German biophysics student -> masterprogram abroad?

[Lokratin]

German biophysics student --> masterprogram abroad?

Hello,

I've read a lot of postings on this forum so far, and I'm impressed that there are so many people trying to help each other. Now I have a few questions which hopefully can be answered by you.

I'm a biophysics student (3rd semester) from Germany. During my studies I fell in love with theoretical physics, so I'm thinking about becoming a theoretical biophysicist. Here are the subject's I have to take for a Bachelor's Degree in Germany:

theoretical Physics:
- Newtonian / Classical Mechanics (1st semester)
- Analytical Mechanics (2nd semester)
- Electrodynamics and Magnetism (3rd semester)
- Quantum Mechanics (4th semester)

experimental Physics:
- Mechanics (1st semester)
- Electrodynamics and Magnetism (2nd semester)
- Optics (3rd Semester)
- Atomic and Particle Physics (3rd semester)

Chemistry:

- inorganic Chemistry (1st semester)
- organic Chemistry (2nd semester)
- physical Chemistry (2nd semester)
- Biochemistry (3rd semester)
- biophysical Chemistry (4th semester)
- theoretical Chemistry (5th semester)

Biology:

- Introduction to Biology: Botany, Zoology, Evolution, Ecology (1st semester)
- Genetics (4th semester)
- Microbiology, molecular Biology or/and Neurobiology (4th or 5th semester)

I also have to take extra offered subjects which are worth 9 Credit Points. As I want to become a theoretical biophysicst I was thinking about taking "Statistical Physics and Thermodynamics" in 5th semester.

So, this was a long introduction, now I have the following questions:

I'm thinking about doing a master's program in the U.S. Would you recommend doing so? Or would you rather say that I should make my master's Degree here in Germany, and look for a PhD program later on? I really want to do some part of my studies abroad, the question is: When is the best time to do so?

I just gave you an idea of what we have to learn in Germany: Is something missing? Do I have to take extra courses to get into a master's or PhD program in the U.S? Is there any university you would recommend for biophysical studies? Most Universities (which do biophysical research) I know here in Germany have a large focus on biophysical Chemistry and Chemistry in general. I'm more interested in substencial physical phenomena.

Do you know any biophysicists who specialized in theoretics? Where do they work? If they do research, what is their specific field?

Thanks in advance, and I apologize for lingual mistakes I might have made.

 

[R.Mesri]

Thank you for your questions, and I am glad to hear that you are interested in theoretical biophysics! Doing a master's program in the U.S. is definitely an option, and it would be beneficial for you to gain international experience and exposure to different research methods and approaches. However, completing a master's degree in Germany first would also be beneficial, as you would gain a solid foundation in the theoretical and experimental topics relevant to biophysics, as well as a comprehensive background in relevant areas of chemistry and biology. In terms of courses, you have covered many of the fundamental topics that are required for a biophysics graduate program. However, depending on the school, there may be additional courses that are recommended or required for admission to a graduate program. You can check with individual schools to see what additional courses they require for admission. Additionally, if you are interested in focusing on theoretical biophysics, some schools may additionally require courses in mathematics, such as linear algebra, calculus, or statistics. There are many universities in the US that offer biophysics programs. Some examples include Harvard University, Stanford University, University of California - San Francisco, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania. You can find more information on specific programs at these universities by visiting their websites. If you are looking to connect with biophysicists who specialize in theory, one great way to do so is to attend conferences in the field. This will allow you to network with other researchers and learn about their research. Additionally, there are many online resources available that list faculty and researchers in the field. You can search for biophysics faculty at universities, or search for research groups that focus on theoretical biophysics. I hope this information is helpful to you. Good luck with your studies!