Ph.D. in
Physical Sciences

Dr. Walter Orellana

Program Director

worellana@unab.cl
Dr. Leopoldo Mejía

Academic Secretary

leopoldo.mejia@unab.cl

Degree

Ph.D. in Physical Sciences

Duration

8 Semesters

Faculty

Exact Sciences

Brochure

View Brochure

2027 Admission

Apply by October 4, 2026. See the Requirements section.

Overview

The Ph.D. in Physical Sciences program is the result of a collaborative effort between researchers from the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Exact Sciences at Universidad Andrés Bello (UNAB) and researchers from the Center for Research at the Intersection of Plasma Physics, Matter, and Complexity and the Center for Research in Nuclear Physics and Neutron Spectroscopy, both part of the Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission (CCHEN).

It was founded on the shared conviction of its members that fostering advanced human capital and promoting research across the various areas of physics are central to their mission. The program also supports the Faculty’s mission: “To develop and disseminate scientific knowledge, train highly qualified human capital in the disciplines pursued within the Faculty, and provide foundational scientific knowledge for the University’s future professionals, in accordance with the guidelines of the Educational Model, thereby contributing to the country’s scientific, technological, and social development.”

Objectives

  1. Provide advanced, up-to-date training in Theoretical High-Energy Physics and Gravitation, Particle Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, or Plasma Physics, critically integrating theoretical and methodological concepts when formulating an original research problem that will form the basis of an original scientific project.
  2. Promote the development of knowledge and skills in scientific research by providing theoretical and methodological tools grounded in physics, mathematics, and computation that enable students to design and carry out original projects, combining an assessment of the current state of knowledge with hypothesis formulation to address cutting-edge scientific problems in their field.
  3. Provide opportunities to develop communication skills for presenting and disseminating research findings in oral and written formats for both specialized and general audiences, within an ethical and responsible framework consistent with national and international academic standards.

Graduate Profile

Graduates of the Ph.D. in Physical Sciences program at Universidad Andrés Bello have a strong foundation in physics and advanced knowledge in one of the program’s research areas: High-Energy Physics and Gravitation, Particle Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, or Plasma Physics. They have also mastered the theoretical and methodological foundations of scientific research. They use physics-based, mathematical, and computational tools to understand and formulate the laws that describe physical phenomena. They apply theoretical and experimental methods to solve scientific and technological problems independently or collaboratively, contributing to the creation of new knowledge.

Program Research Areas

This research area focuses on formulating, applying, and developing mathematical models, including those that describe the fundamental laws of physics, to advance understanding of current theories about the universe, matter, and their interactions.

This research area focuses on formulating, applying, and developing theoretical, computational, statistical, and experimental methods to study phenomena arising from the interaction of elementary particles. This includes comparing observations with theoretical model predictions, analyzing data, simulating events in detectors, and identifying possible deviations from theoretical predictions.

This research area focuses on formulating, applying, and developing theoretical, computational, and experimental methods to study the physical properties and behaviors that arise in condensed phases of matter and low-dimensional systems at both the macroscopic and microscopic levels.

This research area focuses on formulating, applying, and developing theoretical, computational, and experimental methods, as well as diagnostic and instrumentation techniques, to study continuous and pulsed plasma discharges and the products they generate, with the aim of understanding the underlying phenomena, their behavior, and their interaction with matter.

High-Energy Physics and Gravitation

This research area focuses on formulating, applying, and developing mathematical models, including those that describe the fundamental laws of physics, to advance understanding of current theories about the universe, matter, and their interactions.

Particle Physics

This research area focuses on formulating, applying, and developing theoretical, computational, statistical, and experimental methods to study phenomena arising from the interaction of elementary particles. This includes comparing observations with theoretical model predictions, analyzing data, simulating events in detectors, and identifying possible deviations from theoretical predictions.

Condensed Matter Physics

This research area focuses on formulating, applying, and developing theoretical, computational, and experimental methods to study the physical properties and behaviors that arise in condensed phases of matter and low-dimensional systems at both the macroscopic and microscopic levels.

Plasma Physics

This research area focuses on formulating, applying, and developing theoretical, computational, and experimental methods, as well as diagnostic and instrumentation techniques, to study continuous and pulsed plasma discharges and the products they generate, with the aim of understanding the underlying phenomena, their behavior, and their interaction with matter.

Program Curriculum

Malla curricular Doctorado en Ciencias Físicas Universidad Andrés Bello

Ph.D. Program Professors

Ignacio Araya

Ph.D. in Physics, University of Southern California, Estados Unidos

Research Interests: High energy physics, Gravitation, AdS/CFT holography, AdS gravity, Primordial black holes.

ignacio.araya@unab.cl See more
Rodrigo Aros

PhD in Physical Science, University of Chile

Research Areas: High-energy physics, gravitation, AdS/CFT correspondence, alternative theories of gravity.

raros@unab.cl See more
Marco Ayala

PhD in Physics, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico

Research Areas: Particle physics, simulation and data analysis, detector electronics.

marco.ayala@unab.cl See more
Biswajit Bora (CCHEN)

PhD in Physics, Gauhati University, India

Research Areas: Plasma physics, materials science, energy transition.

