Biophysics
Graduate · Physics
Syllabus focus
Topics typically covered
Standard syllabus
Biomolecular statistical mechanics
- Polymer models: WLC and freely jointed chain
- Protein folding thermodynamics
- Membrane elasticity and Helfrich Hamiltonian
- Allosteric models and cooperativity
- Enzyme kinetics and Michaelis–Menten extensions
Single-molecule and cellular
- Optical tweezers force spectroscopy
- FRET efficiency and conformational dynamics
- Patch-clamp and ion channel gating
- Gene regulation noise and bursting
- Mechanotransduction in cells
Imaging and structural
- Cryo-EM reconstruction pipeline
- X-ray scattering from biomolecules
- Super-resolution microscopy techniques
- MRI physics for quantitative mapping
- Radiation damage in structural biology
STEM / applied
Quantitative medicine
- Radiation therapy Monte Carlo dosimetry
- Ultrasound elastography models
- Neural imaging: fMRI BOLD physics
- Biosensor design and SNR optimization
- Regulatory pathways for medical devices
Computation and modeling
- Molecular dynamics force fields
- Coarse-grained models for large complexes
- Stochastic simulation of gene circuits
- Image analysis with deep learning caveats
- HPC for structural biology
Collaborative research
- Joint grants with medical schools
- Shared facilities: cryo-EM centers
- Ethics in human subjects imaging studies
- Industry partnerships in drug discovery
- Communicating biophysics to clinicians
Study units
Each unit includes a study guide, worksheets, review, practice test, and answer key. One unit is free; subscribe for the full class.
- Biomolecular statistical mechanics
Polymer models: WLC and freely jointed chain
Coming soon - Single-molecule and cellular
Optical tweezers force spectroscopy
Coming soon - Imaging and structural
Cryo-EM reconstruction pipeline
Coming soon - Quantitative medicine
Radiation therapy Monte Carlo dosimetry
Coming soon - Computation and modeling
Molecular dynamics force fields
Coming soon - Collaborative research
Joint grants with medical schools
Coming soon
Notes
Topics reflect common graduate physics core and elective syllabi at US universities. Sequencing and emphasis vary between one- and two-semester treatments.