Dr. Steven Cowley

Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Steven Cowley. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Steven Cowley is a theoretical physicist and an international authority on fusion energy. He became the seventh Director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) on July 1, 2018, and has been a professor of astrophysical sciences at Princeton University since September 1, 2018. Prior to this, he served as the President of Corpus Christi College and as a professor of physics at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom starting in 2016. Cowley previously held the position of Chief Executive Officer of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and was the head of the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy. He earned his doctorate in astrophysical sciences from Princeton University in 1985 and was a staff scientist at PPPL from 1987 to 1993. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering and was knighted by the Queen of England in June 2018 for his contributions to fusion science.

Research Interests

Experience

Director

2018-07-01 — Present

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory • Princeton, NJ

Currently serving as the Director of PPPL.

Professor

2018-09-01 — Present

Princeton University • Princeton, NJ

Serving as a professor in the Department of Astrophysical Sciences.

President

— Present

Corpus Christi College • Oxford, UK

Served as President before joining Princeton University.

Chief Executive Officer

— Present

UK Atomic Energy Authority • Culham, UK

Led the authority focusing on fusion energy.

Awards

#

Knighted

2018-06-01

Requirements for Princeton University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GRE General
TOEFL
Speaking
Required:27
IELTS
Speaking
Required:8
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in engineering or science Strong background in mathematics, materials, physics, or related engineering
Application Checklist
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
  • Personal Statement
  • Resume/CV
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • Application Fee
Specialization Notes

GRE scores are not accepted. Ph.D. is the primary degree; students are not required to hold an M.S.E. prior to admission.