Biological and Medical Physics Co-op Information for Employers
Adding Value to Your Team
This major is an exciting and interdisciplinary science in which biological and medical problems are tackled using the techniques and concepts of physics. Many areas of biological physics have important implications for human health; examples include the probing of molecular structure in muscle by X-ray diffraction and the study of molecular dynamics in cell membranes by nuclear magnetic resonance. Medical physics provides the background for such advanced clinical tools as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CAT and PET scans, and many more. Courses in the Biological and Medical Physics major include Biophysics of Excitable Cells, Radioactivity and Radiation, Molecular Biophysics, and Clinical Applications of Physics, providing an excellent education for careers in clinical research and in health services.
University of Guelph Advantage
- An international reputation for excellence in research - grants awarded to faculty have been higher than the national average for over a decade
- Five Physics/Biological & Medical Physics faculty members have been named Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada Our co-op process responds to your needs.
Our co-op process responds to your needs. Employers can post, interview and hire throughout the semester and our students are available for 4 or 8 month work terms. The Experience Guelph hiring tool makes hiring Guelph co-op students easy!
Student Strengths
Knowledge
As students begin the second and third work terms, they have started to specialize in one of a number of biological areas of emphasis such as genetics, microbiology, or toxicology.
Application
By their first work term, students have had 10 lab courses, 3 hours/week per course, as well as a solid foundation in biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics.
Problem Solving
Excellent communication and problem-solving experience.
Understanding
In their final work term, students will have a greater theoretical understanding of physics and biophysics and will be skilled in writing reports and summaries.
Biological and Medical Physics Work Term Schedule
| YEAR | FALL | WINTER | SUMMER |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONE | Academic | Academic | Off |
| TWO | Academic | Academic | Work |
| THREE | Academic | Work | Work |
| FOUR | Academic | Academic | Work |
| FIVE | Work | Academic |
Biological and Medical Physics Course Sequencing
Based on the 2023/24 undergraduate calendar. Please see the current undergraduate calendar for more information.
Fall
- Introduction to Molecular And Cellular Biology
- General Chemistry I
- Programming
- Integrated Mathematics & Physics I Or Physics for Life Sciences And Elements of Calculus I Or Calculus I and Physics for Life Sciences
Winter
- General Chemistry II
- Biological Concepts of Health
- Integrated Mathematics & Physics II Or Elements of Calculus II And Physics for Life Sciences II Or Calculus II and Introductory Electricity & Magnetism
- Linear Algebra I
Fall
- Applied Differential Equations
- Advanced Calculus I
- Thermal Physics
- Electricity & Magnetism I
- Introduction to Co-operative Education
- 1 Liberal Education Elective
Winter
- Introduction to Biochemistry
- Experimental Techniques In Physics
- Biophysics of Excitable Cells
- Electricity and Magnetism II
- Mechanics
Summer
Work Term OneFall
- Quantum Mechanics I
- Mathematical Physics
- 3 Electives
Winter
Work Term TwoSummer
Work Term Three
Fall
- Science Communication
- Radioactivity & Radiation Interactions
- 2 Electives Medical Imaging Modalities or 1 Elective
Winter
- Molecular Biophysics
- Intermediate Laboratory
- Quantum Mechanics II
- 1 Elective
- Computational Methods In Materials Science
Summer
Work Term Four
Fall
Work Term Five
Winter
- Clinical Applications of Physics In Medicine or 1 Elective
- Advanced Physics Laboratory
- 3 Electives
Restricted Electives
1.00 credits (2 courses) of Liberal Education electives are required.
1.50 credits (3 courses) are required from either List A or List B as follows:
List A: Biological Physics Stream
- Structure and Function in Biochemistry
- Membrane Biochemistry
- Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics
- Molecular Biology of the Cell
- Protein and Nucleic Acid Structure
- Optics: Fundamentals and Applications
- Biological Nanomaterials
List B: Medical Physics Stream
- Concepts in Human Physiology
- Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics
- Principles of Disease
- Subatomic Physics
- Biomedical Physiology
- Immunology
- Vertebrate Structure and Function
- Optics: Fundamentals and Applications
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