Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Valentina Ganeva, PhD
tel .: (02) 8167 237
e-mail: valia@biofac.uni-sofia.bg

Secretary: Assist. Prof. Boyana Angelova, PhD
e-mail: angelova_bd@uni-sofia.bg

Form of training: full-time paid

Term of study: 3 semesters

The training is based on a well-established curriculum and provides the masters’ students with multifaceted professional realization in various areas of biology and its applied aspects, requiring a broad knowledge of biophysics.

The evaluation of Biophysics and Radiobiology takes place in order to form the competition level.

Mastering students' education requires self-sufficiency, initiative and crates opportunities to improve their practical skills. Thus, through the dеpartment's training, students are allowed to work in research laboratories at Sofia University, Agriculture Academy’ Medical Centers, Medical Universities and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

The training is conducted in the English language. The program encompasses studying and passing exams/ongoing assessment of 8 compulsory and 4 elective courses (selected out of the 10 proposed ones), development and defense of diploma work. The semester training process is structured as follows:

First semester: 4 compulsory; 1 elective course,

Second semester: 3 compulsory, 3 elective courses and teaching practice.

Third semester: 1 compulsory discipline - pre-graduate practice, elaboration of a scientific project and protection of diploma work.

Professional competencies:

1. To obtain in-depth knowledge about the structure and function of biological systems at different levels of their organization - from submolecular through molecular, cellular to population, as well as studying the contemporary aspects of evolutionary biophysics, processes of self-organization and morphogenesis.
2. Skills for conducting biophysical experiments and studies in the field of molecular and cell/membrane biophysics, integrative approach to biological systems (tissue, organs and organisms), environmental impact and biophysical aspects of organism interaction at supra-organizational level (population). Biophysical approaches to studying the organization of biosystems, as well as obtaining theoretical knowledge based on biophysics of self-organization, morphogenesis and evolution.
3. Analysis of the data obtained from the experiments and their interpretation and work in an environment close to that in scientific institutes and manufacturing enterprises
4. Skills for developing and realizing projects.
5. Skills for teamwork, decision making and initiative.

Professional development

Graduates of the Master's program in Biophysics can continue their education at the next level of education - PhD. Due to the fact that biophysics is a fundamental biological science with a field of application in the various fields of animal biology, plant biology and microbiology, the acquired knowledge allows realization and career perspectives in appropriate educational and research institutions, such as Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgarian Agriculture Academy, medical universities, biomedical institutions dealing with fundamental and applied research; in specialized units related to human and veterinary medicine, pharmaceutical laboratories, in companies producing and distributing biomedical equipment; in enterprises engaged in biotechnological production, in human and veterinary medicine units; in agriculture; in environmental monitoring and protection systems, state and municipal environmental control bodies, etc.