Career options for Radiation Biology

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on career options for graduates with a degree in Radiation Biology. Key pathways include pursuing a medical physics residency, which typically requires a strong background in physics or engineering, alongside a PhD in Radiation Biology. The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) indicates that while graduates can become medical physicists, the competition for residency positions is high. Those with a biology background may face challenges in securing residency spots unless they have acquired substantial physics knowledge.

PREREQUISITES
  • Strong foundation in physics or engineering
  • PhD in Radiation Biology
  • Understanding of medical physics principles
  • Familiarity with residency application processes
NEXT STEPS
  • Research medical physics graduate programs and their admission requirements
  • Explore the AAPM guidelines for medical physicist training
  • Investigate competitive strategies for medical physics residency applications
  • Learn about the intersection of biology and physics in medical applications
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for Radiation Biology graduates, aspiring medical physicists, and individuals interested in the intersection of biology and medical physics careers.

dosimetry
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Hi guys, can someone please tell me the career options for a radiation biology graduate degree please? I tried to search on google but all the results were about research & teaching. The AAPM (American Association of Physicists in Medicine) did say graduates with radiation biology can become a medical physicist, anybody know something about that?
 
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Hi Dosimetry,

Generally, the most direct route into medical physics is to go through a medical physics graduate program and that requires a very strong physics background (ie. a physics or engineering undergraduate degree).

If you have such a background coupled with a PhD in radiation biology, you might try applying for a medical physics residency, but these are very competative these days. Physics or engineering PhDs from other fields will sometimes get in, but even that is getting more rare. How competative you are will depend on your background. If you've come through the biology side of things and picked up the necessary physics on the way I don't think that will be sufficiently competative for a residency, but you may be able to get into a graduate program.
 

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