B.S. in Biophysics

Wake Forest's Biophysics B.S. gives students substantial opportunities to learn through research alongside faculty rather than relying only on classroom study. The Physics Department encourages undergraduates to join research groups through PHY 381, URECA summer programs or paid research positions, with work spanning experimental, computational and theoretical biophysics.

Students can work in research environments investigating blood and clot mechanics, biomolecular dynamics, microscopy, molecular machines and drug discovery. Facilities include advanced optical and atomic-force microscopy equipment, while faculty research also uses computational approaches, molecular modeling and next-generation sequencing.

Key practical and research opportunities include:

• PHY 381 Research Internship — required for at least 1.5 hours and provides a structured route into faculty-led research.

• Biophysical Methods Laboratory (PHY 325) — develops practical experience with methods used in biophysics.

• Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) — used in faculty research to study biological samples, fibrin fibers, blood clots and biological molecules.

• Fluorescence microscopy — used for biological imaging and research into molecular and cellular systems.

• Optical tweezers and advanced microscopy — available through the department's optical microscopy facilities.

• Computational biophysics — research includes protein and RNA folding, biomolecular assembly, molecular machines and GPU-based programming.

• Bioinformatics and computational systems biology — students can select PHY/CSC 385 Bioinformatics or CSC 387 Computational Systems Biology.

• Experimental research — undergraduate projects can include studying blood and clot mechanics, building and testing electronic devices, and imaging cells and molecules.

• URECA summer research — students can participate in summer research projects with faculty mentors.

• Olin Physical Laboratory research facilities — biophysics faculty conduct experimental and computational research in dedicated laboratory spaces.

The Biophysics B.S. provides a foundation for careers and further study across biotechnology, research, medicine, data science and other quantitative STEM fields. Wake Forest's Physics Department reports that its graduates enter industry, government, research and development, and graduate or professional programs, while the Biophysics program specifically highlights careers such as clinical research, laboratory science, microbiology and pharmacology.

Typical job roles: Biophysics Researcher, Clinical Research Coordinator, Laboratory Technician, Biotechnologist.

Career development and progression opportunities include:

• Career advising and Handshake: Wake Forest's Physics Department identifies Handshake as the primary gateway to WFU-specific career opportunities and resources, supported by the University's Office of Personal & Career Development.

• Employment outcomes: Among Wake Physics undergraduates represented in the department's outcomes data, 49% entered the job market; of those graduates, 31% became data analysts and 20% entered research and development.

• Graduate and professional study: Among the represented Physics undergraduates who continued their education immediately after graduation, 82% entered graduate programs in physics, engineering, medical physics or biomedical sciences, while another 10% entered medical or dental school.

• Salary information: Wake Forest's Physics Department reports a $166,290 median annual salary for U.S. physicists in May 2024; this is an occupation-wide U.S. figure and is not a salary specifically for Biophysics graduates.

• Industry exposure: Wake Physics graduates work in engineering, finance, information technology, consulting, data science and machine learning, with employers listed by the department including Google, Lockheed Martin and Microsoft.

• Government and research: The department identifies government-funded laboratories and organizations such as the CDC, Department of Defense and NASA among destinations and employers relevant to physics graduates.

• Research preparation: Undergraduate students can work with faculty through research groups, URECA summer programs and funded positions, strengthening preparation for graduate research and scientific careers.

• Accreditation value: Wake Forest's institutional SACSCOC accreditation covers its baccalaureate degrees, providing recognized institutional accreditation for the degree.

• University-wide graduation outcomes: Wake Forest reports that 97% of graduates in recent years were employed or enrolled in graduate programs within six months of graduation.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into master's or doctoral study in areas such as biophysics, physics, biomedical sciences, medical physics, engineering and related fields. The Biophysics B.S. also supports pre-health pathways, and Wake Forest offers graduate and professional programs that can complement a biophysics background.