Sciences études

Physics and data

Data are part of the everyday life of physicists. Whether they come from measurements or simulations, whether they are available in very large quantities or in small numbers, these "data" require the application of suitable methods to provide a maximum of useful information for scientists.

This goal proposes to complement physicists' excellent basic training in modeling and numerical methods by giving them the keys to develop specific tools for processing, visualizing and interpreting data.

Your objectives

  • Acquire skills in data analysis, processing and visualization.
  • Be able to meet the demands of research laboratories and industry for the manipulation of scientific data.
  • Develop innovative solutions at the frontier of data science and physics.

The benefits of training

  • A choice between specialization and broader training through elective courses, dissertation, personal work and internship.
  • An opening up to society thanks to an internship - in Belgium or abroad - which enables you to fine-tune your training as a physicist and offers you the opportunity for numerous scientific and human encounters and experiences. Erasmus stays and visits to internationally renowned laboratories are also strongly encouraged.
  • A broad training in the different fields of physics with specializations (lasers, new materials, environmental physics, life physics, data science and didactics) that offer a wealth of job opportunities directly after the master's degree.
  • An ethical awareness: physicists' responsibility in building a fairer, more sustainable world.

Research and dissertation

Sciences études

Research in physics and data covers, among other things, the development of algorithms for the analysis and interpretation of spectroscopic data, the optimization of new materials based on numerical simulations and/or experimental data, the analysis of electron microscopy images.... For example, light extraction by LEDs has been optimized using genetic algorithms.

By classifying abstract data, machine learning enables intelligent decision-making based on automatic data analysis. It also makes it possible to propose novel materials based on the properties of existing solids.

Other master's degrees in physics

The University of Namur offers:

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    Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block
    1 2
    SPHYM136 Data acquisition and digital processing 30h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM138 Scientific communication 15h th.
    SSPSM101 Science, ethics and development 18h th. + 6h ex.
    SPHYM101 Radiation-matter interaction 30h th. + 30h ex.
    SPHYM106 Nanomaterials ans applications of solid state physics 45h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM109 Laser physics, non-linear and quantum optics 45h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM231 Fundamental interactions 30h th.
    SCHIM223 Science and Energy 24h th.
    SSPSM202 Philosophy of material sciences 12h th.

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    Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block
    1 2
    SBIOB232_P33829 System Histology 15h th.
    SPHYM230 Biological physics 30h th.
    SMATM121_P33811 Part 1 : Relativistic gravitation and cosmology 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SMATM121_P33812 Part 2 : Relativistic gravitation and cosmology 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SCHIM109 Scientific Programming for Chemists 12h th.
    SPHYM124 Experimental optics of surfaces and nanostructures 22h th.
    SPHYM111 Natural photonics and biomimicry 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SGOLB313_P33839 Geophysics 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM112 Electron microscopy 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SPHYM119 Nuclear Astrophysics 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM126 Programming Methods for High-Performance Computing 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM123 Course of Computational Physics I 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM127 Sounding and physics of the atmosphere 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SPHYM128 Introduction to medical imaging 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SPHYM225 Radiation detection and radioprotection 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM135 Quantum theory of information and measurement 22h th.
    SPHYM137 Simulation of dose deposition on biological targets 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM215 Spectral profiles 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SCHIM102 Advanced Theoretical Chemistry 36h th. + 24h ex.
    SCHIM218 Further information on quantum chemistry 12h th.
    SMATB304 Optimization 30h th. + 22.5h ex.
    SMATM103 Numerical linear algebra: direct and iterative methods 30h th. + 30h ex.
    SMATM225 Chaos and determinism 30h th. + 30h ex.
    SBIOM134 Protein Structure and Function 22h th.
    SPHYM228 simulations in material physics 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SBIOM122 Cancer 22h th.
    SGOGB314_P36479 Physical Partim : Climatology 30h th.
    SPHYM150 Physics practice and commitment 12h th.
    SDASM101 Graph mining 20h th. + 20h ex.
    SPHYM117 Project Management 22h th. + 8h ex.

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    Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block
    1 2
    SPHYM122 Research project

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    SELVM202_P33857 Refresher course in Dutch (level B1) 30h th.
    SELVM201_P33760 Further training in English (level B2+) 30h th.

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    Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block
    1 2
    IDASM103 Visualisation of information 30h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM151 Data Science in Physics 15h th. + 10h ex.
    SPHYM152 Programming for data science 10h th. + 10h ex.
    IDASM102 Machine learning and data mining 30h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM253 Internship

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    Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block
    1 2
    SPHYM205 Master thesis
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    Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter
    1 2
    SPHYM136 Data acquisition and digital processing 4 30h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM138 Scientific communication 2 15h th.
    SSPSM101 Science, ethics and development 3 18h th. + 6h ex.
    SPHYM101 Radiation-matter interaction 6 30h th. + 30h ex.
    SPHYM106 Nanomaterials ans applications of solid state physics 6 45h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM109 Laser physics, non-linear and quantum optics 6 45h th. + 15h ex.

