Applied Physics
The frontier of high-energy physics is "the even smaller" and that of astrophysics is "the ever larger." Applied physics, of which the study of condensed matter is a large part, has its own frontier, "the ever more complex," covering the interfaces of physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering.
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SEAS, with its open, interdisciplinary structure is uniquely suited for innovative research in Applied Physics.
The recently completed Laboratory for Integrated Science and Engineering (LISE) provides one of the world's most advance research facilities to boost collaboration in the areas of nanoscale and mesoscale science.
Laboratories are housed in the one-third of LISE that is above-ground and in the three-level basement is a shared cleanroom, facilities for materials synthesis, and a microscopy suite.
Applied physics at Harvard is strong in:
- nanoscience research (facilitated by
the Nanoscale Science and Engineering
Center);
- small-scale and nanoscale "systems" fabrication and construction (facilitated by the Center for Nanoscale Systems);
- condensed matter/materials
science (facilitated by the Materials
Research Science and Engineering Center); and
- bio-nano technologies (facilitated by the Kavli Institute for Bionanoscience and Technology and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering).
Research in applied physics covers the interfaces of physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. A large portion of research involves condensed matter physics.

