BIOPHYS 430 001 WN 2026
Instructor: Magdalena Ivanova Email mivanova@umich.edu
Class Schedule M/W 8:30 am-10:00 am RM 3330 MH
Office hours 10:00AM-10:30AM Wen 1:00-1:30PM Thu 3040 CHEM
Class Calendar Refer to for information on class topics, guest lectures, homework, and assignment due dates.
Maizey An AI tutor trained specifically on the class materials.
Course Description
The course will cover a range of imaging techniques used in modern medicine, including ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET). Each of these techniques will be studied in terms of the underlying physical principles that make them effective tools for diagnosing and monitoring medical conditions. For example, ultrasound relies on the reflection of sound waves, CT uses X-rays to acquire detailed cross-sectional images, MRI uses the magnetic properties of atoms for imaging, and PET utilizes radioactive tracers to detect metabolic processes. Additionally, radiotherapy methods that use high-energy radiation to treat cancer will be covered. Students will learn about the physical basis of this technique, including the interaction of radiation with biological tissues, treatment planning, and safety considerations. The course will also introduce the physics of physiological processes such as muscle contraction, cardiovascular dynamics, neuronal signaling, and renal filtration. These systems will be examined through the lens of physics, using models to describe their behavior and aid in diagnosing diseases.
Guest lectures from leading experts in the field will provide students with real-world perspectives on current innovations and challenges in biomedical imaging and therapy. These lectures will give a unique opportunity to learn from the best and provide a deep dive into cutting-edge research and the latest technological developments. Assignments in the course will be designed to help students apply their knowledge to practical problems, with a focus on data analysis and project-based learning. You will gain hands-on experience using R-Studio, a powerful platform for data analysis, which will be used for processing imaging data and interpreting results from various biomedical physics applications.
Materials and resources
The course is based on research papers, textbooks, and online articles. If you have questions, you can also ask Maizey, the AI tutor trained on the class materials. The primary resources are listed below:
Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology, by Hobbie & Roth
Physics in Biology and Medicine, by Paul Davidovits
Guide to Research Techniques in Neuroscience, by Carter & Shieh
Biomedical physics with applications to disease, by Ivanova & Dinov
R and Rmarkdown orientation, by Dinov
PDF files for the books are in Canvas → Files → Class Materials
PDF files for the lectures are in Canvas → Files → Lectures
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
If you need accommodation for a disability, please let me know at your earliest convenience. Your information is private and confidential and will be treated as such.
Religious holidays and other time conflicts
Please let me know during the first two weeks of the semester if you have conflicts with the listed examination dates.
Grading
Grades will be based on 2 exams (in person 30%), 3 homework (take home 25%), attendance and weekly problem sets (15%), in-class paper presentation (15%), and a final project (take home - 15%).
Exams
Exam 1 15% February 25 (in class)
Exam 2 15% April 20 (in class)
Exam material will be reviewed in the lectures prior to the exam.
Homework: Homework assignments will be posted as follows: HW#1 – February 11; HW#2 – March 11; HW#3 – April 06. Each problem set is due by 8:30 am one week after it is posted.
Weekly problem sets: Beginning in Week 3 (Jan 21) and continuing through the end of the semester, problem sets will be assigned at the end of class, except for presentation weeks. The problems will be discussed and solved in the following class with active student participation. To receive full credit, each student must either (a) present and explain problem(s) on the board TWICE without notes during the semester OR (b) post written solutions online each week (problem sets will not be graded for accuracy; points will be given for submission).
Attendance: Lecture attendance will be taken for all guest speakers and student presentations.
In-class paper presentations: For this assignment, students will work in groups to present a topic related to the course. All group members will receive the same grade. Directions will be provided on Feb 11.
Term Project: Directions will be provided on February 23. Due at 3:30 pm, April 24. (Note the official date for the final exam assigned by the Office of Registrar is April 24)
Grades will be assigned using standard tables.
|
Grade |
Range |
|
|
A |
100 % |
to 93.0% |
|
A- |
< 93.0 % |
to 90.0% |
|
B+ |
< 90.0 % |
to 87.0% |
|
B |
< 87.0 % |
to 83.0% |
|
B- |
< 83.0 % |
to 80.0% |
|
C+ |
< 80.0 % |
to 77.0% |
|
C |
< 77.0 % |
to 74.0% |
|
C- |
< 74.0 % |
to 70.0% |
|
D+ |
< 70.0 % |
to 67.0% |
|
D |
< 67.0 % |
to 64.0% |
|
D- |
< 64.0 % |
to 61.0% |
|
F |
< 61.0 % |
to 0.0% |
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|
This course content is offered under a CC Attribution Share Alike license. Content in this course can be considered under this license unless otherwise noted.