physics phd caltech

Areas of Research

Students in physics will find opportunities for research in a number of areas where members of the faculty are currently active, including those listed below. Physics research at Caltech is often done in collaboration with scientists in the departments of applied physics, astrophysics, planetary science, engineering, chemistry, biology, and other departments, as well as with collaborators at other universities and laboratories. Additional research programs and more detailed information can be found on the Caltech physics department website.

• CMS searching for dark matter and other new particles and new symmetries up to the mass scale of several TeV at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN
• the NOvA and DUNE long baseline experiments at Fermilab, studying the pattern of masses, mixing and CP violation in the neutrino sector
• the Mu2e experiment, searching for physics beyond the standard model in charged lepton flavor violation
• a nascent effort to search for accelerator production of dark matter called LDMX
• the long-running SuperCDMS effort to directly detect scattering of galactic dark matter with normal matter.
• Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics. The particle theory group studies the unification of interactions based on string theory, the detailed properties of hadrons described by QCD, the quantum properties of black holes, the foundations of cosmology, including dark matter and dark energy, and other aspects of mathematical physics.
• Condensed-Matter Physics. Areas of interest include correlated electron systems, topological quantum matter, quantum dynamics, disordered systems, phase transitions, atomic and excitonic Bose condensation, nanomechanical and nanoelectronic systems, biosensors, quantum electromechanics, phonon physics, high-temperature superconductivity, graphene and carbon nanotube systems, quantum entanglement, dynamics of disordered systems, chaos, pattern formation, and systems far from equilibrium. Resources include numerous labs in the Caltech physics department, at the Kavli Nanoscience Institute at Caltech, and at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
• Quantum Optics and Information. Research on campus and at the Institute for Quantum Information and Matter at Caltech includes studies of the nature of quantum computation and quantum information, cavity quantum electrodynamics, algorithms and error correction techniques in quantum computation, and generally how quantum physics can be harnessed to improve the acquisition, transmission, and processing of information.
• Experimental Atomic/Molecular/Optical Physics. Experimental atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) research at Caltech focuses on controlling and understanding complex quantum systems for a wide variety of scientific goals. Current experiments include building arrays of ultracold atoms to study quantum information, metrology, many-body physics, and simulation of condensed matter systems; precision measurements in cold and ultracold polar molecules to search for fundamental symmetry violations; engineering atom-light interactions in photonic crystals; quantum physics of mechanical devices, hybrid superconducting quantum circuits, and optomechanical sensors; neurophotonics and neuromolecular sensing; development of quantum networks and communication and addressing fundamental questions in quantum information. Many of these research strands are collaborative efforts supported by the Institute for Quantum Information and Matter.
• Nuclear Physics. The interests of the nuclear group focus on performing precision measurements to search for new physics beyond the Standard Model. In particular, precision measurements of free neutron decay allow sensitive searches for new physics, while measurements of the neutron electric dipole moment may help explain the dominance of matter over antimatter in the universe.
• The high-energy astrophysics group at the Space Radiation Laboratory (SRL) uses X-ray and gamma-ray detectors aboard spacecraft and balloons to investigate energetic processes from compact astrophysical objects, including gamma-ray bursts from neutron-star and black-hole systems, supernova and hypernova dynamics, and the development of stars and galaxies in the early universe.
• The cosmic ray group at SRL uses data from a variety of spacecraft to study the composition of energetic particles arriving from the sun, the local interstellar medium, and beyond, in order to understand the origin and acceleration of energetic particles in space.
• The millimeter/submillimeter astronomy group, with collaborators at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, studies the solar system, star and planet formation, the interstellar medium, galaxies, galaxy clusters, and the epoch of reionization using data from the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) and other facilities. Future-oriented programs include the development of new superconducting detector technologies and instruments for use at these wavelengths, also in collaboration with JPL, and an effort to move the currently idle CSO to a new, more sensitive site.
• The Galactic compact objects astrophysics group studies black holes, neutron stars, and white dwarf systems, including gravitational wave sources detectable by future space missions such as LISA. The group uses telescopes at Palomar, Kitt Peak and the Keck Observatory, as well as the radio telescopes of the NASA Deep Space Network.
• Theoretical Astrophysics. The TAPIR (Theoretical Astrophysics Including Relativity) group carries out research on an ever-changing list of topics, including planets; stars, neutron stars, black holes and their interactions; gravitational-wave astrophysics; cosmology; the formation of stars and galaxies; and numerical and analytical general relativity.
• Cosmology. The observational cosmology group explores the structure and dynamics of the early universe using precise measurements of the cosmological microwave background radiation and large scale structures from detectors on the ground, on balloons, and on spacecraft. Efforts to directly detect dark matter are also underway. These experiments include an active program of detector development in collaboration with scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Theoretical studies seek to understand the large-scale structure of the universe, including the physical nature of dark matter and dark energy.
• Gravitational-wave Physics and Astrophysics. Observations from the (current) LIGO and (future) LISA projects are used to detect and analyze gravitational radiation to study a variety of astrophysical sources. Theoretical studies are aimed at developing sensitive data analysis techniques and calculating gravitational-wave signals from sources such as coalescing black holes and neutron stars.

Physical Facilities

The physics and astrophysics departments and laboratories are mainly housed in six buildings on campus: the Norman Bridge Laboratory, the Alfred P. Sloan Laboratory of Mathematics and Physics, the W. K. Kellogg Radiation Laboratory, the George W. Downs Laboratory of Physics, the C. C. Lauritsen Laboratory of High Energy Physics, and the Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics. Off-campus astronomical facilities include Palomar Observatory, the Keck Observatories, Owens Valley Radio Observatory, the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (currently idle), and the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO).

Frequently Asked Questions for Applicants

What is graduate school like at Caltech and how does the admission process work?

Graduate programs in research-intensive institutions like Caltech provide some classroom education, but the majority of the experience is centered around learning through working on an open-ended problem, with the goal of developing the ability to independently formulate and carry out a research program. Graduate students spend the majority of their time in small research groups or individually working with faculty advisors.

Admission to Caltech graduate study is highly competitive. The faculty review all the materials in the application to make a decision; they evaluate many factors including academic preparation, experience and research interests, recommendations from teachers/mentors, and they look for a match between faculty and an applicant's research interests.

Where can I find the application deadlines?

The application deadlines vary by department and range from November 21 to January 1. Please refer to our Application Deadlines document. Applications received after the posted deadline may be considered, but late applicants may be at a disadvantage in terms of being admitted and/or in the allocation of financial aid. Caltech conducts admissions once each year and applicants are considered for admission to the fall term only.

Does Caltech have rolling admissions?

Caltech admits students for the fall term only. Applications are not considered for the winter, spring and summer terms.

