The UAB Department of Radiation Oncology offers a summer undergraduate internship within the division of Medical Physics.
This program is designed for students who are interested in learning how medical physicists support safe, high-quality radiation therapy and contribute to innovation in clinical care, technology, and research. Through guided shadowing, structured learning, and project-based experiences, interns gain exposure to both the clinical and technical aspects of medical physics in a large academic medical center.
What You’ll Experience
Interns have opportunities to observe and learn from a wide range of clinical and technical activities, including:
- Clinical operations in a modern radiation oncology department
- Advanced treatment delivery techniques, including image-guided and adaptive radiation therapy
- Specialized procedures such as stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and total body irradiation (TBI)
- Quality assurance processes supporting linear accelerators, imaging systems, and treatment planning systems
- The integration of new technologies and workflows into clinical practice
What You’ll Do
Interns will:
- Shadow clinical medical physicists during routine clinical activities
- Observe treatment planning, machine quality assurance, and patient-specific QA
- Learn about radiation therapy technologies, patient safety practices, and regulatory considerations
- Contribute to a defined project aligned with their background and interests (e.g., research support, data analysis, educational tools, or workflow improvement)
- Participate in a collaborative, multidisciplinary clinical environment
What You’ll Learn
This internship is designed to introduce students to:
- The role of medical physics in radiation oncology and cancer care
- How physics, engineering, and computing principles are applied in clinical medicine
- How safety, quality assurance, and risk management support patient care
- How clinical teams collaborate across radiation oncologists, therapists, dosimetrists, nurses, and physicists
Why Medical Physics at UAB
UAB offers a unique environment for students interested in medical physics due to the breadth, complexity, and innovation of its radiation oncology program. As an intern, you will be exposed to:
- A high-volume academic clinical practice with diverse disease sites and treatment techniques
- Advanced technologies including adaptive radiation therapy, stereotactic treatments (SRS/SBRT), and specialized procedures such as total body irradiation.
- A strong culture of patient safety, quality assurance, and continuous process improvement
- Close collaboration between medical physicists, radiation oncologists, dosimetrists, therapists, and trainees
- Opportunities to observe how new technologies and workflows are evaluated, commissioned, and implemented in a clinical setting
This environment allows interns to see how medical physics is practiced in real-world clinical care while supporting education, research, and innovation.
What Is Medical Physics?
Medical physics is a scientific discipline that applies principles of physics, engineering, and computing to medicine, with a strong focus on the safe and effective use of radiation in diagnosis and treatment. In radiation oncology, medical physicists play a critical role in:
- Ensuring the accuracy and safety of radiation treatments
- Developing and maintaining quality assurance programs
- Supporting advanced treatment planning and delivery techniques
- Evaluating and implementing new technologies
- Collaborating closely with physicians and clinical staff to optimize patient care
To learn more about the field of medical physics and career pathways, visit the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM):
Who Should Apply
This program is intended for undergraduate students (or recent graduates) in:
- Physics, engineering, computer science, biomedical sciences, or related fields
Ideal candidates demonstrate:
- Interest in medical physics, radiation oncology, or healthcare technology
- Curiosity about clinical applications of science and engineering
- Strong communication skills and ability to work in a team environment
Training and Mentorship
Interns receive structured training and mentorship throughout the program. Shadowing experiences are coordinated to provide broad exposure to clinical medical physics while allowing flexibility based on individual interests and project focus.
Meet the Faculty
Interns work with board-certified medical physicists and interact with faculty engaged in clinical care, quality assurance, and research within the Department of Radiation Oncology.
Learn more about our faculty and clinical programs.
How to Apply
Information about current internship opportunities, including application timelines and requirements, is posted annually.
For general inquiries about the Medical Physics Undergraduate Internship Program, please contact: MedPhysInternship@uabmc.edu.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need prior experience in medical physics to apply?
No prior experience in medical physics is required. This program is designed to introduce students to the field. Curiosity, motivation, and an interest in applying science or engineering to healthcare are more important than prior exposure.
What academic backgrounds are appropriate for this internship?
Students from physics, engineering, computer science, biomedical sciences, or related fields are encouraged to apply. Students at different stages of their undergraduate education may be considered.
Is this internship more research-focused or clinical-focused?
The internship emphasizes clinical exposure, including shadowing and observation of day-to-day medical physics activities. Interns may also participate in a project, which can be research-, education-, QA-, or workflow-focused depending on interests and availability.
Will I work directly with patients?
Interns do not provide patient care. However, interns may observe clinical workflows and treatment delivery processes under appropriate supervision, consistent with institutional policies.
What kind of projects might interns work on?
Projects vary from year to year and may include:
- Research support or data analysis
- Quality assurance or workflow improvement initiatives
- Development of educational or training tools
- Technical or programming-based tasks
Projects are selected to be appropriate for undergraduate students and aligned with individual interests when possible.
What technologies or treatment techniques might I see?
Interns may observe a variety of advanced radiation therapy techniques and technologies, including image-guided, surface-guided and adaptive radiation therapy, brachytherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and total body irradiation (TBI), depending on clinical schedules and availability.
Is this internship paid?
Details regarding compensation, duration, and hours vary by year and are outlined in the current internship posting.
Does participation in this internship prepare me for graduate training in medical physics?
This internship is intended to provide early exposure to the field of medical physics and help students explore career pathways. While it is not a formal training program, it can be valuable for students considering graduate education in medical physics or related fields.
How competitive is the internship?
The number of positions is limited each year. Selection is based on interest in the field, academic background, and overall fit with the goals of the program.
Who are the Program Directors?
The Medical Physics Undergraduate Internship Program is overseen by faculty within the UAB Department of Radiation Oncology Medical Physics group. Program Directors are responsible for coordinating the internship experience, including educational content, clinical exposure, and project opportunities. They also serve as points of contact for general questions about the program.
For questions or additional information, please contact: MedPhysInternship@uabmc.edu.
Who should I contact if I have questions?
For general questions about the Medical Physics Undergraduate Internship Program, please contact: MedPhysInternship@uabmc.edu.