Physics at ECU

Medical physics is a branch of applied physics that focuses on the use of physics principles and techniques in medicine, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. It plays a crucial role in modern healthcare, especially in areas involving radiation.

Key areas of medical physics:

1. Radiation Therapy Physics
   • Involves the planning and delivery of radiotherapy for cancer
   • Medical physicists ensure that radiation doses are accurate and safe
   • Work with machines such as linear accelerators
2. Diagnostic Imaging Physics
   • Focuses on optimizing and ensuring the safety of imaging technologies such as:
     • X-rays
     • CT scans
     • MRI
     • Ultrasound
     • Nuclear medicine (e.g., PET, SPECT)
   • Ensure images are high-quality with minimal radiation dose to patients
3. Nuclear Medicine Physics
   • Focuses on the use of radioactive substances for diagnosis and treatment
   • Helps calculate and monitor radiotracer doses and radiation safety

 
Undergraduate Admissions

Prospective Graduate Students

Your work will have meaningful impact on human health. Medical physicists play a crucial role in diagnosing and treating diseases like cancer using technologies such as radiation therapy and medical imaging.

You will be helping people. Medical physicists improve or save lives without necessarily becoming a medical doctor.

You will be using cutting-edge technology. Medical physicists use advanced machines such as linear accelerators, proton therapy systems, and AI-based imaging tools. You will have many opportunities to work with emerging technology such as artificial intelligence in diagnostics, image-guided therapy, and personalized medicine.

Your career will be exciting and successful. There will always be a high demand for qualified medical physicists, especially in radiation oncology, diagnostic imaging, and nuclear medicine. Medical physicists have opportunities for employment in hospitals, research institutions, academia, and industry with competitive salaries and prospects for advancement, especially for board-certified physicists.

You will be on the leading edge of research and innovation. Students interested in research and development can pursue cutting-edge studies in imaging techniques, radiation therapy optimization, or biomedical instrumentation. This can be a route to academic careers or working in biotech and medical device companies.

Your work will be a well-balanced mix of clinical and technical work. Medical physics is a unique blend of working in clinical settings while applying advanced technical knowledge. Professionals find this balance intellectually stimulating and professionally rewarding.

• We encourage physics majors to participate in research early in their course plan via independent‑study, credit-bearing research courses for undergraduates.
• We offer a dedicated Undergraduate Research in Physics Award (URPA) to support students performing research during the Summer/Fall semesters.
• Valuable for building a résumé, we also encourage our students to present research at ECU’s Research and Creative Achievement Week, state and national symposia, etc.

• For undergraduates, our BS in physics has two concentrations: professional and research. You can tailor your education toward graduate school or toward entering the workforce (e.g., technical, teaching).
• Our graduate programs are strong: We offer an MS in physics with concentrations in applied, medical, and health physics. The medical physics concentration is CAMPEP‑accredited.
• A PhD in biomedical physics and a residency program are also available.

• Our physics faculty cover a broad range of sub-fields: molecular, atomic, nuclear, radiation, theoretical, acoustic, and medical physics, so you will have options for what kind of physics you want to specialize in.
• Our excellent student to teacher ratio means that we provide more opportunity for individual contact with faculty, which facilitates research mentorship and career guidance.

• The MS in medical physics includes a clinical rotation or internship (depending on the track), giving hands‑on, real‑world experience.
• The health physics track also includes internship options.

• The Chemistry & Physics Living-Learning Community helps physics and chemistry students live and work together in a professional, interest-based community, which can make a substantial difference in the first years of a course plan.
• Student organizations such as the Society of Physics Students, the Sigma Pi Sigma honor society, Astronomy Club, and more offer opportunities to engage with your peers outside of the classroom.

• Thanks to our exceptional program in medical and biomedical physics, ECU physics graduates have gone on to positions at major hospitals, with some having become chief physicists in their departments.
• Since some graduate career trajectories require or prefer applicants from accredited programs, the fact that ECU’s Department of Physics is CAMPEP-accredited for medical physics is an important aspect for students who want to work clinically.

• The high standard of living in Greenville, NC means that the cost of attending our programs tends to be lower than in many major metropolitan areas.
• Given the research and graduate degree options we offer, cost‑benefit can be favorable compared to more expensive private schools.