A Five-Year report on the conception and establishment of the MSc Radiation Biology at the Technical University of Munich

Abstract

Purpose

The MSc Radiation Biology course is a highly interdisciplinary degree program placing radiation biology at the interface between biology, medicine, and physics, as well as their associated technologies. The goal was to establish an internationally acknowledged program with diverse and heterogeneous student cohorts, who benefit from each other academically as well as culturally. We have completed a Five-Year evaluation of the program to assess our qualification profile and the further direction we want to take.

Materials and methods

We evaluated the student cohort’s data from the last 5 years regarding gender, age, and nationality as well as the highest degree before applying and career path after graduation.

Results

Data shows a great diversity regarding nationalty as well as undergraduate background. Cohort sizes could be increased and future prospects mainly aimed to a PhD. Measures after regular quality meetings and students’ feedback led to improving the curriculum and workload, teacher’s training, and changes to examination regulations.

Conclusions

After 5 years, statistics show that our expectations have been met exceedingly. All graduates had excellent career opportunities reflecting the necessity of this MSc and its topics. We are continuously working on improving the program and adapting the curriculum to the requirements in radiation sciences. The future vision includes an expansion of the program as well as undergraduate education opportunities in this field.

Keywords:

• Radiation biology
• higher education
• interdisciplinary study program

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The MSc course is currently funded by the Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital “Klinikum rechts der Isar,” Technical University of Munich (TUM) and by the School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM).

Notes on contributors

Carmen Kessel

Carmen Kessel is a Science Manager at the School of Medicine of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Coordinator of the MSc Program Radiation Biology.

Michael J. Atkinson

Michael J. Atkinson is the Chair of Radiation Biology at the School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Director of the Institute of Radiation Biology of the Helmholtz Center Munich. He is a Lecturer and one of the Program Directors of the MSc Radiation Biology.

Thomas E. Schmid

Thomas E. Schmid is a Professor at the School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM) and a Group Leader of Radiation Biology as well as Vice Director at the Institute of Radiation Medicine (IRM), Helmholtz Zentrum München. He is a Lecturer of the MSc Program Radiation Biology.

Klaus Trott

Klaus-Ruediger Trott is an Advisor and Professor of the MSc program Radiation Biology at the School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM) and a Lecturer of the MSc Program Radiation Biology.

Jan J. Wilkens

Jan J. Wilkens is a Professor of Medical Radiation Physics at the School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM) and a Lecturer of the MSc Program Radiation Biology.

Natasa Anastasov

Natasa Anastasov is a Principal Investigator on Personalized Radiation Therapy at the Institute of Radiation Biology (ISB), Helmholtz Zentrum München and a Lecturer of the MSc Program Radiation Biology.

Michael Rosemann

Michael Rosemann is a Principal Investigator on Radiation Carcinogenesis at the Institute of Radiation Biology (ISB), Helmholtz Zentrum München and a Lecturer of the MSc Program Radiation Biology.

Omid Azimzadeh

Omid Azimzadeh is a Scientist on Radiation Proteomics at the Institute of Radiation Biology (ISB), Helmholtz Zentrum München and a Lecturer of the MSc Program Radiation Biology.

Soile Tapio

Tapio Soile is a Principal Investigator on Radiation Proteomics at the Institute of Radiation Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München and a Lecturer of the MSc Program Radiation Biology.

Simone Moertl

Simone Moertl is a Principal Investigator on Clinical Radiobiology at the Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS), Munich and a Lecturer of the MSc Program Radiation Biology.

Ulrike M. Kulka

Ulrike M. Kulka is a Principal Investigator on Biological Dosimetry at the Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS), Munich and a Lecturer of the MSc Program Radiation Biology.

Michael Abend

Michael Abend is a Professor and Colonel at the Bundeswehr Institute of Radiobiology, Munich and a Lecturer of the MSc Program Radiation Biology.

Matthias Port

Matthias Port is the Director of the Bundeswehr Institute of Radiobiology, Munich.

Christina Beinke

Christina Beinke is a Scientist at the Bundeswehr Institute of Radiobiology, Munich and a Lecturer of the MSc Program Radiation Biology.

Mona Mustafa

Mona Mustafa is a Senior Physician at the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich (TUM) and a Lecturer of the MSc Program Radiation Biology.

Frauke Neff

Frauke Neff is a Neuropathologist at the München Klinik and a Lecturer of the MSc Program Radiation Biology.

Daniela Pfeiffer

Daniela Pfeiffer is a Senior Physician at the Department of Radiology at the Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich (TUM) and a Lecturer of the MSc Program Radiation Biology.

Pascal Berberat

Pascal Berberat is Professor and Chair of Medical Education and the Dean of Studies at the School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM).

Stephanie E. Combs

Stephanie E. Combs is Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Klinikum rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Director of the Institute of Radiation Medicine of the Helmholtz Center Munich.