After graduation
The master’s programme will equip the student with specialist skills in the field of medical physics. In addition, the course of study will provide the expertise required to pursue a specialisation as a medical physicist and can open pathways to further advanced studies and fellowship opportunities.
Upon completion of the programme, the graduate will have a career path tailored to his or her needs or interests, creating a possibility of:
- Continuing advanced studies to pursue a career as a scientist,
- Becoming a valuable part of industry (e.g., in health technology and engineering),
- Working in management and teaching,
- Acting in science administration at national level or internationally,
- Continuing in pursuit of a career as a specialised medical physicist.
Here you can find stories of our graduates Ali Mohammadi and Mohammadhossein Ebrahimi, Sandra Sefa, and Shekh Emran.
Ali Mohammadi and Mohammadhossein Ebrahimi
Ali Mohammadi and Mohammadhossein (Mohammad) Ebrahimi studied together already in their home country Iran, where they completed their Bachelor degrees in Mechanical Engineering. It was through the research collaboration between their professor and the UEF colleagues that they first heard about the Master’s degree programme in Medical Physics – and they decided to apply, together.
– We also applied to other countries like Canada and even as far as Australia, and to several universities in Finland. But in the end, even though we got acceptances from several universities, the decision of coming here was pretty easy to make. We wanted to do research right from the start, and here it was possible to join a research group early on, which you cannot do in many universities, Ali explains.
From that decision, everything has been fairly straightforward. Both Ali and Mohammad finished their Master’s degree and are now pursuing their Doctoral degrees in the Department of Applied Physics at UEF, in the Biophysics of Bone and Cartilage (BBC) group.
As their background is in mechanical engineering, it took some time in the beginning to adapt to the medical field. However, soon they got accustomed to studying in English and learned the terminology –and started adapting to the whole new living environment.
– In addition to studying, we also had the opportunity to work in the research groups. Whatever project we started, we immediately aimed at publishing. We took part in the weekly meetings already as Master’s students, so we were really a part of the staff and almost felt like PhD students already. All of our colleagues were very supportive, and when we started our PhD studies, we just continued in the same office with the same people, Ali explains.
Research aspirations
Now their PhD studies are advancing fast – they are even ahead of schedule as they have already two papers in hand and only one more to go before graduating. The BBC group investigates osteoarthritis from many perspectives, but following in the footsteps of their supervisor Rami Korhonen and due to their background, Ali and Mohammad are focused on the biomechanical point of view.
– One reason behind osteoarthritis is the person’s biomechanics, and you can investigate it on different levels: joint level, tissue level, cell level… My focus is on the tissue level, as I try to investigate how the tissue behaves when the osteoarthritis develops. Due to my engineering background, I love topics like stress and strain, so this approach is really natural to me, says Mohammad.
Ali, on the other hand, is studying how different lesions affect the development of osteoarthritis. Although he has been experimenting with different topics as well.
– In my Master’s I wanted to get familiar with computational modelling in brain, so I investigated TMS stimulation. The great thing about the UEF is that you can try different things and find your own field that for me is, in the end, biomechanics, says Ali.
Both Ali and Mohammad are satisfied with the organisation of studies as well as study facilities at the UEF.
– The facilities and testing devices are very good. The UEF also recently purchased new spectroscopical devices and microscopes, and especially one of the devices made my measurements significantly faster and more accurate. I would also say that Kuopio university hospital is one of the best hospitals in the world in terms of research, says Ali.
Life in Finland
Since Ali and Mohammad moved to Finland together, it didn’t cause such a culture shock when there was someone to share the experiences with.
– We shared a flat during the Master’s studies and did a lot of stuff together with friends. We weren’t that active in the KISA international student organisation, but we made close friends with the people in the research group, having parties on weekends or going to the gym or playing futsal, or just watching movies together, says Mohammad.
– Our supervisor told us that we don’t need to work on weekends, but it would be more important to focus on the studies. So, during weekends it was time to sleep and enjoy life – we both love travelling, so we used our pay checks to visit many European countries and cities as well as toured Finland, says Mohammad.
Ali and Mohammad found the balance between studying and free time, even though the course system in Finland differed a lot from the Iranian way of studying.
– Here in Finland you have 6 weeks during which you need to finish a course and pass the exam, whereas in Iran there’s more time to study for a specific exam. However, in the Eastern countries in general you don’t have that much choice, but here we really appreciate the freedom. When we came to study the Master’s, it was interesting to see that there were so many choices, from computational physics to biomechanics, radiotherapy, radiology, optics… So, there’s definitely something for everyone. There’s also the possibility to retake failed exams or to improve grades, which decreases the stress. Also, you can always go to any lecturer or the coordinator Siru and ask for help with anything.