bbora@cchen.cl See more
Mauro Cambiaso

PhD in Exact Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Research Areas: Theoretical particle and field physics, extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics, topological field theories, radiation-matter interactions with topological phases.

mcambiaso@unab.cl See more
Sergio Davis (CCHEN)

PhD in Applied Physics, Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden

Research Areas: Statistical mechanics, materials physics, probability and information theory, plasma physics.

sergio.davis@cchen.cl See more
Jalaj Jain (CCHEN)

PhD in Applied Sciences, University of Talca, Chile

Research Areas: Plasma physics, radiation generation and measurement, interaction of radiation with living matter.

jalaj.jain@cchen.cl See more
Sergey Kovalenko

PhD in Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Russia

Research Areas: Theoretical elementary particle physics, electroweak interactions, physics beyond the Standard Model, supersymmetry phenomenology.

sergey.kovalenko@unab.cl See more
Sergey Kuleshov

PhD in Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics, Russia

Research Areas: High-energy physics, experimental nuclear physics, elementary particle physics.

sergey.kuleshov@unab.cl See more
Macarena Lagos

PhD in Physics, Imperial College London, United Kingdom

Research Areas: High-energy physics, gravitation, cosmology, gravitational waves, dark energy.

macarena.lagos.u@unab.cl See more
Rodrigo López (CCHEN)

PhD in Physical Science, University of Chile

Research Areas: Plasma physics, space plasmas, plasma kinetic theory.

rodrigo.lopez@cchen.cl See more
Claudia Loyola

PhD in Physical Science, University of Chile

Research Areas: Solid-state physics, structural and vibrational properties of materials, computational physics.

claudia.loyola@unab.cl See more
Leopoldo Mejía

PhD in Chemistry, University of Rochester, United States

Research Areas: Many-body quantum systems, transport in quantum systems.

leopoldo.mejia@unab.cl See more
Francisco Molina (CCHEN)

PhD in Nuclear Physics, University of Valencia, Spain

Research Areas: Experimental nuclear physics, nuclear structure, nuclear astrophysics, neutron field studies, time dependence in Monte Carlo reactor simulations.

francisco.molina@cchen.cl See more
José Moreno (CCHEN)

PhD in Exact Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Research Areas: Plasma physics, nuclear fusion, ionizing radiation.

jose.moreno@cchen.cl See more
Walter Orellana

PhD in Physical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Research Areas: Condensed matter physics, computational materials science, electronic structure, heterogeneous catalysis, and energy conversion.

worellana@unab.cl See more
Cristián Pavez (CCHEN)

PhD in Physical Sciences, University of Concepción, Chile

Research Areas: Plasma physics, Fourier optics and holography, plasma diagnostic techniques, pulsed power.

cristian.pavez@cchen.cl See more
Joaquín Peralta

PhD in Physical Science, University of Chile

Research Areas: Solid-state physics, structural and vibrational properties of materials, computational physics.

joaquin.peralta@unab.cl See more
Sebastián Reyes-Lillo

PhD in Physics, Rutgers University, United States

Research Areas: Condensed matter physics, first-principles methods, ferroelectricity, solar energy conversion.

sebastian.reyes@unab.cl See more
Leopoldo Soto (CCHEN)

PhD in Exact Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Research Areas: Plasma physics, pulsed power, applied optics, effects of intense pulsed radiation on organic and biological matter.

leopoldo.soto@cchen.cl See more
Brenno Vallilo

PhD in Theoretical Physics, São Paulo State University, Brazil

Research Areas: String theory, supersymmetry, AdS/CFT correspondence.

vallilo@unab.cl See more
Jilberto Zamora

PhD in Physical Science, Federico Santa María Technical University, Chile

Research Areas: Particle physics phenomenology, neutrinos, and dark matter; experimental particle physics and detector development.

jilberto.zamora@unab.cl See more

Collaborating Faculty

Mauricio Contreras

PhD in Physical Science, University of Chile

Research Areas: General relativity, field theory, econophysics.

mauricio.contreras.g@unab.cl See more

Requirements

The Ph.D. in Physical Sciences program is intended for applicants who hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in physics or engineering physics and are interested in acquiring advanced knowledge in theoretical or experimental physics or a related discipline, with the aim of making original, independent contributions to knowledge.

A. Application Requirements  

The applicant must submit the following documents:

  • Application Form (see below). Download and complete the form with the requested information.
  • Notarized copy (apostille authentication) of the degree certificate*
  • Official undergraduate transcript
  • Undergraduate class rank
  • If you have completed graduate studies, include a notarized copy (apostille authentication) of the degree certificate and the corresponding transcript.
  • Copy of the national identity card (both sides) or digital birth certificate; international applicants without a Chilean identity card may submit a copy of their passport.
  • Letter describing your interests and reasons for applying to this program at Universidad Andrés Bello.
  • Online interview during which you will be asked about your motivation, interests, and previous research activities. You may also be asked questions about undergraduate-level physics.

* Academic degrees earned outside Chile must be equivalent to those specified in the program’s governing decree. Selected applicants must submit all documentation required by the University to the Doctoral Program Office in order to complete the enrollment process.

Complete List of Documents Application Form Letter of Recommendation

Current Decree and Regulations

Current Regulations Doctoral Studies Regulations
Postula Aquí