)
[The
Graduate School says <20 hours]
- More later:
- Wednesday, 1:15pm-2:15pm: TA Expectations and Responsibilities
(Haiyan Gao [ACT] and Ken McKenzie)
- Friday, 9am-5pm: Lab Training and Teaching
(Ken McKenzie, and other)
Seminars
Funding
- You can expect, among other things:
- To be treated professionally and respectfully.
- To have expectations clearly presented to you.
- To receive guidance in both instruction and research.
- To have agreements with the University, department, and your advisor
honored.
- We expect from you, among other things:
- To treat others with respect.
- To make a commitment to your research and coursework.
- To perform your TA duties conscientiously.
- To honor agreements with your advisor, the department, and
the University.
Academic Ethics:
Where to Get Help (in order):
- Research issues:
your advisor, DGS, Chair.
- TA issues: course
instructor(s), ACT, DGS, Chair.
- Course issues: instructor,
ACT, DGS, Chair.
- Payroll issues: Donna
Elliott, Randy Best, Bursar's Office.
- Registration issues: Donna
Ruger, DGS.
- Interactions with the
Graduate School: Donna Ruger and/or DGS.
- Graduate student life:
Physics GSO,
GPSC,
GSA.
- Career issues: advisor, DGS,
career planning web,
professional
development mentor (Dr.Robert Guether)
- If your rights are not being respected:
- Other: Mentors,
ombudspeople.
People Who are Available to Help:
- Physics Graduate Students:
- Graduate student mentors
- GSO executives and representatives
- GSO ombudspersom
- Physics Department:
- DGS-Assistant (Donna Ruger)
- DGS (Richard Palmer)
- ACT [Associate Chair of Teaching] (Haiyan Gao)
- Chair (Dan Gauthier)
- Extra departmental: