Description:

 

Many of the most important advances in biotechnology and medicine are occurring with the interactions between biology, physics, computer science and engineering. Biophysics provides the broad math and science skills necessary to compete in this interdisciplinary environment. Biophysics has discovered the structure of DNA which has been vital for the advances we have in medicine and biology in present day. Biophysicists invented instruments for detecting, purifying, imaging, and manipulating chemicals and materials.

 

Society is facing physical and biological problems of global proportions. How will we continue to get sufficient energy? How can we feed the world’s population? How do we remediate global warming? How do we preserve biological diversity? How do we secure clean and plentiful water? These are crises that require scientific insight and innovation. Biophysics provides that insight and technologies for meeting these challenges, based on the principles of physics and the mechanisms of biology.

 

Many graduates pursue careers in cell biology, public health, physiology, and neuroscience. As such, Biophysics prepare individuals for interdisciplinary careers in basic biomedical research, biotechnology and pharmaceutical R&D, private business consulting, governmental regulatory agencies, science education, science journalism, and many other fields. A large number of graduates are accepted each year to medical school.

 

 

Career Paths:

 

Biophysics...

• ...can lead to a career as faculty of a member of staff at colleges, universities, medical or dental schools.

• ...can lead to a career in a laboritory carrying out your own research or research given to you by the government, private institutions or industrial companies - whilst being funded by grants from governemnetal agencies or private foundations.

• ...teaches vital skills applicable to many different career options, such as problem solving, lab techniques, etc..

• ...allows you to move from careers primarily fcused on physics to those more focused on biology.

• ...allows you to be able approach a scientific problem or project from both a biological aspect and from a physical.

• ...allows you to enter multidisciplinary areas of science.

 

 

Education:

 

Few universities offer Biophysics as an undergraduate degree but for the institutions that do, they require A-levels in biology and physics and a prefered third subject of mathematics. It is recommended to study Biophysics as a Masters degree instead as the knowledge learnt from a degree in physics or biology will provide you a strong foundation to specialise in Biophysics. A degree related to biophysics such as cellular biology, molecular physics or even oceanography are perfectly acceptable to gain entry to a Masters in Biophysics.

 

The University of Bristol offers an MSc in Biophysics with the criteria of entry being:“A lower second-class honours degree in Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, or an equivalent subject, plus a minimum of C in A-level Chemistry (or equivalent qualification).”Bristol describes their course as: “This Masters course is designed for outstanding graduates with a physical, chemical or molecular life sciences degree who wish to acquire interdisciplinary skills suitable for addressing fundamental questions in the life sciences.”

 

 

 

Average salary:

 

A biophysicist salary can vary considerably by industry. Those working with other physicists earn the highest salary per year which is £124,000. biophysicist employed by equipment supply whosalers also have relatively high salary of £64,000. Those working for research and development firms earn £55,000.