Most of us might have familiarized ourselves with Biology and Physics. But Biophysics Course is somewhat new to you. As the name implies, we cannot only define it as a mixture of Biology and Physics, and it’s something more than that. We have heard about the enormous techniques such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), X-Ray technology, Laser etc., used in the medical field to access and get a better view of the body parts of a human being. All these techniques contribute to Biophysics. A person can make his career in Biophysics.
The fact that living organisms obey the rules and principles of physics has paved the way for Biophysics. The article will give you an inside review of “what is Biophysics” and different Biophysics careers scope after doing Biophysics courses in India.
Quick Facts
The following is a summary of the biophysics Course. Let’s take a look.
| Particulars | Description |
|---|---|
| Course Name | B.Sc. in Biophysics M.Sc. in Biophysics PhD in Biophysics |
| Course Duration | UG: 3 Years PG: 2 Years PhD: 3 Years |
| Eligibility | UG: 10+2 PG: Master’s degree |
| Career Options | Biophysicists, Forensic biophysicists, Researchers, Medical biophysicists |
What is Biophysics?
Biophysics, or simply Biological Physics, is an interdisciplinary branch which solves biological problems with the application of Physics. In general, it can be defined as an area of science dealing with biological issues with the help of a physical mentality and skill set. Physics is a branch of study that governs physical phenomena in this physical world. Hence, when Physics is mixed with Biology, it becomes Biophysics to govern biological phenomena that occur in a biological world.
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Who is a Biophysicist?
A Biophysicist is a person who has studied Biophysics to discover various physical mechanisms which lie under a complex biological system. Biophysicists usually spend their time experimenting with a particular biological system, and the results are utilized to study its complex physical phenomena. Recently, Biophysics has expanded into molecular biology to study interactions of macromolecules, and Biophysicists are conducting experiments on them.
Biophysicists’ works typically include studying molecules’ structure using X-Ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, etc. Biophysicists work with utmost care inside a Biophysics laboratory to protect themselves from radiation and heavy metal poisoning. A Biophysicist studies life at every level, from atoms and organisms to the environment.
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Various Biophysics Courses in India
To work as a Biophysicists or to make a career in Biophysics, one has to earn a degree in the following Biophysics course, which is listed below:
| Course | Duration |
|---|---|
| B.Sc. in Biophysics | 3 years |
| Certificate Courses in Biophysics | A few months to one year |
| M.Sc. in Biophysics | 2 years |
| Diploma in Biophysics | 1 year |
| M.Phil. in Biophysics | 2 years |
| PhD in Biophysics | 3 years |
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Admission Procedure
- For undergraduate biophysics courses, admission seekers must pass 10+2 or equivalent with a science stream exam from a recognized board.
- For postgraduate biophysics courses, candidates should have a graduate degree from any recognized university/college.
- For PhD biophysics courses, candidates should have completed Post-Graduation with relevant marks from a recognized university.
Eligibility Criteria
The following are the eligibility criteria for the biophysics course. Let’s take a look.
| Particulars | Description |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Admission seekers must pass 10+2 or equivalent with a science stream exam from a recognized board. |
| Qualification Marks | Candidates must score a minimum of 55% aggregate marks. |
Top Colleges offering Biophysics Courses in India
The following are the top colleges in India offering biophysics courses. Let’s take a look.
| College Name | Click Here |
|---|---|
| All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi | Click Here |
| Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Haryana | Click Here |
| Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala | Click Here |
| Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttarakhand | Click Here |
| National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Karnataka | Click Here |
| The University of Delhi, Delhi | Click Here |
| Punjab University, Punjab | Click Here |
Job Opportunities for a Biophysicist
As physical and biological problems are increasing daily, the demand for Biophysicists has become phenomenal in modern days. Biophysics research is conducted at various levels, from the biomolecular and Organismal scales to the Environmental scale. Besides these, a Biophysicist has career opportunities in fields like Agrophysics, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Biophysics, Nanotechnology, and System Biology.
Those who have studied Astobiophysics are eligible to work in the Astrophysical area to study various astrophysical phenomena — Medical Biophysics industries best suited for those who would like to work in therapeutic and diagnostic fields.
Job Profile
- Biophysicists
- Forensic biophysicist
- Researcher
- Medical biophysicist
- Scientist
- Nutritional biophysicist
- Clinical biophysicist
- Applied biophysicist
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Roles of a Biophysicist
- Conduct complex research in basic and applied research.
- Manage laboratory employees and the quality of their work.
- Isolate, analyze and synthesize proteins, genes, molecules and DNA.
- Research foreign substances’ effects on human tissue, DNA, and biological processes.
- Write research papers and give recommendations based on the research.
Skills of a Biophysicist
- Analytical skills
- Communication skills
- Critical-thinking skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Math skills
- Perseverance
- Problem-solving skills
- Time-management skills
Average Salary
The following is the average salary for the biophysics course. Let’s take a look.
| Job Profile | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Biophysicists | INR 7 LPA |
| Forensic Biophysicist | INR. 3 LPA |
| Medical Biophysicist | INR. 7 LPA |
| Researcher | INR. 5 LPA |
| Nutritional Biophysicist | INR. 4 LPA |
| Applied Biophysicist | INR. 4 LPA |
Top Recruiting Companies
The following are the top recruiting companies for the biophysics course. Let’s take a look.
| Abbott Laboratories | Bristol Myers Squibb |
| Thermofisher | Merck and Pfizer |
| Boehringer Ingelheim India Pvt Ltd | CPA Global |
| Baxter | Boston Scientific |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the scope of biophysics?
As a general definition, Biophysics is the study of biological phenomena using physical methods. To distinguish it from biology, the studies are usually analyzed quantitatively. Biophysics aims to understand biological aspects in terms of physical concepts. Consequently, a deep understanding of biology can be accessed where physics is understood from atomic to cosmic scales. However, where the physical principles are incompletely available, their application can be complicated and frequently confusing. Therefore a successful biophysical study often results from a successful question selection, and other questions are better left to descriptive analysis.
Is biophysics hard?
Biophysics can be a demanding discipline to pursue, but in my view, the real key is to understand what you, as an individual, want to do. If your passion is to address quantitative and mechanistic questions, then take the courses and work in laboratories which allow you to gain the knowledge and experience to pursue your interest. This will often mean courses in mathematics and physics. It will also require an appreciation that the questions being addressed do not have established answers. Therefore your suggested hypothesis might be poorly formulated and require further work as others do. Appreciating and enjoying this challenge makes biophysics an exciting endeavour, not just “hard.”
What is the scope of biophysics in the technical world?
It has a varying degree of positive scopes in general. With biophysics, you step into shades of colour like never seen before. You learn about hardcore physics and chemistry in bioenergetics, physics of instrumentations that go into characterisations of many reactions and processes, computer languages to understand and create software in the case of bioinformatics, you get to learn biochemistry from a physical point of view, and finally, my favourite, you have radiation biology, where there’s a lot of physics at play. It gives you a broader view of things in life.
Is biophysics a demand?
The demand for biophysics is in both the private and public sectors. Students get the chance to work even when studying in college. Other than these, a biophysicist can work in agricultural science, biotechnology, forensic science, etc.
Which is better, biochemistry or biophysics?
Biochemistry and biophysics, closely-related fields, use tools from different sciences to study life. Specifically, biochemistry studies the chemical processes and transformations in living organisms, while biophysics applies the theories and methods of physics to questions of biology.
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I am a post graduate student of physics.I am interested about biophysics.Am I eliggible to do phd in biophysics after qualifying CSIR NET physical science??
Yes, You have to follow the respective universities admission guidelines.
Ok thanks