Applied Physics PhD Program

Program Mission:
The mission of the PhD Program in Applied Physics is to develop independent researchers with advanced knowledge in applied physics concepts at the micro- and nanoscale. The program equips students with theoretical knowledge, computational skills, and cutting-edge experimental experience to address complex challenges in quantum technology, photonics, optoelectronics, nanoelectronics, renewable energy. Graduates are well prepared for impactful research careers in academia and industry.

Program Goals:
• Education: Provide a world-class doctoral education that ensures candidates master the advanced theoretical, computational, and experimental expertise required to become independent researchers in applied physics.
• Research: Advance fundamental and interdisciplinary research to address complex challenges and create new knowledge in applied physics, with a focus on quantum technology, photonics, optoelectronics, nanoelectronics, and renewable energy.
• Community & Impact: Produce graduates who are prepared for high-impact leadership roles in academia and industry, and to drive transformative technological innovation.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):

Knowledge and Understanding:
• K1: Critically synthesize and integrate the full body of knowledge at the frontiers of applied physics, from foundational quantum and statistical mechanics to advanced solid-state theory.
• K2: Formulate new theoretical models or novel experimental paradigms to explain and predict complex physical phenomena at the micro- and nanoscale.
• K3: Critically evaluate the technological viability, limitations, and potential of emerging concepts and materials in quantum technology, photonics, optoelectronics and nanoelectronics.

Skills
• S1: Conceive, design, and independently execute a substantial program of original research that generates new and advanced knowledge at the frontiers of applied physics.
• S2: Produce a body of scholarly work of a quality suitable for publication in high-impact, peer-reviewed international journals and conferences, and successfully defend a dissertation that represents a significant and original contribution to the field.
• S3: Communicate original research, innovative concepts, and nuanced arguments with authority and precision to the international academic community and specialist industry partners.

Values, Autonomy, and Responsibility
• V1: Demonstrate the highest standards of research integrity and intellectual independently by defending the originality, methodology, and conclusions of a substantial doctoral dissertation.
• V2: Demonstrate accountability for professional practice by evaluating the broader societal, economic, and ethical implications of new technologies derived from applied physics research.
• V3: Demonstrate intellectual leadership by authoritatively engaging in and critiquing scientific discourse and providing mentorship to junior researchers within a collaborative research environment.

Course Requirements

Students must complete the requirements below:

300-level Courses (6 credits)
Graduate Seminar (non-credit)
Winter Enrichment Program (non-credit)

The Dissertation Advisor may request the completion of additional courses. Courses taken while pursuing the KAUST MS degree cannot be counted towards the course requirements. Courses must be technical courses and cannot be substituted with Research, Internship, or Broadening Courses to fulfill degree requirements.

300-level Courses (6 credits)

One of the 300-level Courses must be from AP or MSE Programs. The other course can be from the AP, AMCS, Chem, CS, ECE, ME, or MSE programs.

Graduate Seminars (non-credit)

Students must register for 5 semesters AP Graduate Seminar Courses (AP 398) and must receive a Satisfactory (S) grade in all of them. Students must attend a minimum of 8 Graduate Seminars per semester to receive a Satisfactory (S) grade. The seminars can be chosen from any Graduate Seminar series offered by the PSE division. Details will be clarified each semester by the seminar committee chair.

Winter Enrichment Program (non-credit)

All students must complete the Winter Enrichment Program (WE 100) for credit at least once during their studies at KAUST. Students who have previously completed WEP will be exempt from this requirement in their future studies.

Qualifying Exam

The Qualifying Exam aims to test the students' knowledge in the field of study. To pass the Qualifying Exam, students must achieve in two 300-level Courses (one must be from the AP or MSE Program, the other must be from the AP, AMCS, Chem, CS, ECE, ME, or MSE programs) at least a B+ grade. Students must pass the Qualifying Exam by the end of their third semester.

