Microscopy

Physics in various specializations can be studied at many universities world-wide. Students graduated in physics oriented fields are demanded by top companies and research institutions. This programme aims to further expand the possibilities of graduates on the labor market towards applications for the study of not only materials, but also of biological samples and processes.

The programme will be accredited at Masaryk University, Faculty of Science. In addition to academic staff from this faculty and CEITEC MU, other Brno institutions and companies will participate in courses: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Tescan and Delong Instruments, the Institute of Instrumentation of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, the Institute of Materials Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. The above-mentioned companies and workplaces will participate in teaching, providing professional practices and providing the necessary experts in the field of experimental and theoretical physics, and being properly equipped with modern technology or directly developing or manufacturing it. The advantage of this programme is following of the modern development trends and the use of a wide range of imaging methods for the study of materials and of biological samples, ranging from large structures downto atomic resolution. Thus, subjects (and corresponding learning outcomes) focusing on related methods will be strengthened in the this programme.

Absolvent je po úspěšném ukončení studia schopen:

• To use knowledge of the physical principles in their profession, especially in the field of electron and light optics.
• To utilise modern microscopic instruments and to know their application possibilities.
• To understand in depth the physical principles of operation of these devices.
• To interpret the data obtained by these devices from a physical, biophysical and mathematical point of view.
• Use knowledge of numerical methods and computer simulations.
• To use advanced software for microscopy and optical methods.
• Have the knowledge to be engaged in the development of new components and instruments in the field of microscopy and optics.
• To communicate with application specialists and with users of microscopes and optical instruments.

With their knowledge, skills and practical experience acquired during this programme, graduates are destined to be employed as physicists in workplaces and companies developing electron and optical microscopes and related sub-techniques and technologies. Their broad knowledge of the nature of physics, biophysics and data processing will enable them to apply for a job at workplaces connected with the use of professional physics in the design, manufacture and development of new devices and in the development of application methods not only in the field of microscopy, but also in other areas. Top technology companies in the Czech Republic as well as world-wide are all very interested in experts in the field of physics.

1. jednooborový studijní plán,
2. studijní plán se specializací,
3. hlavní studijní plán (maior),
4. vedlejší studijní plán (minor),
5. studijní plán ve spolupráci s jinou vysokou školou či jinou právnickou osobou,
6. studijní plán na dostudování (určen pouze pro dostudování ve studijním oboru, studijním programu nebo studijním plánu, který zanikne).

We support connecting students with relevant academic as well as commercial institutions in the region via excursions and promotion of interships. The aim of internships is to gain a practical overview of the methods and applications in the field of electron and optical microscopes and of the related instrumentation via a short independent work on an assigned task within the institutions and companies. At the end of the first semester, there will be several excursions at academic workplaces (institutes of the Academy of Sciences in Brno) and companies (in particular, three Brno companies in the field of electron microscopy, i.e. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Tescan, Delong Instruments), dealing with microscopy and optics, some start-ups or other target companies (e.g. semiconductor industry). This will make it easier for students to choose a thesis topic. Later in the study, students are encouraged to apply for an intership. Such an additional basic professional skills shaping the professional profile of a physicist in the field of optics and microscopy will be acquired during the practical laboratory courses. Those will take place in the first three semesters of the study and will cover major area of microscopy techniques and types of instruments.

The thesis has to be up-to-date and express student's understanding of the physical issues of the topic being worked on. During the work, the student demonstrates the ability and independence while working on a larger problem with a greater share of own contribution. In the written final thesis, the student will prove this via a theoretical introduction and the experimental part of the work with a carefully described and analyzed experimental content and discussion. The thesis will be written and defended in English.

The student is primarily prepared for the profession of physicist or application specialist, especially in the field of electron and light microscopy and other imaging methods and applications. In addition to company education, however, further education is also possible, especially in the form of postgraduate training. That would allow the student to specialize in one of the other areas, e.g. related to the development of components of these devices (electron optics and beam propagation, detectors, interaction of radiation and substances, biological applications, computing). However, the student has also professional prerequisites for further studies in doctoral programs with physics or biophysical focus. Doctoral programs directly following the proposed program are not expected for the time being as any physics or biophysics specialization can be studied.