Biophysics: Institutes, PG courses, research opportunities and job roles

Do you get fascinated by Physics despite having a degree in medicine or biological sciences? You can pursue Biophysics in higher studies to take a deep look into life's complexities and physics's laws of simplicity. A degree in this interdisciplinary field would help you find opportunities in a lot of sectors like healthcare, forensics, nanotechnology and academia.

What is Biophysics

It is a combined field of science that applies theories of Physics to understand how the biological system works. In other words, Biophysics explores the mechanics behind biological processes to solve age-old human problems. It involves the knowledge of Maths, Chemistry, Engineering, Pharmacology and Materials Sciences.

Studying Biophysics:

• You need to clear your Class XII board exams with Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology as compulsory subjects.
• After that, you need to pursue an MBBS degree or a BPharm, BSc or BTech degree.
• You can specialise in Biophysics at the master’s level after completing MBBS, BPharm, BSc or BTech courses.
• After completing your postgraduation you can pursue PhD, MPhil and research opportunities that are available in India.

Some institutes offering courses in Biophysics:

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi

Course: MSc Biophysics.

• Duration: Two years.
• Admission: Through an entrance exam that’s held in July every year.
• Eligibility: You need to possess one of the following qualifications as well as at least 60% aggregate in the qualifying exams:

1. BPharm.
2. Bachelor of Physio-therapy (four-and-a-half-year course).
3. BSc degree (with duration of minimum three years) in any subject.

Course: MD Biophysics

• Duration: Three years.
• Eligibility: You need to complete your MBBS or BDS or BVSc degree.
• Admission: Depends on your INI CET rank.

Course: PhD Biophysics.

• Duration: Three to five years.
• Eligibility: You need to clear the NET cut-off and should secure at least 60% marks in your bachelor’s and master's degree exams.
• Admission: Through an entrance test, followed by a personal interview.

• Click here to learn more.

University of Delhi, Delhi

• Course: MSc in Biophysics
• Duration: Two years.
• Admission: Entrance-based.
• Eligibility: You need a minimum of 55% marks in the last qualifying examination of the following courses:

1. Bachelor’s degree under the 10+2+3 pattern of education in Physical, Biological, Agricultural, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences or equivalent.
2. Four-year BSc/BE/BTech of Pharmacy/Engineering/Technology.
3. MBBS/BDS or equivalent.

Course: PhD in Biophysics.

• Duration: Three to five years.
• Eligibility: You need to clear the NET cut-off and should secure at least 60% aggregate in your bachelor’s as well as master's exams.
• Admission: Through an entrance exam based on the master’s syllabus
• Click here to learn more.

University of Calcutta, West Bengal

Course: MSc in Biophysics & Molecular Biology.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: You need to pass your BSc (Hons) exam in Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, Botany, Physiology, Biochemistry or Microbiology with at least 55% marks in the honours subject and at least 60% marks in each of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology in the Plus-Two level.
• Admission: Merit-based.

Course: PhD in Biophysics

• Duration: Three to five years.
• Eligibility: You need to clear the NET cut-off and should secure at least 60% aggregate in your bachelor’s and master's exams.
• Admission: Through an entrance exam, followed by a personal interview.

• Click here to learn more.

Panjab University, Chandigarh

Course: BSc in Biophysics.

• Duration: Three years.
• Eligibility:

1. A candidate should have passed the Class XII board exams with at least 50% marks with English, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/ Biology from any recognised board.
2. Based on PU-CET (UG), Common Entrance Test conducted by the Panjab University.
3. Academics: 25%.
4. PU-CET (UG): 75%

• Admission: Through PUCET entrance test.

Course: MSc in Biophysics

• Duration: Two years
• Eligibility:

1. BSc (Hons) Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh or any other University considered equivalent.
2. Bachelor of Science in any other subject (such as BSc Medical, Non-medical, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics)
3. Based on CET-PG:
4. Academics: 40%.
5. PU-CET (UG): 60%.

• Admission: Through CET-PG entrance test.

Course: Doctor of Philosophy in Biophysics.

• Duration: Three to five years.
• Eligibility: You need to clear the NET cut-off and have at least 60% aggregate in your bachelor’s and master's exams.
• Admission: Through an entrance exam based on the master’s syllabus.

• Click here to learn more.

Job roles after studying Biophysics:

• Biotechnologist: They develop new research procedures, collect and study samples, monitor experiments and analyse results. Their research aims at improving human life.

• Artificial intelligence designer: AI designers coming from Biophysics background play a major role in medical treatment and drug discovery. With the help of AI, they use photons to discover cancer cells.

• Medical technology developer: Their work includes improving the mechanism and enhancing the accuracy efficiency of lab tests. They evaluate new biological or chemical agents, prototype a medical device and conduct trials.

• Geneticist: They work on chromosome organisation and dynamics. They also work on DNA metabolism using technologies like microscopy, spectroscopy and electrophysiology, developed by physicists.

• Bioinformaticist: They create software to manage and interpret genome sequences, proteome, transcriptome. They apply computational skills on biological and genomic data to analyse and retrieve information.

Medical physics researcher: They work on better treatment options, radiations and safety of medical instruments. They have a big role in providing accurate treatment to patients and updating healthcare facilities.