Biophysics
Graduate · Physics
Syllabus focus
Standard syllabus · STEM / applied
Pricing
Graduate-level rates are set on consultation. See the pricing page for K–12 and undergraduate rates.
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
Notes
Topics reflect common graduate physics core and elective syllabi at US universities. Sequencing and emphasis vary between one- and two-semester treatments.