Senior Research: Physics 99D
Research in the physics department complements coursework by putting theory into practice and developing the methods and approaches that physicists use as professionals in the field. Gaining research experience is especially important for those students who wish to continue their studies in graduate school.
Overview of PHYS 99D:
Senior Research (PHYS 99D) pairs students with one or more faculty in the department to complete a year-long project of their choosing. Students will be expected to work with the faculty to propose a project. As a culmination of their work, students will write a final thesis and participate in a public oral thesis defense at the end of the spring semester.
Students who participate in research during their senior year through the PHYS99D Senior Research course are eligible to graduate with honors.
Getting Started & Registration:
Students who wish to register for PHYS 99D are advised to reach out to faculty early (either the spring or summer prior to their final year). In order to register for the course, students must
- form a committee of two or more faculty who will supervise the work, one of whom will be the official instructor;
- submit a written thesis proposal, to be approved by the committee and the Undergraduate Advising Head (UAH), prior to registration for the course;
- once the form is signed, submit an override request in Workday to register for the class. Please note that you must register for the section associated with your primary advisor.
Mid-Year Check-in:
Students must participate in a mid-year evaluation, which is intended to provide feedback to the students and committee on progress towards the thesis. Students judged to have made insufficient progress will not be permitted to continue in the second semester. The mid-year evaluation will consist of:
- Written Component: Thesis Outline & Introduction
By mid-year, senior thesis students should be able to produce a plan for their thesis, including an outline and a brief introduction to their topic. The background should introduce and motivate the central question of their thesis, and describe the relevant context for the project. Students should reference relevant literature. This written component can be 1-2 pages long.
2. Oral Component: Committee Meeting
To ensure that students have adequate support from their committee, they will schedule a 30-min mid-year meeting. In this meeting, students will present (12-15 mins) their progress so far, research plan for the spring semester, and rough outline for their thesis, and will have an opportunity to receive feedback from their primary committee members.
Evaluation:
Students will be evaluated on completion of these components, but will receive additional written and oral feedback from their committee members. The committee will submit feedback to the UAH via this form. The mid-year evaluation should be completed by Friday, Dec. 12, 2025.
Thesis and Oral Defense:
In order to successfully complete the thesis, students must deliver a written thesis and oral defense of their thesis.
- Written Component: Thesis
- send a draft thesis to their advisor at least two weeks before the last day of classes to receive feedback and suggestions for the final version.
- submit a final version of their thesis, in a department-approved format, by the last day of classes (April 29th, 2026).
- Oral Component: Public Defense
Students must defend their thesis in a public oral examination. This year the defenses will be scheduled for April 30th, 2026. The presentation should
- be at least 30 minutes in duration,
- be accessible to junior physics majors,
- allow time to answer questions from the audience as well as from committee members.
Students should contact the Physics office to reserve space to practice their defense at least one week before their actual defense. Students are encouraged to invite their colleagues and others to the practice session to get feedback.
Evaluation:
Students will be evaluated on quality of research, written thesis and oral presentation. The final level of honors will be decided by the department based on an evaluation of both the thesis and the student’s academic record.
The committee will evaluate the student’s overall performance in PHYS99D according to the following evaluation criteria. This feedback will be submitted to the UAH by Friday, May 8th, 2026. This form is not for feedback to the student, and should not be shown to the student.
FAQs:
For any questions, contact the UAH. Below are some of the more common questions.
Can I graduate early and still do a thesis?
Students wishing to graduate in seven semesters must start their thesis research in the spring semester of their junior year, and follow the same rules moved forward one semester.
Can I have a non-physics advisor?
Supervisors outside of the Physics Department are acceptable, either in other Brandeis departments or outside of the university. All the rules above apply, including the deadlines. The defense must take place in the Brandeis Physics Department. The outside advisor may be an ex officio member of the supervising committee, and advise the committee on the evaluation of the work performed. The grade for Physics 99D will be determined by the Brandeis instructor of the course.
Can I publish my thesis?
With the permission of their advisor, the student is encouraged to deposit their thesis to the Brandeis Library. Information on and instructions can be found here.