When can I expect to receive an admission decision?

Each academic option has a different schedule for considering applications and offers of admission will be made as the faculty make decisions on individual applications. Applicants may be notified at any time in the period between the deadline for submission and April 1. Offers are made as soon as possible so that students will have a chance to consider graduate study at Caltech together with opportunities at other institutions.

Will I be interviewed or have a chance to visit Caltech?

Most academic options host visit days in order for select applicants to learn more about the program, the campus, and community prior to making their decision. The arrangements and schedule for visit days are set by the individual options, and each option will work with selected applicants and faculty to coordinate visits. When in person visits are not feasible, online interviews may also be conducted.

Is there a separate application for financial aid?

In general, most graduate students at Caltech receive full funding for their graduate education. In fact, all doctoral students have full financial support in the form of internal or external fellowships, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, or some combination of fellowship and assistantship support. Most of the funding sources require work authorization. As a consequence, matriculation into the PhD program requires evidence of work authorization, unless special compensation can be arranged with the admitting option. In most cases financial assistance is awarded on an annual basis and is dependent upon satisfactory academic progress. A separate application for requesting financial aid is not required.

For additional questions or assistance related to financial aid, please contact the Graduate Studies Office.

Inquiries regarding loans should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid.

What type of financial support is available?

On average, more than 98% of graduate students offered admission at Caltech are offered a package of merit-based financial support that pays all tuition charges and provides them with a stipend. The only major exception is the case of students in terminal master's programs, who in many cases are self-supported or who have a financial sponsor. These students should refer to the information on financing a graduate education .

Financial support includes research and teaching assistantships, Institute fellowships, and external fellowships. Most of the funding sources require work authorization. As a consequence, matriculation into the PhD program requires evidence of work authorization, unless special compensation can be arranged with the admitting option. For additional information on the various funding sources, please refer to Financial Support .

Do I need to take the GRE exam?

The GRE tests (general and advanced subject) are not required and in most programs, scores will not be considered for admission. Some departments provide an option to submit self-reported scores, but students who choose not to submit scores as part of their application will not be at a disadvantage.

What is the minimum GPA?

Caltech does not have a minimum GPA requirement. However, most successful applicants have a US GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and/or are in the top 5 to 10% of their class.

Are international students required to report a GPA?

GPA's should only be reported for those schools attended within the United States. International GPA's or rankings should not be converted to the standard US grade point average.

Do I need to take an English proficiency exam (i.e., TOEFL, PTE, IELTS)?

Applicants whose first or native language is not English are asked to demonstrate English proficiency as part of the application procedure. Caltech recognizes scores from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) ( www.toefl.org ), Pearson's Test of English Academic (PTE) ( www.pearsonvue.com/pte ), and from the Cambridge Examinations and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) ( www.ielts.org ).

The following exemptions apply:

• Applicants who have studied in the US for two or more years
• Applicants with a degree from a college or university whose primary instruction is in English

Please note that regardless of any documentation of English proficiency submitted as part of the admissions process, all non-native English speakers who have not attended a school where English is the primary language of instruction will be screened prior to enrollment and may be required to take additional English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.

What is the minimum English proficiency score?

There is no minimum requirement for the English proficiency exams. However, all new students who have had limited instruction in English will participate in a one-on-one English evaluation with the ESL instructor during Orientation and may be asked to enroll in an English as a Second Language (ESL) course.

How many letters of recommendation are required?

Three letters of recommendation are required.

Does it help to submit additional letters of recommendation?

The online application currently accepts three letters maximum, so keep in mind that it's important to submit three strong letters from individuals most familiar with you.

From whom should I request letters of recommendation?

Letters should be requested from those individuals who know you best and can attest to your academic capabilities or training. While faculty members and research supervisors can provide the strongest academic recommendations, we recognize that some applicants may also have work experience that relates to their abilities and training. Keep in mind that those individuals writing recommendation letters should be able to address the following information:

• How well the applicant is known and in what capacity
• If the applicant has the intellectual capability, experimental ability, fundamental training, creativity, and motivation to be successful as a student at Caltech
• Whether the applicant would be encouraged to do doctoral research under the reference writer's supervision
• If English is not the native language, how well does the applicant read, write, and converse in English?
• How does the applicant compare to any previous students who have come to Caltech for their graduate work?

I understand that electronic recommendations are preferred, but can my referee(s) submit a paper recommendations instead?

Yes, individuals unable to submit materials electronically may send materials to:

Graduate Studies Office, Mail Code 230-87, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125; or Email [email protected]

Be sure that the applicant's name is clearly indicated on any supporting documents not submitted with the application.

How will Caltech evaluate grades from spring term 2020 due to disruptions caused by COVID-19?

The Graduate Admissions Committees recognize that applicants enrolled during the spring term 2020 and beyond may pursue pass/fail or other non-standard grading options, and applicants will not be asked to notate or document these changes to the grading system on submitted transcripts.

My grades will not be posted for the most recent term prior to the application deadline. Should I wait to submit my transcripts or upload my transcripts to date?

The most recent transcripts available should be uploaded with the application form. Grade reports for additional terms are not needed for application purposes and once the application is submitted, you will not be able to submit updated transcripts. Official, sealed transcripts documenting attendance and all degrees conferred at each college or university will be required for admitted students prior to enrollment.

Do I need to submit official transcripts?

For the purpose of applying, unofficial and scanned copies of an original transcript or university generated web printouts are accepted. Please note, however, that any electronic submissions must be unofficial records from the university or college attended. Hand-typed listings of courses prepared by the applicant will not be considered. Official transcripts documenting attendance and the degree awarded at each college or university will be required for admitted students prior to enrollment.

How many copies of the transcript are required?

One copy of your transcript from each college or university attended is required.

I am interested in applying for a Master's degree, but this degree is not one of the available choices.

Very few departments admit directly for the Master of Science degree. Currently, only applicants to Aeronautics, Electrical Engineering, and Space Engineering may apply for a terminal Master's degree. All other departments admit for the PhD degree only.

I would like to apply to more than one department. Should I submit two separate applications?

Applications will not be accepted for more than one academic option per admission cycle. In reviewing your application, the admission committee of the option to which you have applied may recommend that your application be reviewed by another option. If your application is referred to another option you will not be charged any additional fees or be asked to submit a duplicate application.

How do I apply for a fee waiver?

The fee waiver request form is included as part of the online application under payment options. In order to demonstrate financial hardship, applicants requesting a fee waiver will be asked to provide earned income and expenses and explain any circumstances that impact their ability to pay the application fee. Once an application is submitted, fee waiver requests will be individually reviewed, and decisions will be sent through the online admissions system.  If a fee waiver is not granted, applicants will have the opportunity to submit additional documentation for further review demonstrating financial hardship or submit payment.

