Biomedical Physics
Earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in biomedical physics and help solve biological and medical problems while advancing our understanding of fundamental biomedical processes.
Biomedical Physics Program Overview
Are you looking for a physics degree but want to do research in applying physics principles to problems in biology and medicine? Are you interested in state-of-the-art research?
The primary objective of the PhD program in biomedical physics is to graduate scientists who can apply the tools and concepts of physics to solve significant biological and medical problems and advance our understanding of fundamental biomedical processes. This interdisciplinary program combines both basic physics with problems in biology and medicine. Students have a wide variety of specialization, from radiation physics, photonics (lasers), spectroscopy, biomedical physics, medical physics, radiation biology and physiology, among others.
ECU Advantage
The physics department is a research-oriented department with both master's and PhD programs and an active academic life. Students enjoy a lot of personal contact between faculty and students. Our faculty are involved in cutting-edge research in various areas of radiation physics, biomedical physics, medical physics and other areas. Qualified PhD students can obtain the CAMPEP accredited MS in physics/medical physics concentration together with the PhD.
What You Will Study
Program Coordinator: Michael Dingfelder (127 Austin Building; 252-328-0882; dingfelderm@ecu.edu)
The primary objective of the Biomedical Physics, PhD is to graduate scientists who can apply the tools and concepts of physics to solve significant biological and medical problems and advance our understanding of fundamental biomedical processes. Core curricula in both applied physics and biomedical areas are designed to provide training for students with diverse backgrounds in physics, applied physics, biochemistry, and engineering. All students are required to complete a dissertation under supervision of a faculty advisor.
Core Requirements:
Admission
Students are admitted either to the PhD program alone or to the Integrated PhD and MS in Physics – medical physics concentration.
The applicant preferably holds a master's degree in physics, applied physics, medical physics, or related fields. Applicants holding a baccalaureate degree in above mentioned fields showing significant potential for the PhD program may be considered for acceptance. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in graduate work is required.
The following documents are required before final admission is approved: completed application form for admission to Graduate School, official transcripts from colleges and universities attended, letters of reference from three persons who can attest to the applicant's academic competence, and an essay describing the applicant's career goals and research interests which are consistent with the educational opportunities offered in the PhD program.
International students may need to demonstrate English proficiency as approved by the Graduate School. (https://gradschool.ecu.edu/international-students/)
Degree Requirements
The degree requires a minimum of 50 s.h. (post-master's) and 78 s.h. (post-baccalaureate) as follows:
Post-master's requirements - 50 s.h.
Physics core - 6 s.h.
(Select 6 s.h. from the following.)
- PHYS 7110 - Mathematics Physics II
- PHYS 7310 - Electrodynamics II
- PHYS 7410 - Quantum Mechanics II
- PHYS 7715 - Biomedical Optics
- PHYS 7730 - Radiation Instrumentation
- PHYS 7740 - Special Problems in Radiation Dosimetry and Modeling
- PHYS 8526 - Advanced Readings in Physics I
- PHYS 8527 - Advanced Readings in Physics II
- PHYS 8528 - Advanced Readings in Physics III
- PHYS 8910 - Research Problems in Biomedical Physics
- or a program director approved course
Biomedical core - 6 s.h.
(Select 6 s.h. from the following.)
- BIOC 7301 - Biochemistry I
- BIOC 7310 - Molecular Biochemistry
- BIOC 7345 - Cell Motility
- BIOC 8320 - Biochemistry II: Regulation of Metabolism
- BIOL 6030 - Topics in Cell Biology
- BIOL 7480 - Cell Biology
- BIOL 7481 - Cell Biology Laboratory
- BIOL 7870 - Molecular Genetics
- BIOS 7021 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals I
- BIOS 7022 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals II
- PHLY 7701 - Graduate Physiology I
- PHLY 7702 - Graduate Physiology II
- PHLY 7710 - Advanced Topics in Physiology
- or a program director approved course
Research ethics - 2 s.h.
