Biophysicist Job Description
The job of a Biophysicist involves studying the behavior of biophysical environment and how physical principles can be applied to biology. They are highly trained professionals who spend most of their work hours researching and finding out answers about how organisms function, developing new ways to address mechanisms of biological processes and investigating how our bodies do what they do, such as brain processes, the heart’s pumping of blood and so on.
Education/Experience Requirements for the job of a Biophysicist: A successful candidate must possess a master’s degree in biophysics, biochemistry, molecular biology, molecular spectroscopy, statistical mechanics, or a similar field. Positions that require investigation, directing or teaching would require a doctoral degree. Coursework for a PhD depends on choice of specialization.
Skills of a Biophysicist include but are not limited to: Strong background in biological and physical sciences, mathematics and engineering; excellent research skills, computer programming and proven written and verbal communication skills. He/she should also be creative, detail-oriented, analytical and has sound judgment.
Specific work elements of the job as a Biophysicist include but are not limited to: Researching and writing about various studies on human genetics, organisms and other topics; pursuing grants from institutions that provide research funds; designing and performing experiments with a wide range of scientific equipments; investigating the molecular basis of diseases and how membranes and proteins work for drug design. Many biophysicists specialize in one activity, such as bioenergetics or electrophysiology, among others.