Can I make changes to the application or submit additional documents after submission?

Once the application has been submitted, you will not be able to modify supporting documents, so please proofread your materials thoroughly before submission. If there is a major error in your application, please contact the Graduate Studies Office ( [email protected] ) for instructions.

Do you have admission counselors?

Caltech does not have admissions counselors at the graduate level. Most information can be located online through the Graduate Studies Office website ( www.gradoffice.caltech.edu ) or the main Caltech homepage ( www.caltech.edu ) and searching by area of interest. The admissions staff cannot provide information on the likelihood of admission or how to prepare a successful application. Specific questions regarding current research or prerequisites should be directed to the department to which you are applying.

Graduate Students

Applying to Caltech as a graduate student interested in QSE

• Prospective graduate students should apply to a graduate program (including Physics, Applied Physics, Material Science, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science) depending on their research interest and background.
• In your application (e.g., at the end of your personal statement), list the faculty members across all divisions that you are most interested in. You can find the QSE faculty here .
• Importantly, at Caltech, you have the flexibility to work with a PhD supervisor outside of your assigned program/division. In fact, this is quite common and part of the interdisciplinary spirit here. Hence, your choice of a graduate program does not limit you to work with certain faculty.
• Graduate students may apply to only one academic option per admission cycle. In reviewing your application, the admission committee of the option to which you have applied may recommend that your application be reviewed by another option, if they foresee a better fit with that option. This internal review is automatic and does not require any additional fees, or duplicate application.
• In addition, Caltech offers a Quantum Science and Engineering Minor open to graduate students in all options. You can find more information for the QSE Minor here .
• Caltech offers a wide range of courses in Quantum Science and Engineering. A sample of courses can be found on the QSE Minor page.

More information about applying to options in each Academic Division is available at:

• Physics (PMA)
• Applied Physics (EAS)
• Material Science (EAS)
• Chemistry (CCE)
• Electrical Engineering (EAS)
• Computer Science (EAS)

Additional information about applying to Caltech as a graduate student is available through the Graduate Studies Office

Find a list of QSE Faculty along with information about their research area, their Academic Division and links to their websites on the QSE Faculty page.

Graduate Program

The education and training of graduate students toward the doctoral degree is a major emphasis of the Astronomy Department.

• Life as a Caltech Astronomy Graduate Student
• Applying to Caltech Astronomy Graduate School
• Caltech Graduate Office
• Survival Guide
• Astronomy Option Representative (Lynne Hillenbrand)
• Current Caltech Astronomy graduate students
• Information for Graduate Students from the Caltech Course Catalog

An advanced degree in astrophysics at Caltech is contingent upon an extensive research achievement. Students in the program are expected to join a research program, and carry out independent research leading to publications in peer-reviewed journals, as well as a thesis. They must complete a minimum of 9 terms of formal oral research presentations. In their first year, the students must pass a series of six courses in astrophysics and by the end of their second year, also a minimum of four physics or equivalent courses. The students must pass three oral exams administered by faculty committees: a qualifying exam at the end of their first year, a candidacy exam during their third year, and the final PhD defense. Each of these examinations includes evaluation of the students' research work and also their mastery of broader facts, concepts and current frontiers of astrophysics. The examining committees read and evaluate the candidates' descriptions of their work, their published and unpublished work, the PhD thesis, and evaluate their performance in the oral examinations.

Graduates of our program are expected to have extensive experience with modern research methods, a broad knowledge of contemporary astronomy and astrophysics, and the ability to perform as independent researchers at the highest intellectual and technical levels.

The Caltech Astronomy graduate program aims to prepare students for creative and productive careers in astrophysical research and to train the next generation of leaders in the field. While the vast majority of our graduate students come from undergraduate astronomy or physics programs, some arrive with related majors such as engineering. In addition to those admitted directly to Astronomy, students in Physics who have astrophysical interests may conduct research with Astronomy or Physics faculty. Conversely, Astronomy students may also take the opportunity to work with faculty in either department. A discussion of the Astronomy option is contained in the following text; for more information on the Physics option, refer to the Caltech website .

The Caltech graduate program strives to be the destination of choice for the brightest and most creative astrophysics students from all backgrounds. The program consists of a rigorous set of first-year classes aimed at providing a broad education in fundamentals across various sub-fields in astrophysics, and the transition from guided research to independent (though supervised) research that leads to Ph.D. As such, in the admissions process we are seeking students with strong preparation and confident understanding in the relevant fields of physics, mathematics, and/or hardware/software engineering. Students are also expected to have demonstrated skill in critical thinking and problem solving in the face of uncertainty and incomplete information, for example through success in research projects or project work.

Incoming students typically have a strong grounding in undergraduate physics. We also encourage applications from students with complementary preparation (e.g., chemistry, computer science, engineering, math), including industry experience. Although preparation in astronomy through coursework and/or research can be helpful, this is not required for admission. We recognize that there are many paths to a graduate career in astronomy. The application package includes three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and academic transcripts.

Caltech is a proud member of the Cal-Bridge program. The Cal-Bridge program has the mission of creating opportunities for students of traditionally underrepresented groups to participate and advance in physics, astronomy, computer science, and computer engineering and to increase their numbers in PhD programs in those fields. More information here . All Cal-Bridge scholars are guaranteed fee waivers when applying to our graduate program. 

Academic Program

In astrophysics, we strive to understand the physical processes that govern the universe, its constituents, and their evolution. We use the apparatus and methodology of physics to gather and interpret data and to conduct theoretical studies. Caltech Astronomy students are embedded in a large and diverse department with interesting talks, seminars, and conferences happening nearly every day. This helps them acquire broad knowledge and good scientific practices. They receive intensive classroom training, including exposure to all aspects of modern astrophysics.

There are six astronomy classes to be completed during the first year of graduate study: Radiative Processes, Structure and Evolution of Stars, Structure and Dynamics of Galaxies, High-Energy Astrophysics, Interstellar Medium, and Cosmology and Galaxy Formation.

During their first or second year, students focusing on observational astronomy also take the Astronomical Measurements and Instrumentation sequence and four courses in physics or another appropriate subject. Theory students, on the other hand, select six classes in physics, mathematics, or other applicable fields. All first-year students participate in Introduction to Modern Research which exposes them to available research opportunities.

After their first year, students are encouraged to enroll in upper-level special topics courses, which are offered according to student demand and professor interest. All students second-year and beyond take a Journal Club seminar to hone their presentation skills. For more information on courses, please see https://catalog.caltech.edu/current/2022-23/department/Ay/ .

As with most graduate departments, Caltech has a qualifying exam. Here, the exam is an hour-long oral examination given at the start of the second year and focused on the required first-year astronomy courses plus a presentation on the student's first-year research.

