Biophysics
About Biophysics
The primary objective of the Biophysics program is to give students a good working knowledge of one subfield in the biological sciences at the senior undergraduate level. Students graduating in the program will also have an understanding of the basic concepts and quantitative skills of physics. It is intended that graduates of this program will be able to go to graduate school in biological sciences or physics with minimal remedial work.
Program Details
The biophysics program is intended to keep all of the options available to students in either biology or physics, while opening new opportunities in fields that benefit from the combination, such as pharmaceutical companies. The biophysics program is excellent preparation for the medical profession. Biophysicists make a tremendous impact in medical radiology, where imaging techniques like MRI, PET, and ultrasound are based on physical phenomena. The Science One program is an ideal entry point for this program as it integrates both physical and biological sciences; however, there is no reason why students in the regular first year science stream cannot take this program as well.
Skills
- Observation and interpretation of the physical basis of underlying biological phenomena
- Application of theoretical mathematical and physics concepts to real world problems, particularly with respect to human systems and biological problems
- Usage of computer programming to create complex models or solutions
- Application of logic, imagination, judgement and abstract thinking to solve problems across and between disciplines
- Connecting, integrating, and analysing information
- Quantifying and running complex calculations and statistical analyses
- Communication of complicated ideas through advanced technical writing
- Usage of a wide range of advanced electronic and non-electronic instruments, machines and lab equipment across physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine
Programs offered
- Honours Biophysics
Resources
Career Options
With an undergraduate degree
- Database Analyst
- Laboratory technician
- Natural sciences manager
- Water resource specialist
With additional study
- Bioinformaticist
- Biomedical engineer
- Biophysicist
- Medical doctor
- Optometrist
UBC Science Biophysics Graduates Work As
- PhD Candidate in Physics, Princeton University
- Medical Physics Resident, Stanford Hospital & Clinics
- Clinical Medical Biophysicist, UBC Faculty of Dentistry
- Medical Student, University of British Columbia
- PhD Candidate in Structural Biology, City University of New York
- Resident Physician, Vancouver Coastal Health