- HUMS 7004 - Ethics and Research
Dissertation - 36 s.h. (minimum)
- PHYS 9000 - Dissertation
Knowledge of high-level computer language requirement
Students must demonstrate a working knowledge of at least one high-level computer languages, such as FORTRAN or C. PHYS 5900 and Phys 5901 may be taken to satisfy this requirement, but credits cannot be counted toward the minimum degree requirement.
- PHYS 5900 - Computational Physics
- PHYS 5901 - Computational Physics Laboratory
Post-baccalaureate requirements - 78 s.h.
(Students entering the program with a baccalaureate degree are required to complete the Physics, MS applied physics concentration coursework with thesis.)
Applied physics courses - 22 s.h.
- PHYS 5311 - Mathematical Physics I
- PHYS 5410 - Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
- PHYS 5600 - Modern Electronics
- PHYS 5601 - Modern Electronics Laboratory
- PHYS 5900 - Computational Physics
- PHYS 5901 - Computational Physics Laboratory
- PHYS 6200 - Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
- PHYS 6300 - Electrodynamics I
- PHYS 6816 - Seminar
- PHYS 7450 - Solid State Physics
- or a program director approved course
Applied electives - 6 s.h.
(Select 6 s.h. from the following.)
- PHYS 6250 - Classical Mechanics
- PHYS 6700 - Health Physics
- PHYS 6715 - Biomedical Physics
- PHYS 6900 - Introduction to Research
- or a program director approved course
Physics core - 6 s.h.
(Select 6 s.h. from the following.)
- PHYS 7110 - Mathematics Physics II
- PHYS 7310 - Electrodynamics II
- PHYS 7410 - Quantum Mechanics II
- PHYS 7715 - Biomedical Optics
- PHYS 7730 - Radiation Instrumentation
- PHYS 7740 - Special Problems in Radiation Dosimetry and Modeling
- PHYS 8526 - Advanced Readings in Physics I
- PHYS 8527 - Advanced Readings in Physics II
- PHYS 8528 - Advanced Readings in Physics III
- PHYS 8910 - Research Problems in Biomedical Physics
- or a program director approved course
Biomedical core - 6 s.h.
(Select 6 s.h. from the following.)
- BIOC 7301 - Biochemistry I
- BIOC 7310 - Molecular Biochemistry
- BIOC 7345 - Cell Motility
- BIOC 8320 - Biochemistry II: Regulation of Metabolism
- BIOL 6030 - Topics in Cell Biology
- BIOL 7480 - Cell Biology
- BIOL 7481 - Cell Biology Laboratory
- BIOL 7870 - Molecular Genetics
- BIOS 7021 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals I
- BIOS 7022 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals II
- PHLY 7701 - Graduate Physiology I
- PHLY 7702 - Graduate Physiology II
- PHLY 7710 - Advanced Topics in Physiology
- or a program director approved course
Research ethics - 2 s.h.
- HUMS 7004 - Ethics and Research
Dissertation - 36 s.h. (minimum)
- PHYS 9000 - Dissertation
Course and Residence Requirements
Additional courses may be required by the graduate committee, depending on the individual student's preparation. Students must complete at least five consecutive semesters in residence (excluding summers).
Integrated PhD and MS in Physics - Medical Physics Concentration
Students admitted to this concentration need to fulfill independently all requirements for both the MS in physics-medical physics concentration and the PhD in biomedical physics. Both degrees will be awarded concurrently.
Transfer Credits
Because of the broad interest and collaborative nature of the PhD program, the graduate committee will evaluate transfer credits on a case-by-case basis. A maximum of 6 s.h. of transfer credit may be accepted.
If a student enrolls in this program and already has the equivalent of the 12 s.h. beyond the master’s degree, he or she may petition the graduate committee for a waiver or substitution for these courses.
Time Limits for Completing the Program
Students entering the PhD program should complete it by the end of five years following initial enrollment. With the endorsement of the advisory committee, a student having deficiencies in preparation may request an extension of no more than two years.
For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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