Cellular Biophysics
The Graduate Program
The Department of Physics at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and the Department of Physiology & Biophysics at the Boston University School of Medicine offer a joint program in cellular biophysics. The program is designed for students with a strong background in physics or biophysics who are interested in conducting biophysical research in cellular physiology. Some of the areas of research include the application of physical techniques to the study of biomolecular structure, biopolymers, cooperative phenomena in living systems, membrane biophysics, ionic transport, nonequilibrium thermodynamics, visual transduction, and muscle contraction.
The program consists of two stages. In Stage I, the student completes at least four graduate-level courses in the physical sciences. A graduate degree at the master’s level or higher in physics, chemical physics, biophysics, or the equivalent can satisfy the Stage I requirements. In Stage II, the student receives comprehensive training and conducts research in the area of cellular physiology and biophysics. Students work under the supervision of the core cellular biophysics faculty or other members of the faculty of either the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences or the School of Medicine whose research programs fit the broad outline of the Cellular Biophysics program and whose supervision of dissertation research by students enrolled in the program is approved by the Cellular Biophysics Program Committee.
Admission
Applicants for admission should have completed an undergraduate major in physics or biophysics and have had one year each of general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biology, in addition to physics and mathematics courses. Students may also enter the program after completing an MA in physics. Applicants with undergraduate majors other than physics may be required to complete prerequisite courses in physics. Other undergraduate prerequisites for the program are listed under course requirements.
Course Requirements
Sixteen graduate-level courses are required. At least one graduate-level course (4 credits) must be completed in each of the following areas, as defined in the Stage I curriculum: electromagnetism, statistical physics, physical chemistry, and quantum mechanics (molecular orbital theory). Additional courses must be selected in biophysics, cellular physiology, and biochemistry.
Students entering with a master’s degree are accepted into a post-master’s PhD program with a minimum course requirement of eight graduate-level courses.