Dissertation

The Dissertation is the final milestone of the PhD program. Students must complete the following:

Formation of Dissertation Committee
Petition to Defend Dissertation
Dissertation Defense
Dissertation Archiving

PhD Dissertation Defense Committee

The PhD dissertation defense committee must include a minimum of three members and may have up to five members. The committee structure is outlined as follows:

Member	Role	Affiliation
1	Faculty	Primary affiliation within the student’s program
2	Faculty	Primary affiliation within the student’s program
3	Faculty	Primary affiliation outside the student’s program
4	External examiner	Affiliation outside of KAUST
5	Faculty or Research Scientist	Affiliation within or outside of KAUST

Notes:

The committee must be approved by the Dean.
Members 1-4 are mandatory, while member 5 is optional.
The student’s advisor cannot serve as the chair of the committee. The chair can be within or outside the program. If the advisor holds a primary affiliation within the student’s program, then they act as member 1. If the advisor has a secondary or one-time affiliation within the student’s program, then they act as member 3.
The student’s co-advisor may serve as member 5.
Professors of Practice and Research Professors may serve as member 5. They cannot be the advisor of the student and cannot serve as the chair of the committee.
Adjunct Professors and Professors Emeriti may continue serving on existing committees but are not permitted to serve on new committees.
Visiting Professors may only serve as member 5 but they are not permitted to serve as external examiner.
Guidelines for selecting the external examiner can be found on the PSE website.
Once approved, any changes to the committee require the approval of both the student's advisor and the Dean.

Petition to Defend Dissertation

Students must determine the defense date with the agreement of all members of the Dissertation Committee. It is the sole responsibility of students to submit the required documents in consultation with the GPC and Dissertation Advisor by the deadline published in the Academic Calendar and at least 2 months prior to the defense date. The required documents include: (i) a list of the Dissertation Committee members (including a CV of the external examiner), (ii) a current CV of the student (including a list of publications), (iii) a current transcript, and (iv) the Dissertation.

Students must follow the Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines available on the KAUST Library webpage when they write their Dissertation. They must defend their Dissertation and obtain the final approval by the end of their fourth year (8 Semesters and 4 Summer Sessions).

Dissertation Defense Results

The format of the Oral Defense is left to the discretion of the dissertation Committee. At the end of the Final Defense, students will be evaluated with one of the following outcomes:

Pass: The Committee agrees with no more than one dissenting vote. The dissertation must be archived within two weeks of the defense, and the student must send the Result Form to the GPSA within two days of the defense.
Pass with Conditions: All committee members must agree on the required conditions. If they cannot agree, the Dean will make the final decision. The student has up to three months to meet these conditions, unless the Committee unanimously agrees to change the deadline.
Fail with Retake: If conditions cannot be met within three months, or more than one member casts a negative vote, one retake of the defense is allowed. The retake must occur within six months of the original defense unless the Committee unanimously agrees to a shorter timeline. If the student fails the retake, they will be dismissed from the University. The Committee Chair must immediately inform the GPSA to initiate the necessary actions.
Fail Without Retake: The decision must be unanimous, resulting in the student’s dismissal from the University. The Committee Chair must inform the GPSA immediately to take the necessary actions.

Additional Guidelines:

Students who have exceeded their duration of study must apply for an extension as per the Time Limit and Extension Policy. All conditions must be fulfilled by the end of the extension period, which takes precedence over the Committee’s set deadlines.
The outcome of the Dissertation Defense must be recorded by submitting the Dissertation Defense Evaluation Form to the Office of the Registrar within two days of the defense.
Additionally, students must submit the Defense Results Form by the deadline published in the Academic Calendar.
The required forms are available on the webpage of the Office of the Registrar.

Dissertation Document

Students must follow the Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines available from the KAUST Library when they write their Dissertation.

Dissertation Archiving

Students must archive the Dissertation in the KAUST Library within 2 weeks from the final approval of the Dissertation Committee and not later than the deadline published in the Academic Calendar.