Princeton Profile

Princeton University is unique in combining the strengths of a major research university with the qualities of an outstanding liberal arts college. With a student-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, Princeton excels in its commitment to teaching and provides learning opportunities both within and outside of the classroom. Whether through independent study, student-initiated seminars or lectures in emerging fields such as neuroscience, Princeton students have the flexibility to shape dynamic academic programs that prepare them for leadership and lives of service.

In spring 2012, the faculty (including visitors and part-time faculty) totaled 1,148, including 497 professors, 80 associate professors, 180 assistant professors, 15 instructors, 268 lecturers and 108 visitors.

Seventy-six percent of the professorial faculty is tenured. Excluding visitors, approximately 340 members of the faculty are women, and 190 are identified as members of minority groups. There were 123 tenured women on the faculty in spring 2012.

Approximately half of Princeton’s tenured faculty members were promoted to tenure while at Princeton; the other half were hired with tenure from other institutions.

All faculty members at Princeton are expected to teach, as well as engage in scholarly research. Faculty members work most closely with undergraduates in the supervision of junior-year independent work and senior theses.

Twelve members of the current Princeton faculty (including emeritus) are recipients of the Nobel Prize:

• Philip W. Anderson, Joseph Henry Professor of Physics Emeritus, won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1977;
• Val L. Fitch, James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Physics Emeritus, won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1980;
• Toni Morrison, Robert F. Goheen Professor in the Humanities Emeritus, won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1993;
• Joseph H. Taylor, James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Physics Emeritus, shared the Nobel Prize in physics in 1993 with Russell A. Hulse, retired principal research physicist who was at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory on Princeton’s Forrestal campus;
• John F. Nash, senior research mathematician, won the 1994 Nobel Prize in economics;
• Eric F. Wieschaus, Squibb Professor of Molecular Biology, won the 1995 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine;
• Daniel C. Tsui, Arthur Legrand Doty Professor of Electrical Engineering Emeritus, won the 1998 Nobel Prize in physics;
• Daniel Kahneman, Eugene Higgins Professor of Psychology Emeritus, and professor of psychology and public affairs emeritus, won the 2002 Nobel Prize in economics;
• David J. Gross, Thomas D. Jones Professor of Mathematical Physics Emeritus, won the 2004 Nobel Prize in physics;
• Paul Krugman, professor of economics and international affairs, won the 2008 Nobel Prize in economics; and
• Christopher Sims, Harold H. Helm ’20 Professor of Economics and Banking, won the 2011 Nobel Prize in economics.

Also, Princeton faculty and staff members are frequently named MacArthur Fellows.