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Graduate Program- Information |
Introduction
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains, Clemson is South Carolina's leading research university. Our students and faculty are engaged in vigorous research programs-- many using world-class ground- and space-based telescopes--in nucleosynthesis, gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, high-energy astrophysics, stellar atmospheres and evolution, and Galactic
populations.
There are some distinctive features we wish you to note about our program. First is
a commitment to listening to your expectations about your education at Clemson and an ability to tailor your graduate experience at Clemson to post-graduate plans (if
known). Second, our focus is not to be a graduate student "mill" producing vast numbers of astrophysics Ph.D.'s or seeking to fill a pre-determined number of teaching assistant
slots. Our faculty take pride in fully involving students in vigorous world-class research, and learning
from them as fellow colleagues. Second is the development of close, cohesive working relationships: between students and faculty, and between students themselves. Student-faculty
relations are very cordial, and there exist abundant opportunities for interaction in informal settings
via extracurricular activities. The existence of small research groups within the astrophysics group
enables you to collaborate closely with your fellow students as well as your research advisor,
fostering important professional relationships that can last long after graduation.
Our program is a combination of course work and research that will prepare you for a career in
teaching, industry, and research. Our curriculum is strongly rooted in a basic sequence of fundamental
physics courses in addition to courses and seminars in numerous areas of astrophysics. You
are encouraged to become an active participant in a research program within the astrophysics group
upon your arrival. All of our astrophysics graduate students are financially supported. Most hold
teaching assistantships, which entail duties as laboratory instructors and exam proctors and graders.
Further information about department assistantships can be found at Clemson Physics and Astronomy . Students are not required to teach in the
classroom, but summer session may present the opportunity to do so for additional compensation.
While the assistantships have a 12-month tenure, no special duties are assigned during the summer.
Financial Support
In addition to University support, several of our students have
been successful at obtaining, with the assistance of faculty, significant external support from various sources (e.g., the South arolina Space Grant Consortium, the NASA Graduate Student Researcher
Program, NSF Graduate Fellowships, etc). Students are strongly
encouraged to communicate with potential Clemson faculty advisors as
soon as possible after deciding to matriculate at Clemson so that
such funding possibilities, which have firm application deadlines,
can be explored. We are also pleased to announce the availability of
new 4-5 year Curry Fellowships, endowed by the generosity of Mr.
Charles Curry of Seneca, SC; these provide an annual stipend of
approximately $20,000 plus a tuition waiver. Looking towards the
future, astrophysics faculty are working to secure additional
significant sources of external funding for the support of graduate
students. Students are strongly
encouraged to communicate with potential Clemson faculty advisors as soon as possible after
deciding to matriculate at Clemson so that such funding possibilities, which have firm application
deadlines, can be explored. Third, University-based fellowships in the form of stipend supplements
are available to new incoming graduate students; these require an application to the Graduate
School by the Department. Fourth, we are pleased to announce the availability of new 4-5
year Curry Fellowships, endowed by the generosity of Mr. Charles Curry of Seneca, SC; these
provide an annual stipend of approximately $20,000 plus a tuition waiver. Looking towards the
future, astrophysics faculty are working to secure additional significant sources of external funding
for the support of graduate students.
While faculty view all quality applications with an eye towards future financial support, and will
consider successful applicants for the above funding alternatives, we welcome personal expressions
of interest in the above funding sources as part of your application. We encourage you to communicate
honestly, frequently, and early with us regarding financial need, competitive offers, and interest in any
of the above opportunities.
Academic Resources and Environment
Clemson is a member of the Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy (SARA)
consortium, which operates a remote 0.9-m telescope on Kitt Peak outside of Tucson, AZ.
Students and faculty are able to make routine use of this dedicated facility in addition to
large-aperture ground- and space-based telescopes as part of long-term research programs,
dissertations, and theses. More information can be found on the SARA homepage.
Clemson Astrophysicists collect their data from observatories around the world and beyond
including the W.M. Keck Observatory, NASA IRTF, Magellan Observatory,
Swift, Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer. Additionally, the
astrophysics group has a vigorous NSF-funded collaboration with scientists and students
at Tautenburg Observatory in Germany in the area of gamma-ray bursts. This effort has
comprised collaborative observing programs utilizing the SARA 0.9-m and Tautenburg's 2-m
telescopes, significant resulting refereed publications, and mutual visits by students and
faculty. Currently we are extending this collaboration into the area of Galactic stellar astronomy
and high-resolution spectroscopy, and are seeking NSF funding to strengthen and support this
burgeoning augmentation.
Those interested in computational research are able to use the Department's new 64-node Beowulf
cluster; this facility has already been employed as part of student Ph.D. dissertations. Astrophysics
group faculty have demonstrated a strong commitment to providing significant desktop computing
power to students engaged in collaborative research programs.
Most of our students are quickly assimilated into a small research group within the larger
astrophysics group. In addition to weekly meetings of these groups, and regular offerings of
astrophysics graduate courses, the whole astrophysics community at Clemson comes together
on a weekly basis for seminar (fondly known as Local Group), where we learn about the work
being carried out by each other and visiting scientists and students. Scientific discussions and
less formal banter continue at local pubs following the weekly LG. We have also initiated a
daily afternoon tea to provide additional opportunities to bring together students and faculty
in an informal setting.
Graduate Student Life
Clemson University, founded in 1889, is the original land grant institution of South Carolina. Our
public, coeducational University has some 20,000 students, approximately 4000 of which are
graduate students. The graduate student body contains a diversity of geographic, educational,
and religious backgrounds. Graduate students are able to participate in all all University activities,
which include a variety of outstanding lectures, concerts, theatrical productions, cultural events,
and NCAA division I athletic events. The University has excellent opportunities for participatory
sports and recreational activities via the newly renovated Fike recreational facility. An excellent
18-hole golf course is located on our beautiful pleasant campus.
The larger metropolitan area of Greenville, SC is located a half hour to the northeast of Clemson,
and offers an additional variety of cultural events, culinary establishments, retail establishments, and
semi-professional hockey and baseball. Greenville-Spartanburg airport (GSP) is serviced by all
major airlines, and Delta and Northwest have large jet service to and from Atlanta and Detroit, respectively.
The bustling metropolis of Atlanta is a 1.5-2 hour drive south on I-85, and offers unsurpassed access
to cultural activities, professional sports, and nationwide and international air travel.
Clemson University itself is located in the rural hamlet of Clemson, SC. Their are cordial relations
between the surrounding the communities, the University, and its students. The University offers
both graduate student married and single housing options, though the wait time for availability can
be significant. Instead, most of our students choose to live off-campus; a variety of private rental
options are available within walking, biking, and driving distance. Happily, most students will find the
cost of living in Clemson pleasantly low compared to other regions of the country. Upstate
South Carolina offers many opportunities for hiking and camping. Recreational water activities are
abundant given the proximity of the nearby Lake Hartwell and Keowee watersheds.
Graduate Program Links:
Curriculum- The requirements for obtaining M.S. and Ph.D. degrees
Current Grad Students- A listing of current A & A graduate students
Grad Student Publications- Publications of past and current A & A graduate students
A & A Alumni- Former A & A graduate students and current positions
Application Information- Application Tips and A How To Guide
Clemson Graduate School- The Clemson University's Graduate School homepage
College of Engineering and Science- the college of the Depart. of Physics & Astronomy
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