Future plans
Both Ali and Mohammad have considered post-doc as the future option, even though they want to keep their options open.
– Post-doc, some company in the field of medical physics in Finland or elsewhere, or working as medical physicist in an English-speaking country – I haven’t decided yet, says Mohammad.
However, Finland has left a mark on both of them, and only in a positive way.
– Finland really feels like a second home. Whenever I land at Helsinki-Vantaa airport, I feel like coming home to Iran. I speak Finnish to some extent and can communicate in daily routines. I really appreciate the opportunity that Finland has offered me to study here and I have truly enjoyed it, says Mohammad.
Being far away from home has aroused many kinds of emotions during the study years.
– I bet all students sometimes think that it is hard and they want to give up when there’s a difficult course and the family is far away. But on the other hand, when you succeed – when my first paper got published, when I was awarded as the Best Master student in class or chosen as the finalist for student paper competition, when I received my first salary – all those things feel so great. The saddest thing is that your family is not there on the great days, seeing you do well. But it’s just a part of the process that makes us stronger, more independent, and more successful in the future, Ali explains.
All in all, choosing UEF has proven to be the ideal choice for both Ali and Mohammad as they have been able to pursue research full-time - in an inspiring environment.
– Here the level of research is really high. So, if you just have a dream of being a medical physicist, UEF is an ideal choice. You can truly feel the change in your expertise as well as your independency, communication skills… The campus city Kuopio is small but we have liked it since there is a lot to do. You shouldn’t be afraid of the winter, either, because it is definitely beautiful and you can explore different winter activities. The darkness is terrible, though, but surely everything else will compensate for that, Ali and Mohammed laugh.
Sandra Sefa
Sandra Sefa graduated from the Master’s Degree programme in Medical Physics in 2018 and is currently continuing her academic career in Germany. She is pursuing a PhD in a research centre, investigating magnesium application in orthopedics using various medical imaging approaches. From her time at the UEF, she remembers sauna, dedicated teachers, the unique mix of theory and practice and many lessons learnt on academic thinking and self-management.
Passion for imaging
When Ghana-native Sandra Sefa was young, she loved taking pictures for fun. Little did she know that this leisure activity set her career path, as later on she has committed to learning about medical imaging throughout her studies in the UEF Master’s programme and even further in her PhD.
Even before Sandra graduated from high school, she knew she wanted to study physics. First, she graduated from the University of Ghana with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics, which laid a good foundation to apply for Master’s studies in medical physics at the University of Eastern Finland.
– UEF was an amazing experience. All the knowledge I gained there is the backbone for my PhD. I think the Medical Physics programme offers the best package in both clinical and theoretical aspects in the field. I have warm memories about UEF and Finland.
However, when she got accepted to the programme and was planning the move to Finland, it was more than natural to have some worries about a new country and how life is there.
– The misconception I had about Finland was that Finns were not friendly. However, I realized that this was not true, because I interacted with some Finns and they were very friendly and always willing to help.
During her studies, Sandra got to know the Finnish culture, and especially sauna that she enjoyed a lot.
– I miss Sauna dearly. I especially liked having sauna in winter when temperatures are always low. Sauna is reputed to have great therapeutic effects on the human body and I was happy to experience this effect as sauna was readily available to me in my apartment. I also miss taking a walk in the woods in summer. I enjoyed the calmness and the sweet melodies from the birds as well as the scene displayed by the many beautiful lakes. Finally, yet importantly, I was always mesmerized watching people ski on frozen lakes in winter although I never tried it myself.
Learning critical thinking from dedicated teachers
When starting the Medical Physics programme, Sandra could expect that the quality of education in Finland is good – but it even exceeded her expectations.
– The programme has equipped me in various ways. Besides theoretical knowledge and practical skills, the programme boosted my professional and personal skills, especially time management, public speaking, teamwork, independent thinking and many more. In addition, I learnt how to prioritize and pay attention to details in every situation.
What Sandra has particularly missed about UEF is the highly skilled – and nice – teachers, as well as physical facilities.
– I really admire the dedication and patience with which the teachers teach and inspire students. In addition, they have good rapport with students, which enhances learning. I also miss the top-notch facilities: easy access to books, recent publications, and different software that we could freely use and practice with in the library.
Sandra also highlights the importance of the clinical internship at the Kuopio University hospital, which is an integral part of studies at UEF.
