What can you do with a Master's degree in biophysics?

[cooperdooper12]

What can you do with a masters degree in biophysics?

 

[berkeman]

What can you do with a masters degree in biophysics?

Welcome to PhysicsForums.

Your question implies that you are very early in your schooling, and looking into multiple possible career paths. Is that correct?

Your question also implies that you have not used Google to find information on your question yet. Is that also correct? The best way to use PF as a resource is for you to do as much research on your own as you can, and then post links to your reading and ask questions about that reading. Can you do that for us? Thanks.

 

[mpresic3]

Are you asking the question as a graduate student currently working in a biophysics lab, (as I once were), and would like to know what opportunities are available, or as someone who has not completed their college university degree, or as a student with no university training looking into potential fields of interest.

 

[cooperdooper12]

Are you asking the question as a graduate student currently working in a biophysics lab, (as I once were), and would like to know what opportunities are available, or as someone who has not completed their college university degree, or as a student with no university training looking into potential fields of interest.

I’m currently working on my undergrad and I’m in my early 30s so I don’t if I’m too old now. I’m just looking at what possibilities?

 

[mpresic3]

I do not think you are too old. I went back to school in my late 40's. I worked in a biophysics lab at the age of 25, as a graduate student. The professor in charge was in his early-mid thirties. Some post-docs and PhD candidates were approaching 30. When I worked in the field, biology and physics shared the same floor in the science building, and the dean of science was a biologist. There was close collaboration between the physics and biology department.

I do think most positions in biophysics research open up at the PhD level. However, doing good research work and/or completing your undergraduate well, can still help you get an entry level position. Some employers who are looking for good problem solvers may hire you, not necessarily for the specific lab related skills, (which may not be transferable across labs), but the background, experience, and perseverance that you demonstrate.

When I was involved I studied the physical properties of bones. The researchers nearby studied how the lens of the eye deformed with age, (this turned out to be very mathematical), and later I tried, but did not get offered a position that would have studied proteins. It is hard to provide specific prognosis with so varied a discipline, as biophysics.

I would say for example if you were offered an internship, or chance to work in the lab by a professor, you might give it your best effort and maybe get to like it and stay in the field. I would do as well as possible in your undergraduate studies though, and not chase the opportunity, unless you have a genuine interest in the field.

 

[cooperdooper12]

I do not think you are too old. I went back to school in my late 40's. I worked in a biophysics lab at the age of 25, as a graduate student. The professor in charge was in his early-mid thirties. Some post-docs and PhD candidates were approaching 30. When I worked in the field, biology and physics shared the same floor in the science building, and the dean of science was a biologist. There was close collaboration between the physics and biology department.

I do think most positions in biophysics research open up at the PhD level. However, doing good research work and/or completing your undergraduate well, can still help you get an entry level position. Some employers who are looking for good problem solvers may hire you, not necessarily for the specific lab related skills, (which may not be transferable across labs), but the background, experience, and perseverance that you demonstrate.

When I was involved I studied the physical properties of bones. The researchers nearby studied how the lens of the eye deformed with age, (this turned out to be very mathematical), and later I tried, but did not get offered a position that would have studied proteins. It is hard to provide specific prognosis with so varied a discipline, as biophysics.

I would say for example if you were offered an internship, or chance to work in the lab by a professor, you might give it your best effort and maybe get to like it and stay in the field. I would do as well as possible in your undergraduate studies though, and not chase the opportunity, unless you have a genuine interest in the field.

Thank you