After passing the qualifying exam, graduate students transition to teaching-assistant positions for the duration of their second year. The teaching assignments are made by the students themselves and include assisting with courses ranging from first-year graduate classes to undergraduate lectures, recitations, and laboratory classes at all levels. After the one-year teaching requirement, most students move to full-time research positions.

For students interested in mentoring and teaching, there are additional opportunities to help lecture for courses or to continue working as a teaching assistant‚ especially for the freshman-level introductory astronomy class. In addition, graduate students often co-mentor summer students through the Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program.

The graduate program emphasizes independent research, and students are free to pursue study in virtually any area of astrophysics. They are encouraged to sample several different research projects before embarking on their thesis work. Research may be supervised by any of the teaching or research faculty, and can be performed in collaboration with postdocs or larger consortia. Faculty members advise, on average, 2 postdocs and 1-2 advanced graduate students (3rd through 5th-year) as well as the 1st and 2nd-year students collectively. Many also take on one or more undergraduate students each summer.

Caltech's extensive, world-class observational facilities have always been an important component of our graduate education program, and our students learn the trade from the active example of their peers and advisors. The access they have to develop and use these observatories is simply unmatched by any other institution. Our deep connections to the JPL and the "Greater IPAC" communities, which develop and operate space missions (such as Spitzer, Herschel, and WISE), add to the large list of opportunities open to the students. To match its unparalleled observational resources, Caltech has an excellent theoretical astrophysics group – TAPIR – shared by the Physics and Astronomy departments. Students in TAPIR work alongside leading scientists in many venues of theoretical astrophysics and also benefit from collaborations with leading observers and instrumentalists.

Thesis Projects

Many Caltech theses represent substantial, even milestone, results in their fields and position our graduates for continuing careers of excellence. Eighty percent of our graduate program matriculates receive Ph.D. degrees, within a mean time of 5.5 years. Students who graduate from Caltech with an M.S. degree generally find employment in education, research, or industry.

Caltech Thesis Database: Astronomy

Caltech Thesis Database: Astrophysics

Alumni & Job Placement

Caltech Astronomy boasts a long and impressive list of Ph.D. alumni who have gone on to distinguished careers in the field. Details on many graduates of the program are listed on our website along with their current employment and links to archived theses.

Overall, our graduates do very well in the postdoctoral job market, and typically several per year win prestigious fellowships. The long-term research employment prospects for Caltech Astronomy Ph.D.s compare very favorably with those at other institutions (see figure). For instance, when compared to the national average, we have placed a higher percentage of our Ph.D.s into highly competitive faculty positions at research universities.

Among alumni graduating over the past 30 years, close to half (47%) have found long-term employment as professors at Ph.D.-granting universities, with an additional 34% employed as staff at observatories or national laboratories. 13% are in business or industry, 2.5% are professors at 4-year or community colleges, and another 2.5% work in other education-related careers.

Nationally, while the number of bachelor's degrees in astronomy was within 15% of constant throughout the 1980s and 1990s, over the past decade there has been close to 100% growth in the number of astronomy majors and 60% growth in physics majors. The increased pools for graduate admission have been accompanied by a smaller yet very substantial 50% increase in the number of available first-year graduate student positions nationwide. At the same time, the number of doctorate degrees awarded has remained stable (+/-15%).

At Caltech we typically graduate between 2 and 6 Astronomy Ph.D.s per year, and a similar number of Physics graduate students whose primary interest is astrophysics. Our matriculating first-year class in Astronomy ranges from year to year between 2 and 9 students. Presently in Astronomy, there are 25 graduate students. We also have 2-5 undergraduate majors per year. Almost all of our undergraduate majors participate in summer research here at Caltech, and one-half to two-thirds go on to graduate school in astronomy or physics.

Caltech graduates often maintain active collaborations with the faculty and staff at Caltech, even long after their graduation.

The Department is home to academic and research programs in Applied Physics and in Materials Science — each having its own philosophical approach and administering its own educational activities. The programs share a dedication to answering the most important questions and delivering lasting impact in broad areas of technological importance. Research topics in the department span from bulk metallic glass and nanomechanics, to photonics and optoelectronics, to plasma physics and energy technologies, to biophysics and biomechanics.

Applied Physics Research

Research in Applied Physics is built on the foundations of quantum mechanics, statistical physics, electromagnetic theory, mechanics, and advanced mathematics. The style of Applied Physics research at Caltech is both theoretical and richly experimental. State-of-the-art facilities are housed in the Watson Laboratories and in associated laboratories across campus.

Research Areas

• Nanostructured materials for biological applications, mechanics and dynamics of biomaterials ( Dr. Chiara Daraio )
• Natural and synthetic regulatory circuits in living cells ( Dr. Michael Elowitz )
• Mechanics of macromolecular assemblies ( Dr. Rob Phillips )
• Nanofabrication techniques for DNA manipulation ( Dr. Axel Scherer )
• Biophysical flows generated by Marangoni forces ( Dr. Sandra M. Troian )

Computational Physics

• Development and application of first-principles calculations of materials based on density functional theory and excited state methods ( Dr. Marco Bernardi )
• Continuum and non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations of thin films far from equilibrium ( Dr. Sandra M. Troian )
• Atomistic studies of materials and processes ( Dr. William Goddard III )

Gas and Fluid Mechanics

• Fluid physics and the dynamics of turbulence ( Dr. Paul E. Dimotakis )
• Pattern formation and non-normality in nanoscale flows ( Dr. Sandra M. Troian )

Photonics, Optics, and Quantum Electronics

• Interdisciplinary materials and device research, spanning photonics and electronics and with applications in Si-based photonics, plasmonics, renewable energy and mechanically active thin film devices ( Dr. Harry Atwater )
• Theory and ab initio computation of light-matter interaction in materials ( Dr. Marco Bernardi )
• Development of new ultrafast spectroscopy and photonics techniques. ( Dr. Scott Cushing )
• On chip quantum photonic devices, like quantum bits and quantum memories, and flat optics based on dielectric metasurfaces ( Dr. Andrei Faraon )
• Nonlinear photonic devices and systems for quantum optics, optical computing and information processing, and mid-infrared spectroscopy and sensing. ( Dr. Alireza Marandi )
• Superconducting qubits, quantum optics, and chip-based devices for multi-physics information processing ( Dr. Mohammad Mirhosseini )
• Nanophotonics, quantum optics, and optomechanics for applications in precision measurement and quantum information science ( Dr. Oskar Painter )
• Nanostructure fabrication for opto-electronic, magneto-optic and electronic devices ( Dr. Axel Scherer )
• Quantum-limited amplifiers at microwave frequency, applications of advanced superconductors, opto-mechanical structures to interface with atomic physics, preparation of mechanical structures at quantum limits ( Dr. Keith Schwab )
• Contact-free patterning of nanofilms for micro-optical applications ( Dr. Sandra M. Troian )
• Nonlinear optics in high-Q microcaviities, frequency microcombs, optical soliton physics ( Dr. Kerry Vahala )
• Quantum imaging and physics, photoacoustic tomography, light-speed compressed ultrafast photography, wavefront shaping/time-reversal optics. ( Dr. Lihong Wang )
• Quantum well semiconductor lasers, nonlinear optics and lightwave communication ( Dr. Amnon Yariv )

