Becoming a Biophysicist

Biophysicists look at the structure and function of biological molecules and interpret their properties. In fact, biophysics is the study of biological systems and processes using the techniques and theories of physics. The nature of a biophysicist's work brings them into close contact with other medical science research workers, because both of these areas are concerned with life processes and mechanisms of heredity.

The job:

Biophysicists tackle a wide range of problems using a variety of different experimental techniques. They investigate enzymes, viruses, DNA binding proteins, hormones, peptides, and nucleic acid structures and mechanisms.

Biophysicists use x-ray crystallography to study the structure and mechanism of enzymes that are of medical and industrial importance to they study the different types of muscles and the mechanisms of the muscle contraction in different animals at the molecular level using electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. The biophysicists investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the loss of consciousness produced by general anesthetics. They look at the way in which visual images are analyzed by the retina of the eye and the visual centers of the brain. Biophysicists investigate bio magnetics and study the low frequency electromagnetic fields produced by the bioelectric activity of the human heart and brain in order to gain a better understanding of the relationship between the fields measured on the body surface and their generators. Biophysicists use spectrometers, ultra-centrifuges, differential scanning calorimeters, and computer graphics.

Graduates often work in interdisciplinary teams doing fundamental research in the institutes or universities, or in the health service in the field of biomedical instrumentation. For example, biophysicists have been involved in developing a very low frequency electromagnetic imaging system for use in endoscopy by surgeons. Most biophysicists work in clean, well lighted laboratories.

Training involved:

A bachelor's degree in biophysics or biophysical science is useful, although graduates in physics, biotechnology, via chemistry, or a biological science, such as genetics with a good grounding in physics, should be acceptable.

Masters courses are available in biophysics, physiological mechanics, physiological sciences and molecular systems.

Future prospects:

The fields of genetics, biomedical engineering, medical physics, and biotechnology are expanding rapidly and biophysicists can make a very real contribution to knowledge and understanding of the molecular structure and molecular interactions. Numbers of people taking biophysics courses are small and employment prospects should be good, particularly in research and development work.

Biophysicists work in hospitals and medical research laboratories and for the manufacturers of medical diagnostic equipment. There may also be some opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry designing molecules to use as drugs and designing novel proteins or synthesis by genetic engineering.

For further information, contact a relevant professional body such as an association or Institute of biophysics, physics or biology.