Program Details

Brown University (Department of Physics)

How many tenure-track or tenured faculty -- male/female?

24 - male 3 - female

How many graduate students-- male/female?

92 - grad students 76 - male 16 - female

How many post doctoral associates - male/female?

16 - Postdoctoral Research Associates 13 - male 3 - female

Is there a family leave policy for graduate students? If so, describe.

Please see the following website for a description of Brown University's Family Leave Policy: http://www.brown.edu/academics/gradschool/childbirth-accommodation-and-family-leave

Is there family health insurance for graduate students? If so, is it included in the stipend?

Yes. Students' dependents may be enrolled in SHIP (Student Health Insurance Plan) at an additional cost. Eligible dependents include a legal spouse or domestic partner, unmarried children under the age of 19 or a full-time student up to the age of 23, or a newborn infant born while the student is covered by SHIP. A spouse or partner is generally expected to be living with the covered student in order to be eligible for coverage. Students who receive health coverage through their financial support packages from the University will need to cover the cost of adding dependents to the plan. Additional information can be found at: http://www.brown.edu/academics/gradschool/courses-manual/health-insurance

Please describe why someone applying to graduate school who is interested in a female-friendly department should choose your department.

Brown has been a leader in furthering gender equity in the sciences through the Women in Science and Engineering Program (WISE) and through the ADVANCE Program at Brown University. WiSE, which was established in 1992, has aimed to create a sense of community of and for women in the sciences at Brown and has been very successful in this regard. The primary means of building a sense of community is through Affinity Groups, which provide informed ways for a woman within a specific area of scientific interest to meet and discuss issues relating to her coursework, graduate schools, jobs, and life in general. There are currently Affinity Groups for most major scientific disciplines, including Physics. Each group has a faculty advisor and student coordinators and meets on a regular basis. The Physics Affinity Group is open to participation by undergraduate and graduate students. The ADVANCE Program at Brown seeks to increase the retention and advancement of women faculty in science and engineering by facilitating the path to career success for all faculty through support of new initiatives in formal faculty development programs and access to institutional and departmental resources. Brown University is part of the third round of ADVANCE award recipients. Additional information can be found at: http://www.brown.edu/Administration/Provost/Advance/

Has the institution had a Climate for Women in Physics Site Visit or Gender Equity Conversation?

Yes

Updated: September 07, 2012

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