Plasma Physics

• Fusion, magnetospheric, solar, and astrophysical plasmas; ice dusty plasmas; fundamental plasma physics including waves, magnetic helicity, reconnection ( Dr. Paul Bellan )
• Electrohydrodynamic simulations of ion beam micropropulsion systems ( Dr. Sandra M. Troian )

Quantum Science and Engineering

• See qse.caltech.edu for details.

Solid State Devices

• Quantum mechanics for the electronic wave functions of large molecules and crystals ( Dr. William Goddard III )
• Fabrication of mechanical structures coupled to superconducting circuits and devices for the study of quantum physics at large scale ( Dr. Keith Schwab )
• Ultrafast electronic processes and nanoscale devices ( Dr. Kerry Vahala )
• Semiconductor lasers and optoelectronic devices ( Dr. Amnon Yariv )

Solids and Materials

• Charge carrier dynamics in materials using first-principles calculations Ultrafast dynamics of excited electrons in materials ( Dr. Marco Bernardi )
• Highly nonlinear dynamics, phononic crystal, multiscale metamaterials, nanofabrication ( Dr. Chiara Daraio )
• Superfluid helium devices at very low temperatures ( Dr. Keith Schwab )

• Simple Search
• Advanced Search
• Deposit an Item
• Deposit Instructions
• Instructions for Students

Get the Reddit app

This subreddit is for anyone who is going through the process of getting into graduate school, and for those who've been there and have advice to give.

GOT INTO CALTECH PHD!

After almost a year of taking GREs, writing SoPs and submitting applications, I got admitted to Caltech today! I honestly can’t believe it. A year ago, this moment seemed like an unachievable dream. Caltech has been my top choice, and I am so grateful to have achieved my goal.

For future applicants who might read this post: As a PhD applicant who didn’t get into some of the top schools, I can say graduate admissions are definitely very variable and personalized to each applicant. There isn’t a one-fits-all way to getting into the top schools. Getting that score on GRE or that GPA, having this many publications or this many awards, they all help to a certain degree. However, everything is heavily dependent on your specific subfield, your interactions with PoIs, and most importantly, YOU. Take advice from others and listen to people who went through this process, but at the end of the day, conquer this journey in the way you want and in the way that best represents you. If you want to talk about a cliche example about why you like your research in your specific field in your SoP or during your interview, go for it! Show your passion and professors on the other end will also see it.

Two Caltech Students Named Hertz Graduate Fellows

The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation annually grants fellowships to exceptional students to fund their graduate study. This year, of the 18 students named Hertz Fellows, two are Caltech students: PhD student Andrew Laeuger and spring 2024 BS graduate Virginia Canestraight.

Hertz Fellows receive five years of funding for their graduate studies so that they may "pursue research that best advances our nation's security and economic vitality," according to the Hertz Foundation's press release .

Canestraight, a native of Okemos, Michigan, will soon graduate from Caltech with a BS in chemical engineering and begin her PhD in materials science and mechanical engineering at Harvard.

During her undergraduate career, Canestraight worked in the lab of Jonas Peters, Bren Professor of Chemistry and director of the Resnick Sustainability Institute, studying the effects of mass transport on electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction to value-added fuels like methane and ethylene. As a student in Mike Vicic's class, Optimal Design of Chemical Systems, Canestraight participated in a challenge to synthesize hydrogen fuel from seawater . She spent the past year developing numerical tools to model large-scale ocean degassing technology with Captura , a Pasadena-based start-up founded by Chengxiang Xiang, research professor of applied physics and materials science, and Harry Atwater, Howard Hughes Professor of Applied Physics and Materials Science, Otis Booth Leadership Chair of the Division of Engineering and Applied Science, and director of the Liquid Sunlight Alliance. Captura develops technologies that can be scaled to remove carbon dioxide from the ocean, allowing it to then absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to help restore Earth's climate.

Supported by the Hertz Foundation and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program , Canestraight will join Zachary Schiffer's lab at Harvard to push the boundaries of electrochemical engineering for sustainable chemical synthesis.

Laeuger, who hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a PhD student in theoretical physics at Caltech. He aspires to predict the gravitational signatures of as-yet-undiscovered physical phenomena, with the hope that these can be sought and found in gravitational-wave observations. At Northwestern University, where Laeuger was an undergraduate, he helped to develop a novel high-frequency gravitational-wave detector to aid in this search.

"The 2024 Hertz Fellows embody the kind of transformative scientific talent needed to make an enduring impact on our nation and the world," Robbee Baker Kosak , president of the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation, said in the press release. "We are proud to welcome them to the community of visionary researchers that the Hertz Foundation has supported for more than six decades."

Canestraight and Laeuger will be joining a network of more than 1,300 Hertz Fellows from over the past 60 years, including two Nobel laureates, and numerous recipients of MacArthur Foundation "genius awards," the Fields Medal, the National Medal of Technology, and the National Medal of Science.

New Computational Microscopy Technique Provides More Direct Route to Crisp Images

For hundreds of years, the clarity and magnification of microscopes were ultimately limited by the physical properties of their optical lenses. Microscope makers pushed those boundaries by making increasingly complicated and expensive stacks of lens elements. Still, scientists had to decide between high resolution and a small field of view on the one hand or low resolution and a large field of view on the other.

In 2013, a team of Caltech engineers introduced a microscopy technique called FPM (for Fourier ptychographic microscopy). This technology marked the advent of computational microscopy, the use of techniques that wed the sensing of conventional microscopes with computer algorithms that process detected information in new ways to create deeper, sharper images covering larger areas. FPM has since been widely adopted for its ability to acquire high-resolution images of samples while maintaining a large field of view using relatively inexpensive equipment.

Now the same lab has developed a new method that can outperform FPM in its ability to obtain images free of blurriness or distortion, even while taking fewer measurements. The new technique, described in a paper that appeared in the journal Nature Communications , could lead to advances in such areas as biomedical imaging, digital pathology, and drug screening.

