Biophysics Careers

The most common career options for biophysicists include research, teaching, or a combination of both. A master’s degree is generally needed to become a biophysics teacher, lab manager or research associate, while a PhD is necessary in order to be the principal investigator of a research laboratory. Principal investigators design experiments and oversee all of the research being done in a lab, while lab managers and research associates have a more supporting role and assist the principal investigator in carrying out their research. Those with bachelor’s degrees may obtain positions as research technicians, which are also important in the laboratory. Research technicians carry out a lot of the benchwork of scientific experiments, allowing the principal investigator time to write scientific papers, research proposals, and grants.