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    Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter
    1 2
    SBIOB232_P33829 System Histology 2 15h th.
    SPHYM230 Biological physics 3 30h th.
    SMATM121_P33811 Part 1 : Relativistic gravitation and cosmology 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SMATM121_P33812 Part 2 : Relativistic gravitation and cosmology 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SCHIM109 Scientific Programming for Chemists 4 12h th.
    SPHYM124 Experimental optics of surfaces and nanostructures 3 22h th.
    SPHYM111 Natural photonics and biomimicry 3 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SGOLB313_P33839 Geophysics 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM112 Electron microscopy 3 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SPHYM119 Nuclear Astrophysics 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM126 Programming Methods for High-Performance Computing 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM123 Course of Computational Physics I 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM127 Sounding and physics of the atmosphere 3 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SPHYM128 Introduction to medical imaging 3 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SPHYM225 Radiation detection and radioprotection 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM135 Quantum theory of information and measurement 3 22h th.
    SPHYM137 Simulation of dose deposition on biological targets 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM215 Spectral profiles 3 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SCHIM102 Advanced Theoretical Chemistry 6 36h th. + 24h ex.
    SCHIM218 Further information on quantum chemistry 2 12h th.
    SMATB304 Optimization 5 30h th. + 22.5h ex.
    SMATM103 Numerical linear algebra: direct and iterative methods 5 30h th. + 30h ex.
    SMATM225 Chaos and determinism 5 30h th. + 30h ex.
    SBIOM134 Protein Structure and Function 3 22h th.
    SPHYM228 simulations in material physics 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SBIOM122 Cancer 3 22h th.
    SGOGB314_P36479 Physical Partim : Climatology 3 30h th.
    SPHYM150 Physics practice and commitment 3 12h th.

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    Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter
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    SPHYM122 Research project 9

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    Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter
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    IDASM103 Visualisation of information 4 30h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM151 Data Science in Physics 3 15h th. + 10h ex.
    SPHYM152 Programming for data science 2 10h th. + 10h ex.
    IDASM102 Machine learning and data mining 6 30h th. + 15h ex.
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    Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter
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    SPHYM231 Fundamental interactions 3 30h th.
    SCHIM223 Science and Energy 3 24h th.
    SSPSM202 Philosophy of material sciences 3 12h th.

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    Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter
    1 2
    SBIOM122 Cancer 3 22h th.
    SBIOB232_P33829 System Histology 2 15h th.
    SDASM101 Graph mining 5 20h th. + 20h ex.
    SPHYM230 Biological physics 3 30h th.
    SMATM121_P33811 Part 1 : Relativistic gravitation and cosmology 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SMATM121_P33812 Part 2 : Relativistic gravitation and cosmology 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SCHIM109 Scientific Programming for Chemists 4 12h th.
    SPHYM128 Introduction to medical imaging 3 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SPHYM112 Electron microscopy 3 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SGOLB313_P33839 Geophysics 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM111 Natural photonics and biomimicry 3 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SPHYM117 Project Management 3 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SPHYM119 Nuclear Astrophysics 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM225 Radiation detection and radioprotection 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM127 Sounding and physics of the atmosphere 3 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SPHYM124 Experimental optics of surfaces and nanostructures 3 22h th.
    SPHYM126 Programming Methods for High-Performance Computing 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM123 Course of Computational Physics I 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM135 Quantum theory of information and measurement 3 22h th.
    SPHYM137 Simulation of dose deposition on biological targets 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SPHYM215 Spectral profiles 3 22h th. + 8h ex.
    SCHIM102 Advanced Theoretical Chemistry 6 36h th. + 24h ex.
    SCHIM218 Further information on quantum chemistry 2 12h th.
    SMATB304 Optimization 5 30h th. + 22.5h ex.
    SMATM103 Numerical linear algebra: direct and iterative methods 5 30h th. + 30h ex.
    SMATM225 Chaos and determinism 5 30h th. + 30h ex.
    SBIOM134 Protein Structure and Function 3 22h th.
    SPHYM228 simulations in material physics 3 15h th. + 15h ex.
    SGOGB314_P36479 Physical Partim : Climatology 3 30h th.
    SPHYM150 Physics practice and commitment 3 12h th.

