Bachelor's
If you are following an undergraduate program in science or engineering at Laval University or elsewhere, you can take the asynchronous distance learning course Introduction to biophotonics. This course is an introduction to the challenges and themes of research in biophotonics. It contains 13 modules, in the form of animated capsules involving several specialists, who present an introduction to issues or challenges in life sciences or medicine, as well as to concepts, techniques and tools making use optics / photonics, biochemistry and genetics to study or treat them. Solutions are presented and developed using scientific results. The course contributes to most undergraduate programs at Laval University (to be confirmed with your program director).
Engineering physics students can also choose the “medical and biophotonic engineering” concentration.
During your bachelor’s degree, there are also several opportunities for summer internships in biophotonics in the research laboratories of Université Laval and its affiliated research centers.
Master's
The master’s program in biophotonics is multidepartmental and managed by the Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine. It is open to all students holding a university degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering, from the following disciplines (or equivalent): physics, engineering physics, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, biology, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, biophysics, biotechnology, biomedical sciences, medical biology, biomedical engineering.
Research
Students enrolled in the master’s program must complete a research project, leading to the writing of a master’s thesis. This research project must be carried out under the supervision of two co-directors: one working in life sciences and the other in physical sciences or engineering. Admission to the program is conditional on the commitment of a research supervisor to supervise the student. The choice of the research co-supervisor can be made after admission and the start of studies. The master’s student in biophotonics receives a scholarship sufficient to cover tuition and living costs. There are several nominative scholarship programs to which the student can apply. The student can also receive a research grant from the host laboratory.
Courses
Biophotonics is a transdisciplinary field that involves, among others, optics-photonics, spectroscopy, bio-analytical chemistry, life sciences, and signal detection and analysis. Since students enrolled in the master’s program in biophotonics come from several undergraduate programs, additional “à la carte” training is offered, allowing the student to better succeed in his research project. The course offer is adapted to the specific training needs of students in biophotonics, allowing the upgrading of knowledge in the disciplines (eg biology, physics and chemistry. The student must choose 6 modules of 1 credit (approximately 15 hours in class each) from a list of 12 optional modules. The choice of modules is based on the relevance and complementarity of the training required by the student to complete his research project. Modules are generally given during the fall sessions or winter over a period of 5 weeks, at the rate of 3 hours per week.
List of biophotonics courses offered at the master’s level, according to the student’s profile
PhD
The doctoral program in biophotonics is multi-departmental and managed by the Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine. It is open to all students holding a university degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering, from the following disciplines (or equivalent): physics, engineering physics, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, biology, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, biophysics, biotechnology, biomedical sciences, medical biology, biomedical engineering.
Research
Like the other graduate programs at Université Laval, the doctoral program in biophotonics is research-oriented. The student’s research project leads to the writing of a doctoral thesis and an original scientific contribution. It is carried out under the supervision of two co-directors: one working in life sciences and the other in physical sciences or engineering. Admission to the program is conditional on the commitment of a research supervisor to supervise the student. The choice of the research co-supervisor can be made after admission and the start of studies. The doctoral student in biophotonics receives a scholarship sufficient to cover tuition and living costs. There are several nominative scholarship programs to which the student can apply. The student can also receive a research grant from the host laboratory.
Courses
The emphasis of the PhD in Biophotonics is primarily on research. The student will take 6 course units, which can be chosen from a very wide choice of courses offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSG) and the Faculty of Medicine (FMED) as well as from the BPH courses offered at the master’s level.
See the list of courses in the PhD program in biophotonics
More information on the PhD program in biophotonics at Laval University
Internships
Université Laval is distinguished by a rich research community using biophotonics, whether for the use or the development of optical methods to study living organisms. A large number of laboratories on campus or in associated research centers welcome students for paid internships, generally 12-16 weeks. Trainees with science or engineering profiles are particularly sought after. Summer internships represent excellent opportunities to learn about the field while learning the basics of scientific research.
International interns are also welcomed each year in the laboratories of Laval University, at any time of the year, according to the terms of the programs they pursue abroad. Research directors may have access to scholarships to help with the mobility and living costs of international interns. These internships can contribute to training for all study cycles (License, Master, Doctorate). To find an internship, you must contact a research director and make a request. It is important to start the process several months in advance in order to obtain the work permit.
Summer school
Summer School in Biophotonics – Course BPH-7001: The biophotonics student will participate in a full-time research and practical work session lasting 10 days in the laboratories of the Neurophotonics Center. This training activity also brings together students from all over the world, selected through a competition, as well as several internationally renowned researchers who will give lectures and participate in practical workshops. This school, which emphasizes biophotonics in the service of neuroscience, will allow the student to integrate and make use of the theoretical knowledge acquired by the master’s modules.