Program Details
University of South Florida
How many tenure-track or tenured faculty -- male/female?
Male - 19
Female - 3
How many graduate students-- male/female?
Male - 69
Female - 16
How many post doctoral associates - male/female?
Male - 7
Female - 2
Is there a family leave policy for graduate students? If so, describe.
There is no formal policy for family leave, however graduate students may take a semester off without affecting enrollment status. In addition, paid leave may be arranged on a case by case basis with the approval of the graduate advisor and department.
Is there family health insurance for graduate students? If so, is it included in the stipend?
Individual coverage including a yearly Well Woman Exam is provided at no cost to graduate assistants. Coverage is available to immediate family members through the University, but is not included in the stipend.
Please describe why someone applying to graduate school who is interested in a female-friendly department should choose your department.
[This statement was composed independently by a group of six current female graduate students at various stages of their career.]
Our department is committed to the success and development of women in physics, and offers research opportunities in the areas of condensed matter, optics, and biophysics, with both experimental and computational expertise in each. The applied physics program's unique industrial practicum requirement grants an equal opportunity for students to gain valuable experience in an industrial or national lab setting prior to graduation. Women make up 23% of our graduate enrollment and are actively involved in the physics community. The faculty, including a female graduate advisor, is readily accessible and easily approachable to any student to provide mentoring, advice, and address questions or concerns. A number of measures build a sense of community in the department including shared office space for graduate assistants that promotes collaboration between research groups, a weekly colloquium with a pre-lecture social time, and several family-friendly departmental gatherings throughout the year. Among the resources for families provided by the University are family housing and an on-campus preschool available to the children of students, faculty, and staff.
Has the institution had a Climate for Women in Physics Site Visit or Gender Equity Conversation?
No
Updated: February 11, 2013
