Graduate and Undergraduate students are an integral part of the PSFC community. Students are embedded in many of the teams, operate experiments, collaborate with other labs, and contribute at all stages of research.The hands-on approach, free exchange of ideas from bright minds, and access to capable facilities provides an invaluable experience for both the students and their PSFC mentors.

Undergraduate

An important part of the PSFC's activities involves training students who make valuable contributions to the research conducted at the Center. Undergraduate students have an opportunity to work closely with PSFC researchers on projects ranging from experiment design and technology development, to data analysis at all stages throughout their time at MIT, from Freshmen to Seniors. These opportunities are participate in solving the physics and engineering challenges of the future are usually coordinated through the MIT Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) or by doing a Senior Thesis in plasma science and fusion.

To learn more about UROPs at the PSFC contact: psfc-urop@mit.edu.

To find UROPs working on SPARC and other projects visit : https://nurop.scripts.mit.edu/UROP/

To learn more about doing a Senior Thesis with a PSFC advisor, contact: info@psfc.mit.edu.

To learn more about applying to MIT, visit mitadmissions.org.

Graduate

The PSFC is one of the largest producers of plasma physics PhDs in the world. However, the Center is not a degree granting body and instead draws students from MIT academic departments. Since plasma physics and fusion are by nature interdisciplinary subjects, students who perform research at the PSFC satisfy their educational goals by residing at any of several departments, six of which are associated with the PSFC. Each department has its own admission procedure, requirements, and offers a number of plasma-related courses, many of which are taught at the PSFC by PSFC-affiliated professors. Check the departments below to see a complete list of their course offerings and for further information about how to apply:

Course 2: Mechanical Engineering

Course 3: Materials Science and Engineering

Course 6: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Course 8: Physics

Course 10: Chemical Engineering

Course 16: Aero & Astro

Course 22: Nuclear Science & Engineering

For a detailed list of all courses available to MIT students, please look at MIT Subject Listings and Schedule, found in the on-line MIT Bulletin.

To request further information about graduate study in plasma science and technology please fill out this form.

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