Admissions and degree process

FRIB is committed to providing the highest quality graduate education in nuclear science, nuclear astrophysics, accelerator physics and related instrumentation technologies. Our process is part of MSU’s top-ranked nuclear physics graduate program. Apply today to accelerate your journey to a rewarding career.

The degree requirements and curricula differ, depending on whether you are in MSU’s Department of Chemistry, Department of Physics and Astronomy, or College of Engineering. We refer you to the corresponding departments for application procedures and admission, course, and degree requirements.

Based on your background, the graduate advisors in each department will put together an individual curriculum for you. Students accepted into the graduate program at FRIB receive teaching or research assistantships. At FRIB, your first contact point is the Associate Director (AD) for Education, who will discuss with you the various options and opportunities for research topics. The AD for Education will continue to serve as contact between you, FRIB, and your respective department for the duration of your thesis studies.

Graduate students at FRIB will perform their research under the guidance of a faculty member. Faculty can serve as the direct thesis supervisor, as they have either joint or adjunct appointments at one of the departments. The research environment at FRIB is collaborative, and the connection between individual research groups is strong. For example, within a collaboration a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy can supervise a chemistry student and vice versa. After you choose your area of research, you will form your guidance committee, which will meet with you at least once a year to ensure satisfactory progress towards your degree.

All graduate students actively participate in research discussion, nuclear seminars, departmental colloquia and the daily laboratory business. Essential to a doctoral degree is that you develop and then demonstrate the ability to conduct vital, independent research. To become an independent researcher, you will need to develop a set of proficiencies.

After you advance to PhD candidacy, it usually takes two to four years to complete the original research that forms the basis for your dissertation.

Questions? Contact FRIB Education

Email: gradschool@frib.msu.edu