The new method, dubbed APIC (for Angular Ptychographic Imaging with Closed-form method), has all the advantages of FPM without what could be described as its biggest weakness—namely, that to arrive at a final image, the FPM algorithm relies on starting at one or several best guesses and then adjusting a bit at a time to arrive at its "optimal" solution, which may not always be true to the original image.

Under the leadership of Changhuei Yang , the Thomas G. Myers Professor of Electrical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Medical Engineering and an investigator with the Heritage Medical Research Institute, the Caltech team realized that it was possible to eliminate this iterative nature of the algorithm.

Rather than relying on trial and error to try to home in on a solution, APIC solves a linear equation, yielding details of the aberrations, or distortions introduced by a microscope's optical system. Once the aberrations are known, the system can correct for them, basically performing as though it is ideal, and yielding clear images covering large fields of view.

"We arrive at a solution of the high-resolution complex field in a closed-form fashion, as we now have a deeper understanding in what a microscope captures, what we already know, and what we need to truly figure out, so we don't need any iteration," says Ruizhi Cao (PhD '24), co-lead author on the paper, a former graduate student in Yang's lab, and now a postdoctoral scholar at UC Berkeley. "In this way, we can basically guarantee that we are seeing the true final details of a sample."

As with FPM, the new method measures not only the intensity of the light seen through the microscope but also an important property of light called "phase," which is related to the distance that light travels. This property goes undetected by human eyes but contains information that is very useful in terms of correcting aberrations. It was in solving for this phase information that FPM relied on a trial-and-error method, explains Cheng Shen (PhD '23), co-lead author on the APIC paper, who also completed the work while in Yang's lab and is now a computer vision algorithm engineer at Apple. "We have proven that our method gives you an analytical solution and in a much more straightforward way. It is faster, more accurate, and leverages some deep insights about the optical system."

Beyond eliminating the iterative nature of the phase-solving algorithm, the new technique also allows researchers to gather clear images over a large field of view without repeatedly refocusing the microscope. With FPM, if the height of the sample varied even a few tens of microns from one section to another, the person using the microscope would have to refocus in order to make the algorithm work. Since these computational microscopy techniques frequently involve stitching together more than 100 lower-resolution images to piece together the larger field of view, that means APIC can make the process much faster and prevent the possible introduction of human error at many steps.

"We have developed a framework to correct for the aberrations and also to improve resolution," says Cao. "Those two capabilities can be potentially fruitful for a broader range of imaging systems."

Yang says the development of APIC is vital to the broader scope of work his lab is currently working on to optimize image data input for artificial intelligence (AI) applications. "Recently, my lab showed that AI can outperform expert pathologists at predicting metastatic progression from simple histopathology slides from lung cancer patients," says Yang. "That prediction ability is exquisitely dependent on obtaining uniformly in-focus and high-quality microscopy images, something that APIC is highly suited for."

The paper, titled, " High-resolution, large field-of-view label-free imaging via aberration-corrected, closed-form complex field reconstruction " appeared online in Nature Communications on June 3. The work was supported by the Heritage Medical Research Institute.

Related Links

• Science and Math Textbooks
• STEM Educators and Teaching
• STEM Academic Advising
• STEM Career Guidance
• Science Education and Careers

Advice about doing 1 or 2 masters during 2 yrs before doing PhD?

• Thread starter Zapped17
• Start date Yesterday, 6:38 PM
• Tags Academic advising Mathematics Stem
• Yesterday, 6:38 PM
• Dual-laser approach could lower cost of high-resolution 3D printing
• Physicists' laser experiment excites atom's nucleus, may enable new type of atomic clock
• New AI program helps identify elusive space plasmoids
• Yesterday, 9:45 PM

"If you don't know where you are going, any path will take you there." I think your need to figure out what your goal is first. Then we can discuss how to reach it.  

Similar threads

• Jun 11, 2024
• Apr 7, 2022
• Feb 8, 2024
• Saturday, 3:11 PM
• Aug 12, 2023
• May 17, 2023
• Aug 10, 2023
• Jul 10, 2023
• Jan 25, 2024
• Mar 1, 2024

Hot Threads

• Good textbook(s) for self-studying Quantum Physics
• Schools   Which University should I go to for my undergrad in physics?
• Expressing Neurodivergency Obstacle in Grad School Personal Statements
• Other   What's the point of a thesis?
• Can a mathematician solve high school physics tasks without physics knowledge?

Recent Insights

• Insights   Aspects Behind the Concept of Dimension in Various Fields
• Insights   Views On Complex Numbers
• Insights   Addition of Velocities (Velocity Composition) in Special Relativity
• Insights   Schrödinger’s Cat and the Qbit
• Insights   The Slinky Drop Experiment Analysed
• Insights   How to Solve a Multi-Atwood Machine Assembly

Cosmic Simulation Reveals How Black Holes Grow and Evolve

A team of astrophysicists led by Caltech has managed for the first time to simulate the journey of primordial gas dating from the early universe to the stage at which it becomes swept up in a disk of material fueling a single supermassive black hole. The new computer simulation upends ideas about such disks that astronomers have held since the 1970s and paves the way for new discoveries about how black holes and galaxies grow and evolve.

"Our new simulation marks the culmination of several years of work from two large collaborations started here at Caltech," says Phil Hopkins, the Ira S. Bowen Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics.

The first collaboration, nicknamed FIRE (Feedback in Realistic Environments), has focused on the larger scales in the universe, studying questions such as how galaxies form and what happens when galaxies collide. The other, dubbed STARFORGE , was designed to examine much smaller scales, including how stars form in individual clouds of gas. "But there was this big gap between the two," Hopkins explains. "Now, for the first time, we have bridged that gap." To do that, the researchers had to build a simulation with a resolution that is more than 1,000 times greater than the previous best in the field.

To the team's surprise, as reported in The Open Journal of Astrophysics , the simulation revealed that magnetic fields play a much larger role than previously believed in forming and shaping the huge disks of material that swirl around and feed the supermassive black holes. "Our theories told us the disks should be flat like crepes," Hopkins says. "But we knew this wasn't right because astronomical observations reveal that the disks are actually fluffy—more like an angel cake. Our simulation helped us understand that magnetic fields are propping up the disk material, making it fluffier."

Visualizing the Activity Around Supermassive Black Holes Using "Super Zoom-Ins"

In the new simulation, the researchers performed what they call a "super zoom-in" on a single supermassive black hole, a monstrous object that lies at the heart of many galaxies, including our own Milky Way. These ravenous, mysterious bodies contain anywhere from thousands to billions of times the mass of the Sun, and thus exert a huge effect on anything that comes near.

Astronomers have known for decades that as gas and dust are pulled in by the tremendous gravity of these black holes, they are not immediately sucked in. Instead, the material first forms a rapidly swirling disk called an accretion disk. And as the material is just about to fall in, it radiates a huge amount of energy, shining with a brilliance unmatched by just about anything in the universe. But much is still not known about these active supermassive black holes, called quasars, and how the disks that feed them form and behave.

