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Nuclear Science & Engineering
in Medical Physics and health Physics, Radiation Protection, and
Nuclear Engineering

LSU Nuclear Science Center | Facilities | Academics | Nuclear Enginnering & Health Physics | Medical Physics

Nuclear science deals with utilization of ionizing radiation and nuclear reactions in a variety of fields, including cancer therapy, nuclear power production, and industrial and research applications. Since its inception in 1959, the Nuclear Science Center (NSC) has played a vital academic, research, and service role for the University.

The Nuclear Science Center is an interdisciplinary unit comprised of scientists and engineers with expertise in diverse areas of applied nuclear technology. In addition to faculty based on the LSU campus, the NSC also had adjunct faculty who are radiation oncologists and medical physicists at a cancer treatment clinic.

Faculty and staff teach undergraduate and graduate courses; administer graduate degree programs in nuclear science; perform federal, state, and industry supported research; and provide radiation detection and irradiation services. Active areas of research include software development for radiation transport calculations, nuclear reactor analysis, stable and radionuclide tracer applications for environmental studies, health effects of naturally occurring radioactive material, aerosol dispersion experiments and modeling, and numerous uses of radiation in cancer therapy.

FACILITIES

Available facilities for laboratory and research work at the NSC include high-resolution semiconductor detectors for gamma spectroscopy, both solid and liquid scintillation systems for radiation measurements, a gas flow proportional counter for alpha and beta emitters, an auto-gamma detector for counting environmental and biological samples, and a wide variety of radiation survey instruments and dosimeters for health physics work. An isotope ratio mass-spectrometer is used for stable isotope tracer studies, and laboratories are available for radioisotope tracer and radiochemistry applications, and aerosol dispersion studies. Several intense sources of cobalt-60 are used for gamma irradiation, while neutron physics experiments are performed in a subcritical uranium assembly and a californium neutron activation facility.

In addition to on-campus facilities, student specializing in medical physics have access to several electron linear accelerators and other equipment used for cancer therapy at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. The LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center also has extensive laboratories for biological research. A field laboratory near campus is used by the NSC for environmental studies of radioisotopes. The Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD), also located near campus, has a 3 GeV synchrotron that produces low energy X-rays for many research projects. In addition, the NSC has an extensive collection of software and nuclear data libraries for radiation transport and dose calculations and for reactor physics and shielding analysis.

ACADEMICS

One of the primary functions of the NSC is to provide academic training in nuclear science and radiology for students at LSU. The NSC offers approximately 30 undergraduate and graduate courses. Undergraduate students may obtain a minor in nuclear science or minor in nuclear energy.

Graduate students can major in nuclear science, specializing in several areas of interest. At the master's level, the NSC offers a Master of Science in Nuclear Science and Engineering degree with four concentrations: nuclear engineering, radiation protection (health physics), research, and medical radiation science (medical physics).

Nuclear engineering deal with engineering aspects of nuclear systems, particularly nuclear reactors. Jobs in this are are available at nuclear power plants, national laboratories, and facilities that design and manufacture reactor fuels. This option typically requires two to two and a half years of course and thesis work.

Radiation protection, also called health physics, involves measuring and monitoring radiation doses received bythose who work around radiation sources, to ensure that adequate protection is provided. Health physicists are employed at nuclear reactors, industrial and medical facilities, and government agencies. This option typically requires about two years of course and thesis work.

The research option is designed to provide flexible requirements so the program of study can be tailored to an individual's particular interests. Because nuclear technology has applications in so many diverse fields, this option may emphasize research in biological studies, material science, geology, environmental science, or many other areas of science and engineering. This option typically requires about two years of course and thesis work; a nonthesis option is also available.

The medical radiation science option, commonly known as medical physics, focuses on applications of nuclear techniques for cancer therapy. Students in this option first take one year of courses at LSU, and then spend an additional one to two years in clinical residency at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center working with physicians and the medical physics staff.

An interdisciplinary dual master's program in medical physics is also jointly offered by the Nuclear Science Center and the LSU Department of Physics and Astronomy, allowing students to work simultaneously toward an M.S. degree with a major in physics, as well as an M.S. degree with a major in nuclear science specializing in medical physics. This program can be completed in about one additional year compared to the standard medical physics concentration in nuclear science.

A doctor of philosophy degree with specialization in nuclear engineering can be obtained through the interdisciplinary Ph.D. in engineering science. Students in this program take additional coursework beyond the requirements, and must pass a general examination prior to beginning their dissertation research.

NUCLEAR ENGINEERING & HEALTH PHYSICS

At the present time, demand for nuclear engineers and health physicists exceeds the supply, so that graduates in these areas have excellent prospects for obtaining well paid jobs in some phase of the nuclear field.

There are currently more than 100 power ractors in operation in the U.S. and more than 400 worldwide. These plants require many trained nuclear professionals to ensure safe and economical operation.

Many service organizations that design and fabricate nuclear fuel and reactor components and perform vital support functions also employ nuclear engineers and health physicists. Nuclear engineers and health physicists are also employed by research laboratories and other federal agencies to work on crucial government projects in the areas of energy research, national defense, high-level waste disposal, and other programs important to the national security and economy. Private industries working with radioisotopes, including medical facilities, also require professionals in these areas.

The LSU program provides rigorous academic preparation for careers in nuclear engineering and health physics. Students may take courses in radiation detection, shielding, reactor physics and engineering, thermal hydraulics, and radiation protection. A thesis is for the Ph.D. degree. Faculty members are involved in important research programs, such as developing computer codes for lattice physics and criticality safety calculations, reactor pressure vessel fluence analysis, aerosol dispersion studies, nuclear data studies, thermal analysis of reactor piping, environmental applications of stable and radioactive isotopes, and health physics concerns of naturally occuring radioactive material. Students often work on one of the faculty's research projects for their thesis.

MEDICAL PHYSICS

Medical physics is an exciting field of study that applies elements of physics, nuclear science and radiology, and medical science to the treatment of cancer.

As allied-health professionals, medical physicists work closely with physicians at hospitals and cancer treatment units. One of the strengths of the LSU medical physics program is its emphasis on acquiring practical clinical experience and hands-on training in cancer therapy. Recent LSU medical physics graduates have received excellent starting salaries; and after passing the national board certification examination, salaries usually increase considerably.

Students first take approximately one year of courses on campus at the LSU Nuclear Science Center (NSC). The nuclear science training covers topics such as properties of radioisotopes, radiation protection, radiation transport theory, shielding, radiation measurement, dosimetry, and radiobiology. Laboratory courses apply theoretical principles using various types of radiation detectors and radiation sources at the NSC. Students who choose to pursue the dual M.S. medical physics program require an additional year of course work in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, leading to a master's degree in that discipline.

After completing the on-campus phase of study, medical physics students spend their clinical residency period at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, a state-of-the-art cancer treament facility located adjacent to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge. There they take additional courses in clinical radiation therapy taught by oncologists and hospital staff who are adjunct or affiliate NSC graduate faculty.

Students work directly with physicians, medical physicists, and dosimetrists on clinical rotation, as they treat patients. Graduate thesis research is usually performed at Mary Bird Perkins, often employing radiation therapy equipment at the facility such as linear accelerators for electron or X-ray external beam treatment, isotope sources for brachytherapy, or phantoms for dosimetry measurements.

Updated: Tue, 09-Oct-2007 1:33 PM