Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
As part of my undergraduate degree in Physics, a thesis was required. The Physics department at the University of California wanted to ensure that each student could communicate technical content, hence technical writing and communication were emphasized. I developed an interest in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, (NMR) and because medical imaging was a growth field in the mid-1980’s my adviser encouraged me to write a thesis on MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging. (NMR is the science behind the technology of MRI.)
You can download my undergraduate thesis at the link below to explore the physics and mathematics of NMR, learn what a spin echo is, and explore some fun quantum mechanics. Please understand that in the mid-1980’s, the Internet didn’t exist, and modern word processors were only on mainframe computers. I did have an electric typewriter but all of my figures and equations were written by hand, which was standard practice in those days. And you will note that my bibliography contains books and papers from scientific journals.
As a side note, if you want to be a thorough researcher please refrain from overuse of the Internet. Spend time in the library reading books and papers from technical journals. Overuse of Internet references sends a message to your teachers and professors that you haven’t really researched your topic.
Medical imaging is a powerful use of STEM and a field I strongly recommend students explore. Here are just some of the STEM concentrations that contribute to medical imaging and diagnostics:
- physics
- chemistry
- biology
- electrical engineering
- mechanical engineering
- chemical engineering
- mathematics
- computer science