While disks around supermassive black holes have been imaged previously—the Event Horizon Telescope imaged disks circling black holes at the heart of our own galaxy in 2022 and Messier 87 in 2019—these disks are much closer and more tame than the ones that churn around quasars. To visualize what happens around these more active and distant black holes, astrophysicists turn to supercomputer simulations. They feed information about the physics at work in these galactic settings—everything from the basic equations that govern gravity to how to treat dark matter and stars—into thousands of computing processors that work in parallel. This input includes many algorithms, or series of instructions, for the computers to follow to recreate complicated phenomena. So, for example, the computers know that once gas becomes dense enough, a star forms. But the process is not that straightforward.

"If you just say gravity pulls everything down and then eventually the gas forms a star and stars just build up, you'll get everything wildly wrong," Hopkins explains. After all, stars do many things that affect their surroundings. They shine radiation that can heat up or push surrounding gas. They blow winds like the solar wind created by our own Sun, which can sweep up material. They explode as supernovae, sometimes launching material clear out of galaxies or changing the chemistry of their surroundings. So, the computers must know all the ins and outs of this "stellar feedback" as well, as it regulates how many stars a galaxy can actually form.

Building a Simulation that Spans Multiple Scales

But at these larger scales, the set of physics that are most important to include and what approximations can be made differ from those at smaller scales. For example, on the galactic scale, the complicated details of how atoms and molecules behave are extremely important and must be built into any simulation. However, scientists agree that when simulations focus on the more immediate area around a black hole, molecular chemistry can be mostly ignored because the gas there is too hot for atoms and molecules to exist. Instead, what is exists there is hot ionized plasma.

Creating a simulation that could cover all the relevant scales down to the level of a single accretion disk around a supermassive black hole was a huge computational challenge—one that also required a code that could handle all the physics. "There were some codes that had the physics that you needed to do the small-scale part of the problem and some codes that had the physics that you needed to do the larger, cosmological part of the problem, but nothing that had both," Hopkins says.

The Caltech-led team used a code they call GIZMO for both the large- and small-scale simulation projects. Importantly, they built the FIRE project so that all the physics they added to it could work with the STARFORGE project, and vice versa. "We built it in a very modular way, so that you could flip on and off any of the pieces of physics that you wanted for a given problem, but they were all cross compatible," Hopkins says.

This allowed the scientists in the latest work to simulate a black hole that is about 10 million times the mass of our Sun, beginning in the early universe. The simulation then zooms in on that black hole at a moment when a giant stream of material is torn off a cloud of star-forming gas and begins to swirl around the supermassive black hole. The simulation can continue zooming in, resolving a finer area at each step as it follows the gas on its way toward the hole.

Surprisingly Fluffy, Magnetic Disks

"In our simulation, we see this accretion disk form around the black hole," Hopkins says. "We would have been very excited if we had just seen that accretion disk, but what was very surprising was that the simulated disk doesn't look like what we've thought for decades it should look like."

In two seminal papers from the 1970s that described the accretion disks fueling supermassive black holes, scientists assumed that thermal pressure—the change in pressure caused by the changing temperature of the gas in the disks—played the dominant role in preventing such disks from collapsing under the tremendous gravity they experience close to the black hole. They acknowledged that magnetic fields might play a minor role in helping to shore up the disks. In contrast, the new simulation found that the pressure from the magnetic fields of such disks was actually 10,000 times greater than the pressure from the heat of the gas.

"So, the disks are almost completely controlled by the magnetic fields," Hopkins says. "The magnetic fields serve many functions, one of which is to prop up the disks and make the material puffy."

This realization changes a host of predictions scientists can make about such accretion disks, such as their mass, how dense and thick they should be, how fast material should be able to move from them into a black hole, and even their geometry (such as whether the disks can be lopsided).

Looking forward, Hopkins hopes this new ability to bridge the gap in scales for cosmological simulations will open many new avenues of research. For example, what happens in detail when two galaxies merge? What types of stars form in the dense regions of galaxies where conditions are unlike those in our Sun's neighborhood? What might the first generation of stars in the universe have looked like? "There's just so much to do," he says.

The new simulation is detailed in a paper entitled " FORGE'd in FIRE: Resolving the End of Star Formation and Structure of AGN Accretion Disks from Cosmological Initial Conditions ," which appears in The Open Journal of Astrophysics . Additional authors on the paper include Michael Grudic (PhD '19) of Carnegie Observatories, Kung-Yi Su (PhD '19) of Harvard University, Sarah Wellons of Wesleyan University, Daniel Angles-Alcazar of the University of Connecticut and the Flatiron Institute, Ulrich Steinwandel of the Flatiron Institute, David Guszeinov (PhD '18) of the University of Texas at Austin, Norman Murray (BS '79) of the University of Toronto, Claude-Andre Faucher-Giguere of Northwestern University, Eliot Quatert of Princeton University, and Dusan Keres of UC San Diego. Hopkins's work was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation and NASA.

The Qian Lab

California institute of technology, graduate students, undergraduates, high school students, past members.

December 2023

August 2019

more lab photos

Professor of Bioengineering Location: 105 Keck Phone: (626) 395-1228 Email: [email protected] CV

Claire Wright-Coleman

Administrative Assistant Location: Alles 182 Phone: (626) 395-3570 Email: [email protected]

Tianqi Song

Senior Postdoctoral Scholar Bioengineering Location: 109 Keck Phone: (626) 395-1231 Email: [email protected]

Postdoctoral Scholar Bioengineering Location: 107 Keck Phone: (626) 395-1232 Email: [email protected]

Yancheng Du

Postdoctoral Scholar Bioengineering Location: 109 Keck Phone: (626) 395-1231 Email: [email protected]

Kevin Cherry

Postdoctoral Scholar Bioengineering Email: [email protected]

Sam Davidson

Bioengineering Location: 104A Keck Phone: (626) 395-1235 Email: [email protected]

Bioengineering Email: [email protected]

Matthew Plazola

Bioengineering Location: 104C Keck Phone: (626) 395-1230 Email: [email protected]

Spencer Winter

Bioengineering Location: 104B Keck Phone: (626) 395-1229 Email: [email protected]

Martin Holmes

Bioengineering Location: 104C Keck Phone: (626) 395-1230 Email: [email protected]

Yi-Cheng Lu

SURF student

Tanvi Ganapathy

Zalea Nunes

SRC student

Jenna Elkobaitry

Abriana Sustaita

Administrative Assistant (2018-24) Caltech

Dallas Taylor

Undergraduate Researcher (2021-23) Gordian Software

Allison Glynn

Undergraduate Researcher (2021-23) PhD student in Bioengineering MIT

Namita Sarraf

Graduate Student (2018-22) Argome

Dominic Scalise

Postdoctoral Scholar (2019-22) Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering Washington State University Website

