Applied Physics

The Department of Applied Physics at Stanford University offers qualified students with backgrounds in physics or engineering the opportunity to pursue advanced coursework and research at the cutting edge of physical science. Situated at the fertile intersection of the physical sciences, engineering, and the biological sciences, the department embraces Nobel laureate Edward Purcell’s definition of the discipline as "widely applied physics."

Applied Physics is one of three key pillars—alongside the Department of Physics and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory opens in a new tab—that comprise Stanford's globally renowned physics community. Over the past 50 years, the department has evolved rapidly to combine diverse approaches, fostering an environment of intellectual agility and deep interdisciplinarity. Discoveries and inventions pioneered within the department have made revolutionary, lasting contributions to telecommunications, biotechnology, cosmic exploration, and our fundamental ability to visualize and manipulate matter at the atomic scale.

Distinguished Faculty and Leadership

Despite being relatively small in numbers, the Applied Physics faculty has achieved extraordinary distinction and exerted profound influence within the global scientific community and across the Stanford campus:

• Academy Memberships & Fellowships: Our faculty ranks include 11 members of the National Academy of Sciences, two members of the National Academy of Engineering, alongside Fellows of the Royal Society and MacArthur Foundation.

• National Leadership: In recent years, our faculty members have served as presidents of the American Physical Society (APS), the Optical Society of America (OSA), and the Biophysical Society.

• Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Our researchers are among the university's most active innovators. Out of the "prolific inventors" historically identified across Stanford's entire 2,000+ faculty by the Office of Technology Licensing, nearly 20% were affiliated with Applied Physics.

• University Governance: Department members regularly step into critical leadership roles on campus, serving as Deans and Associate Deans of the School of Humanities and Sciences, as well as the Vice Provost and Dean of Research, and as Directors of major interdisciplinary centers, institutes, and Independent Laboratories, underscoring and further enabling the interdisciplinary nature of our research.

Graduate Programs and Degree Pathways

The Department of Applied Physics offers premier, highly competitive graduate degree programs tailored to prepare students for leadership careers in academia, industry, and national laboratories:

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Applied Physics: A research-intensive doctoral program focusing on original scientific discovery and technical innovation.

• Coterminal Master of Science (M.S.) in Applied and Engineering Physics: A unique, accelerated pathway allowing current Stanford undergraduates to transition seamlessly into advanced master's-level study.

• Master of Science (M.S.) in Applied Physics: Available as a terminal degree or as an en route degree for students currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program.

Research Frontiers and Applied Science

Research in Applied Physics is characterized by its breadth, collaborative nature, and focus on translating fundamental physics into technologies that reshape society. Key areas of investigation include:

• Quantum Optics, Photonics, and Quantum Information: Engineering next-generation quantum computing architectures, secure quantum communications, and advanced photonic devices.

• Quantum Materials: Designing and probing novel materials with unique electronic, magnetic, and thermal properties governed by quantum effects.

• Biophysics and Neuroscience: Applying the principles and instrumentation of physics to map, visualize, and understand complex biological systems and understand how networks of neurons and synapses cooperate to mediate important functions.

• Accelerator and Ultrafast Physics: Developing advanced particle accelerators and exploiting high-intensity X-ray sources in partnership with the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.