A chemical physics program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy makes it possible for students to gain the necessary background and perform original research in this interdisciplinary field of science. Fundamental research on many properties of molecular and solid-state systems is based on an understanding of chemistry, physics, and mathematics that can best be obtained by training in more than one department. Students may use the facilities in both the School of Chemical Sciences and the Department of Physics. Students entering through the Department of Chemistry must satisfy the registration examination, literature seminar, preliminary examination, and original research proposal requirements of Physical Chemistry. The guidelines for these requirements are in the Department of Chemistry Graduate Manual. Students entering through the Department of Physics must satisfy the PhD requirements of the Department of Physics. Research for the thesis is performed under the direction of faculty members who are currently active in chemical physics. Many of these staff members are affiliated with the Materials Research Laboratory (MRL). MRL is a multidisciplinary facility shared by staff and students from the Departments of Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and other related departments that have common interests in materials science.