Kellen Rodriguez

Undergraduate Researcher (2021-22) PhD student in Computer Science and Engineering UW Seattle

Grigory Tikhomirov

Senior Postdoctoral Scholar (2013-21) Assistant Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences UC Berkeley Website

Hope Johnson

Graduate Student (2016-20) Postdoc in Computer Science University of British Columbia

Gokul Gowri

Undergraduate Researcher (2017-20) PhD student in Systems, Synthetic, and Quantitative Biology Harvard

Rotation Student (Spring 2019) PhD student in Bioengineering Caltech

Shilong Gao

Rotation Student (Fall 2018) PhD student in Chemistry Caltech

Postdoctoral Scholar (2014-18) Agilent

Chigozie Nri

Graduate Student (2016-18) New Age Meats

Philip Petersen

Graduate Student (2014-18) MD/PhD USC

Lilian Porter

Administrative Assistant (2013-18) Caltech

Anu Thubagere

Graduate Student (2014-17) Google X

Ali Aghebat Rafat

Visiting Student (2016-17) TUM

Emily Elhacham

Visiting Student (2015-16) Tel-Aviv University

Rosie Zedan

Lab Assistant (2014-16) Caltech

Stella Wang

Undergraduate Researcher (2015-16) PhD student in Cell and Molecular Biology UT Austin

Diana Ardelean

Undergraduate Researcher (2014-15) PwC

Samuel Clamons

Rotation Student (Fall 2014) PhD student in Bioengineering Caltech

Visiting Student (Summer 2013) PhD student in Biological Physics, Structure and Design UW Seattle

Shayan Doroudi

Research Assistant (Summer 2013) PhD student in Computer Science Carnegie Mellon University

High-achieving graduate pursuing dual careers in National Guard, airport planning

• July 1, 2024

David Leder

Growing up, Elliott Szoke always thought he wanted to become a pilot. The recent aviation business graduate even chose CWU, in large part, because of its renowned aviation program.

But once Szoke arrived in Ellensburg three years ago, he unlocked a new passion for airport planning.

“During COVID, they still had some restrictions with the pilot training program, so I decided to switch to the management track,” he said. “Everything kind of worked out in the end because I fell in love with planning.”

Once Szoke got started in the aviation program in 2021, he came to the realization that flying airplanes may not be what he wanted to do every day of his career.

“I wanted to leave a lasting impression, and with airport planning, the work you do will be there for many years to come,” said Szoke, who also earned minors in military science and project management. “The professors in the aviation management program have experience doing these types of jobs, and they helped me envision the direction I wanted to go.”

As luck would have it, he already has a job in his chosen field. After serving as an intern with Century West Engineering for the past two years, he started working full time in the company’s Bothell office after completing his degree in early June.

“I feel very fortunate to have found something before I graduated,” Szoke said. “But it’s not just a job; I really love it. There’s a lot of satisfaction in being able to look back on the work you did and say, ‘I did that.’”

Another reason Century West ended up being an ideal fit for Szoke is that the company is fully supportive of his other career in the Army National Guard.

He serves one weekend a month and also attends a mandatory two-week training every summer. Later this year, he will have to fly to Georgia for a five-month officer training, but Century West management has expressed that they are completely behind him.

“It can be hard to find an employer that is so flexible when it comes to military leave,” Szoke said. “But my bosses understand my situation and they are willing to work with me.” 

Military-Minded

As much as Szoke enjoys airport planning, he is equally passionate about his military service. He said he hopes to one day become a major or lieutenant colonel, but no matter what rank he ultimately achieves, he looks forward to the challenge.

“I really enjoy it, and I’m going to keep going as far as I can,” said Szoke, who joined the Army during his senior year of high school in Mukilteo.

Szoke explained that he had his sights set on joining the military even before he developed a passion for flying. From a young age, he and his older brother, Austin, shared a mutual love for the military. Once his brother enrolled in the ROTC program at Virginia Tech, Szoke decided that he wanted to follow in his footsteps.

“We were always interested in the military as kids — reading about it, watching movies, spending time in the outdoors,” he said. “When my brother went into the ROTC, that cemented my decision.”

When Szoke started looking at colleges that offered both aviation and ROTC programs, he didn’t have to look very far.

“Central stood out in both respects,” said Szoke, who completed his associate’s degree in business at Edmonds College before transferring to CWU. “It was also nice to stay close to home, but having both of my passions in one place made for an easy decision.”

His experience in both programs ended up being exactly what he was looking for. He came away with real-world exposure in both of his chosen career paths, building lasting relationships and essential knowledge along the way.

He specifically thanked Lieutenant Colonel Joe Paolilli, the program’s battalion commander, for his mentorship over the past three years.

“Joe was my go-to for just about everything,” Szoke said. “He helped create an environment that showed us what we’re going to experience one day in the Army. I got to sit down with him once a week and talk about what was on my mind. I feel like I have come a long way after working with him.”

High Standards

Like most military members, Szoke doesn’t allow himself to be content with “good enough;” he’s constantly striving to be the best.

His commitment to excellence was reflected in everything he did at CWU, whether it was a 3.99 grade-point average or his cadet battalion commander position with the ROTC.

Szoke proved that he’s prepared for an even greater level of responsibility last summer when he was ranked 57 th out of 6,000 cadets nationally after his performance at cadet summer training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

“The ranking is based on points you earn in field training, along with your navigation skills, and leadership skills,” he said. “They also judge you on how you serve as a platoon leader and how well you communicate with others during a difficult mission. They give you a score for each of the categories, and I ended up scoring all Es.” ("E" stands for “exceeds standards.)

Szoke said he received a similarly glowing evaluation for his career at Central, which took into account his grades, leadership skills, physical training scores, and more.

“I’ve always had the mindset of trying to take away something from every experience so I can become better,” he said. “For me, it’s all about constant learning.”

Now that Szoke has completed a memorable three years at CWU, he looks forward to proving himself further with Century West and the National Guard.

He worked hard to create those opportunities for himself, but he knows he couldn’t have done it on his own.

“I built a lot of great relationships at Central, and the people there have been really good to me,” Szoke said. “I wouldn’t have gotten my job at Century West if it weren’t for CWU, and I wouldn’t be the leader I am today without the ROTC program. I don’t think I could have chosen a better place to get my education.”

CWU computer science and math major finds her future in academia

June 26, 2024

by Rune Torgersen

Distant dream morphs into career path for physics alumna

by David Leder

• [email protected]

Additional Resources

• Campus Notices