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    Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter
    1 2
    SELVM202_P33857 Refresher course in Dutch (level B1) 3 30h th.
    SELVM201_P33760 Further training in English (level B2+) 3 30h th.

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    Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter
    1 2
    SPHYM253 Internship 15

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    Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter
    1 2
    SPHYM205 Master thesis 21

Jury

Deparis Olivier
Chair of the Examination Panel
Henrard Luc
Secretary of the Examination Panel

Les métiers des physiciens

Physicists' professions

A wide range of skills

Thanks to their multidisciplinary training—physics, mathematics, computer science, materials science, physical chemistry, modeling, and data analysis—physicists possess a versatile and highly sought-after skill set. They have access to a wide range of careers, spanning scientific, technological, and cross-functional fields:

  • Industry and R&D: development of innovative materials, quality control, instrumentation, industrial processes, and the energy sector.
  • Hospital and biomedical sectors: medical radiophysics, imaging, biophysics, development of devices and sensors.
  • Digital and data: data analysis, modeling, AI, scientific programming, technology consulting.
  • Finance and insurance: risk management, quantitative modeling, predictive analytics.
  • Environment and energy: air quality, energy transition, renewable energy, environmental monitoring and modeling.
  • Nanotechnology and high technology: quantum devices, advanced optics, micro- and nanofabrication.
  • Research and education: university research, public or private research centers, secondary and higher education.
  • Public sector and institutions: scientific analysis, technical expertise, innovation, energy or environmental policies.

Rigorous, with strong analytical skills, excellent mathematical modeling abilities, and a broad scientific background, physicists contribute to the advancement of knowledge and the development of applications that benefit humanity.

All these high-value-added skills make physicists highly sought-after professionals in the job market.

Developing industrial applications

In industry, physicists participate in the development of high-tech or highly specialized products (such as energy-saving treated glass, safer sheet metal for the automotive industry, cyclotrons for nuclear medicine, etc.). They also hold key leadership roles downstream from research and development, particularly in production departments.

Computer Science and Telecommunications

A solid background in computer science enables physicists to work in IT services companies (consulting) or in any type of user organization (banks, insurance companies,
etc.). The telecommunications sector, in particular, relies on physicists’ expertise in optics, electronics, and information processing.

Sharing a Passion for the Real World

Among the career paths open to physicists, teaching and the education sector in general remain highly promising. More than 15% of our professionally active graduates share their passion for the real world by teaching physics, as well as science and mathematics, at universities or in upper secondary schools.

Physics and Medicine

In hospital settings, physicists work alongside physicians: they help develop treatment plans for patients receiving nuclear medicine care; they ensure quality control of various medical imaging devices; and they also contribute to the development of new analytical technologies.

Expert Physicists

Government agencies rely on the expertise of physicists. They help shape policies in energy, the environment, space, and other fields, for example by providing advice on research priorities.

Pushing the boundaries of our knowledge

According to a survey of our alumni, about half of recent graduates begin their professional careers with experience in scientific research, primarily in academic settings, in Belgium or abroad. 

Other physicists continue their research work at cutting-edge research institutes in highly specialized fields (such as CENAERO, a center of excellence in aeronautics in Gosselies; CERN, the particle physics laboratory in Geneva; SCK-CEN, the nuclear energy research center in Mol; or the Royal Meteorological Institute).

Testimonials from former students 

The research institute where I work focuses on the composition of our atmosphere and air quality. We develop analytical techniques to continuously
measure the concentration of a series of key atmospheric gases using both satellite and ground-based instruments. These activities are conducted in an international context in collaboration with major European agencies such as the ESA and EUMETSAT. 

Christophe — Institute of Space Aeronomy 

Thanks to the work I completed during my PhD at UNamur and the connections I made, I am now a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in California. My time is divided between lab work, analyzing results, and writing scientific papers or proposals. In the lab, the tasks are varied and include both highly technical and highly specialized aspects, such as laser alignment, sample preparation, and data acquisition. Analyzing results involves, in particular, developing code. 

Frédéric — Lawrence Berkeley National Lab 

At UNamur, I gained a solid background in physics as well as a passion for optical phenomena in living organisms, such as their coloration. I am currently conducting
research on the fluorescence of beetles and butterflies. This research is interdisciplinary and allows me to work not only with physicists, but also with biologists, chemists, and engineers. The goal is to understand the influence of color on the behavior of living organisms in order to develop new technological applications inspired by nature.

Sébastien — University of Exeter in the United Kingdom 

After completing my PhD at UNamur, where I gained solid multidisciplinary knowledge, I spent two years doing postdoctoral research at a marine biology institute in San Diego. Now, I work as a business consultant across all areas: market research, sales and procurement reorganization, and support for tenders. 

Annick — H & Z