Life and Chemical Physics

WHY STUDY LIFE AND CHEMICAL PHYSICS AT VILNIUS UNIVERSITY?

Using the latest theoretical and practical knowledge and a modern base of science and technologies in the environment of interdisciplinary studies, the Life and Chemical Physics studies programme is intended to educate the highly skilled specialists capable for the professional research activities aiming to seek and develop scientific and technological solutions applicable in the fields of environmental science, materials research science and biomedicine.

COURSE INFORMATION

During the first semester the students will have four compulsory courses during which they learn about physical principles of environmental processes, its role and importance for living ecosystems and the surroundings, obtain knowledge about physical effects and biological responses on molecular level, familiarize with the non-equilibrium statistical physics, especially with nonstationary kinetic processes, fluctuation theory and transport phenomenon, the mathematical foundation of stochastic processes and the methods of non-equilibrium kinetic theory for simple chaotic systems, will become aware of the advances in the areas of digital optics and computerised signal processing. In addition they will have opportunity to deepen the knowledge by choosing two of four elective courses.

The compulsory courses of the second semester will give students the theoretical background and operation principles of contemporary spectrometric devices (Fourier imaging infrared absorption, Raman scattering, luminescence, magnetic resonance, mass, nuclear, etc.), advanced knowledge about spectrometry methods and experimentally measured values. This knowledge will be tested and implemented during practical scientific activities performing a research project. Further specialization will be continued by provided opportunity to choose two other elective courses.

The compulsory courses of the third semester will provide students with the knowledge on major classes of organic substances and polymers, their electronic structure and physical behaviour, focusing on electronic processes and the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with chromophores. The students will learn about the mechanisms and regularities of photochemical processes, photoluminescence and variety of its biomedical applications. They will continue to accumulate practical experience working with different scientific techniques as well as extend the specific understanding by choosing the two elective courses. 

The forth semester is devoted to the preparation of the final Master’s Thesis project, during which the students will spend their time working in the scientific labs, studying relevant scientific literature, discussing and documenting the obtained results and preparing for the public presentation of the thesis.

https://www.vu.lt/en/studies/master-studies/56-studies/studies/5709-life-and-chemical-physics

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND SELECTION CRITERIA

• Bachelor degree or its equivalent in Physics, Engineering or Technologies;
• English language proficiency - the level not lower than B2 (following the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) (Internationally recognized certificate or Skype interview);
• The selection criterion is based on the weighted average of all grades recorded in the transcript of the academic report and grades of two predetermined exams. The additional points can be earned for relevant scientific activity.

INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY

Students can participate in ERASMUS+ mobility programme or use VU’s Bilateral cooperation agreements which give an opportunity to study at VU’s Partner Universities or do internship abroad.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

The graduates can harmoniously integrate into multidisciplinary research and production teams, practically participate in high-tech manufacturing process and in business, manage technological production processes that require interdisciplinary knowledge of physics, chemistry, medical physics and biophysics; work in state expert, control and management institutions requiring competence in intersection of natural sciences.

There is a possibility to continue a scientific career by entering third-level (doctoral) studies in many fields of natural sciences in the VU Institute of Chemical Physics, during which a part of studies can be spent in Partners institutions abroad, or joining the scientific groups in the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, the Life Sciences Center or National Cancer Institute.