TOMSK, Jul
7 – RIA Tomsk. Tomsk State University (TSU) is recruiting students for a
master's program in biophotonics – a field that is top at the international
level. Details were told RIA Tomsk by the head of the department of optics and
spectroscopy of the TSU Faculty of Physics Victor Cherepanov.
It was
previously reported that the master's degree program was opened in 2017 and
became the first in Russia in English in biophotonics. It is implemented as a
double degree program with the University of Oulu (Finland).
Experts in
the field of biophotonics study the interaction of biological tissue and photons
in order to understand the mechanisms of physiological and pathological
processes that occur in a living organism at the cellular and molecular level.
They will be able to apply this knowledge in the development of new optical
technologies for diagnosing diseases at an early stage.
Double
degree diploma
According
to Cherepanov, the demand for specialists in the field of biophotonics is
growing on the international labor market annually. Especially strong growth in
this top direction shows China.
Students
from other countries can study biophotonics at TSU, but for them in the new
academic year only two places are provided on a commercial basis. Eight more
places – are state-funded places for Russian students.
"We
are waiting for students with good physical and mathematical training and
mindset for independent research work. Our program is interdisciplinary. We
study biological environments using optical methods, which can then be used in
biology or medical research in order to create instruments and methods for real
life", – Cherepanov tells.
The head of
the department adds that students are introduced into the basics of
biophotonics by professors of State University, as well as by representatives
of other Russian and foreign universities: Saratov State University,
universities of Oulu, Tromsø (Norway) and others.
© РИА Томск. Павел Стефанский
"The
program – is a joint project of two universities (TSU and University of Oulu),
but the circle of participants is currently expanding. Master's students have
the opportunity to engage in science in Norway (Tromsø), Sweden (Stockholm),
USA (Housten), France (Reims). And it is the mutual interweaving of interests
of universities and training courses that has become the reason why the program
is implemented in English", – he told.
Cherepanov
said that during the pandemic, student trips were suspended, and seminars with
foreign experts moved to a remote format. However, as soon as the restrictions
related to the closure of the borders of countries due to COVID-19 are removed,
the internships will resume.
"Because
laboratory workshops, which are an important part of our training, cannot be
conducted in a remote format. These are equipment, research, real work that
require personal presence", – the head of the department explained.
After
university
As it's
reported on the website of the university, after after graduating from the
master's degree program, graduates will be able to conduct research, scientific
and innovative, organizational and managerial work in areas related to the
latest achievements of biophotonics.
Such
specialists are in demand in scientific institutions of biological, physical,
chemical and medical profiles, where research is carried out on fundamental and
applied interdisciplinary areas of physics, biology and medicine, in institutions
of practical health care, pharmaceutical companies, as well as in the
manufacturing field.
In medicine
and pharmacology, graduates of this program will have to solve both various
diagnostic tasks (changes in the concentration of oxygen, glucose, various
chromophores in the blood, and others), as well as therapeutic ones related to
the treatment of diseases. After graduation, it is possible to continue
postgraduate studies.
More
information about the development of the "Biophotonics" direction at
TSU can be found on the website of the Laboratory for Biophotonics.