Introduction

The physics program of Beijing Normal University is qualified to confer Level I doctoral degree in physics, with currently 5 Level II discipline doctoral programs, namely theoretical physics, condensed matter physics, optics, nuclear physics and curriculum and teaching theory. Among these, theoretical physics was among the first to be listed among national key programs in 2002 and successfully passed the new round of assessment in 2007; while condensed matter physics was rated as key program of Beijing Municipality in 2002 and successfully passed mid-term assessment in 2007. Key Laboratory of Applied Optics of Beijing is built on the basis of the doctoral program of optics, while Key Laboratory of Beam Technology and Material Modification of Ministry of Education is built on the basis of doctoral program of nuclear physics. The postdoctoral research station established within Department of Physics also serves as a national training base for natural science talents, and a complete physics talent training system has come into existence. Department of physics is active in academic and teaching exchanges with other universities and research institutes in China as well as peer departments and research institutes in numerous countries, with healthy and constructive relations built and maintained.

In recent years, the physics program is dedicated to physics researcher team building, with a number of leading scholars and academic backbones in theory of relativity and astrophysics, statistical physics and soft matter, non-linear science, crossover and condensed matter theory, nuclear physics and particle physics, nanomaterial, modern optics, etc.. A team of teachers and researchers featuring rational age structure has formed, with 29 professors, 28 associate professors and 1lecturers in the physics program. Among them are 2 CAS fellows, 1 CAE fellow, 3 gainers of National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, 2 "Jingshi Scholar" professors, 1 member of Disciplinary Appraisal Panels under the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, 3 Middle-aged and Young Experts with Outstanding Contributions, 1 standing director of Chinese Physical Society, 1 winner of China Youth Science & Technology Award, 5winners of National Hundred Excellent Doctorate Thesis Award, 1 listed in New Century Excellent Talent Support Program of Ministry of Education, 7 selected into the Ministry of Education New Century Excellent Talent Training Plan and 1 gainer of Ministry of Education Young Teacher Award.

Since 2000, the physics program has completed over 100 state-level scientific research programs of various types, including those of National Key Basic Research Plan, 973 Project, 863 Project, National Natural Science Foundation key projects, projects funded by National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, general projects, Ministry of Education Doctoral Program Foundation as well as numerous specialized scientific research projects. Currently over 30 projects under National Natural Science Fund are in progress, including key projects where we lead the research, general projects and key projects with in cooperation with main partners. In recent years, heartening achievements have been obtained by our research team in physics, having published over 30 papers in Physics Review Letters (Phys. Rev. Lett.) in US, a top periodical in physics, since 1990s, with over 4,000 citations of more than 200 SCI papers on Physics Review series, reflecting strengthened academic competitiveness of the team and expanded academic influence among peers both in China and overseas. In 2006, theoretical physics Level II discipline of Beijing Normal University was rated as A++ by China Postgraduate Evaluation published by Research Institute of Sciences, China Academy of Management Science, which was the highest ranking.

A team of outstanding PhDs in their prime years are playing a key role in scientific research and teaching while gradually becoming a new generation of leading scholars. These young leading scholars, who are in charge of most scientific research projects, have become the backbone of the discipline team in terms of major scientific breakthroughs and publication of research achievements in top periodicals. Meanwhile, senior CAS fellows and scholars continue to play a key role in discipline construction as well as the training and development of young scholars, hence forming a healthy ecosystem with well-structured combination of senior, middle-aged and young scholars as well as emergence and development of young leading scholars.