– I got the opportunity to learn about the work of a hospital physicists, how to work together with the hospital staff, and how to be regular and punctual in the job. I was involved in treatment planning for radiation therapy patients and took part in all the necessary quality assurance measurements on the various medical devices. It was a great experience.
Encouragement for further studies
PhD had been a long-sighted goal for Sandra, and that interest grew during her Master’s studies.
– As I learned more and more about several areas of medical physics, I found a whole bunch of options to choose from when defining my PhD path. Thanks to the Master’s programme, I felt that the sky is not the limit. Pursuing a PhD is a great decision because it broadens one's knowledge and opens doors to even more possibilities. I got a lot of inspiration and help in the form of advice and coaching from my teachers (Siru Kaartinen, Juha Töyräs, Isaac Afara, Rami Korhonen and many more) in defining my specific focus.
Now Sandra is pursuing her PhD in Helmholtz Centre for Material and Coastal Research, Germany. She is focused on investigating magnesium application in orthopedics using various medical imaging approaches.
– I acquired a lot of knowledge about the musculoskeletal system from the Biophysics of bone and cartilage research group at UEF Applied Physics department. This knowledge coupled with my knowledge in imaging equipped me to pursue the topic of my PhD thesis.
In the future, Sandra seeks to continue innovative research that can save lives – while the work of medical physicists is enticing as well. For anyone who is interested in multiple career options in the field of medical physics, she can sincerely recommend the programme.
– I believe the Medical Physics programme at UEF is better than most medical physics Master’s programmes because the clinical practicum is incorporated in the studies and balanced with the theoretical aspect, which makes this programme really unique.
Shekh Emran
Shekh Emran graduated from the Master’s Degree programme in Medical Physics in 2018.
Where are you working at the moment?
I am working as a Ph.D. student in Biomaterials Research Group, Department of Applied Physics & SIB-labs, University of Eastern Finland under the supervision of Professor Reijo Lappalainen, Docent Sami Myllymaa and Professor Arja M. Kullaa.
Looking back to your studies, what experiences made the biggest impact on your career choices?
In the beginning of my studies at UEF I had some special interest to work with different companies related to medical devices. However, during my master’s studies I started to work in Biomaterials Research Group. While collaborating with this research group, I found that a career in research is both intellectually stimulating and satisfying and hence I decided to take this up as my career objective. I believe that there are still many new and exciting discoveries waiting to be found, hidden within nature. I want to be a part of the next discovery. Thus, when immediately after finishing my MSc. degree I was offered a job to work towards a Ph.D. I grabbed this opportunity.
What is the most interesting, rewarding, and/or challenging aspect of your current job?
Dealing with bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) for versatile medical applications is really interesting for me. BIS is a relatively new, convenient tool for the assessment of chemical and structural alterations in human tissues. Due to the simplicity and affordability, it is highly promising method for various point-of-care applications. There is abundant research and commercial solutions related to use of BIS in skin condition evaluation and cancer diagnostics. However, the BIS studies concerning the evaluation of muscle condition and assessment of neuromuscular diseases are rare. My Ph.D. study aims to develop and optimize a novel measurement technique for facial muscle measurements and, for the first time, validate the optimized BIS method in clinical patient cohort suffering from temporomandibular pain and sleep bruxism (nocturnal teeth grinding and clenching). The obtained results could be crucial while developing new objective solutions for next generation diagnostics of pain and sleep disorders.
With the help of my supervisors I haven’t faced any big challenges. One interesting thing is that I have started my Ph.D. studies in June, but I have already submitted my first scientific paper (partly based on M.Sc. thesis data) on a high impact factor international journal and it’s already conditionally accepted (in September).
What kind of advice would you give to students that are currently studying medical physics at the University of Eastern Finland?
You must be always confident that you are here for utilizing the best opportunity in your life. Be patient if you face difficulties. Moreover, be punctual about your study schedule: finish your exercises on time and improve your mathematical programming skills. If you feel stressed, try to relax and stay connected with your fellow classmates.
What would you like to say to students still thinking about applying to study Medical Physics at UEF?
If you want to choose Medical Physics, you will need to be well-motivated and work hard. If that is the case, I can guarantee that you will have the capacity to achieve your goals effectively.
Who do you recommend the MedPhys programme to and why?
I would recommend it to a person who is planning to build up a career in field of medical physics (e.g. medical physics expert in a hospital or medical physics research). Our department has great collaboration with Kuopio University Hospital, where you can gather practical knowledge and also conduct research projects. Moreover, if you are interested in academic research I can guarantee that the talented and innovative research groups (e.g. Biophysics of Bone and Cartilage, Biomaterials etc.) at the department of Applied Physics will simply astonish you.
