Doctoral / PHD Programs in Biophysics

The Biophysics Program offers instruction and research opportunities leading to the Ph.D. in Biophysics. Students admitted to the program may perform their graduate research in any appropriate department.

The Stanford Biophysics Program is an interdisciplinary, interdepartmental training program leading to the Ph.D. Degree in biophysics. The program centers on understanding biological function in terms of physical and chemical principles. Research in the Program involves two overlapping branches of biophysics: the application of physical and chemical principles and methods to solving biological problems, and the development of new methods.

The Biophysics Program aims to train students in quantitative approaches to biological problems, while also developing their perspective in choosing forefront biological problems. A balanced academic program is tailored to the diverse backgrounds of the students. The program requires graduate-level coursework in physical and biological sciences, participation in seminar series, and most importantly achievement of a high level of proficiency in independent research.

The Ph.D. is conferred upon candidates who have demonstrated substantial scholarship and the ability to conduct independent research and analysis in Biophysics. Through completion of advanced course work and rigorous skills training, the doctoral program prepares students to make original contributions to the knowledge of Biophysics and to interpret and present the results of such research.

For information on the University basic requirements for the Ph.D. degree, see the Graduate Degrees section of this bulletin.

A small number of qualified applicants are admitted to the program each year. The graduate course program, beyond the stated requirements, is worked out for each student individually with the help of appropriate advisers from the Committee on Biophysics. GRE general score is not required and GRE subject score is optional.

The recommendations for applying to the Ph.D. Program in Biophysics include:.

Ph.D. students in the Program in Biophysics are required to complete the following course requirements:.

Methods in Molecular Biophysics (offered every other year).

And 4 graduate-level courses in physical or biological science, with.

In light of the benefits to trainee development and the likelihood that the IDP program will be a factor in NIH funding decisions, the Committee on Graduate Admissions and Policy (CGAP) has adopted a new policy requiring all Biosciences Ph.D. candidates and their mentors in the Schools of Medicine and H S to create and discuss the Individual Development Plan (IDP) on an annual basis.

See the Degree-Specific Requirements (Doctoral Degrees) section of this bulletin for University rules concerning doctoral degrees. See GAP 4.8, for further details on the Doctoral Dissertation Reading Committee.

Once a student have chosen a research adviser and begun thesis-related research, s he is required to select a reading committee. The individuals selected by the student serve as an advising and consultative group for the duration of their graduate studies. Students should consult with their research adviser on the selection of their reading committee.

The doctoral dissertation reading committee consists of the principal dissertation adviser and, typically, two other readers. The doctoral dissertation reading committee must have at least three members and may not have than five members. All members of the reading committee approve the dissertation. At least one member must be from the student major department. Normally, all committee members are members of the Stanford University Academic Council or are emeritus Academic Council members.

All examiners must hold a Ph.D. degree (or foreign equivalent). Former Stanford Academic Council members and non-Academic Council members may thus on occasion serve on a reading committee.

Any member of the Academic Council may serve as the principal dissertation adviser. If former Academic Council members, emeritus Academic Council members, or non-Academic Council members are to serve as the principal dissertation adviser, the appointment of a co-adviser who is currently on the Academic Council is required. This is to ensure representation for the student in the department by someone playing a major adviser role in completion of the dissertation. However, a co-adviser is not required during the first two years following retirement for emeritus Academic Council members who are recalled to active service. If the reading committee has four or five members, at least three members (comprising the majority) must be current or emeritus members of the Academic Council.

Audiovisual aids are not required, but may be useful if available.

Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree is granted by the major department following a student successful completion of qualifying procedures. Students are expected to be admitted to candidacy by the end of the second year of doctoral study. Candidacy is valid for five years, subject to satisfactory academic progress.

Students with than one active graduate degree program must complete residency units between all active completed degree programs in order to apply for TGR status. See the Residency Policy for Graduate Students section of this bulletin for additional information.

The student must prepare a dissertation proposal defining the research to be undertaken, including methods of procedure. This proposal should be submitted by Autumn Quarter of the third year, and it must be approved by a committee of at least three members, including the principal research adviser, and at least one member from the Biophysics Program. The candidate must defend the dissertation proposal in an oral examination. The dissertation reading committee normally evolves from the dissertation proposal review committee. The student must present a Ph.D. dissertation as the result of independent investigation that expresses a contribution to knowledge in the field of biophysics. The student must pass the University oral exam, taken only after the student has substantially completed the dissertation research. The examination is preceded by a public seminar in which the research is presented by the candidate.

Grade toward the fulfillment of degree-program requirements and or alter program requirements as appropriate.

The Biophysics Program is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the adviser and the advisee. Both the adviser and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

Before advancing to candidacy for the degree, students are expected to identify a group of at least three thesis advisers (also known as the dissertation reading committee), including a primary thesis adviser. The thesis advisers are selected by the student on the basis of expertise relevant to the thesis project, after undertaking two to three rotations of approximately one quarter in length each.

As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.

For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the Graduate Advising section of this bulletin.

Chris Garcia (Molecular Cellular Physiology, Structural Biology).

Weis (Structural Biology, Molecular Cellular Physiology).

BIOPHYS 232. Advanced Imaging Lab in Biophysics.

The efficient transport of energy, mass, and momentum is essential to the normal function of living systems. Changes in these processes often result in pathological conditions. Transport phenomena are also critical to the design of instrumentation and devices for medical applications and biotechnology. The course aims to provide an introduction to the integrated study of transport processes and their biological applications. It covers the fundamental driving forces for transport in biological systems and the biophysics across a range of length scales from molecules, cells, tissues, organs to whole organisms. Topics covered include chemical gradients, electrical interactions, fluid flow and mass transport. Same as: ME 235.

BIOPHYS 242. Methods in Molecular Biophysics.

Experimental methods in molecular biophysics from theoretical and practical standpoints. Emphasis is on X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and fluorescence spectcroscopy. Same as: SBIO 242.

Mechanical cues play a critical role in development, normal functioning of cells and tissues, and various diseases. This course will cover what is known cellular mechanotransduction, or the processes by which living cells sense and respond to physical cues such as physiological forces or mechanical properties of the tissue microenvironment. Experimental techniques and current areas of active investigation will be highlighted. This class is for graduate students only. Same as: BIOE 283, ME 244.

Required of Biophysics graduate students. May be repeated for credit.

BIOPHYS 311. Biophysics of Multi-cellular Systems and Amorphous Computing.

BIOPHYS 392. Topics in Molecular Biophysics: Biophysics of Functional RNA (BIOPHYS 392).

BIOPHYS 399. Directed Reading in Biophysics.

Program in Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology, and Biophysics.

Biophysics research plays a leading role in uncovering the beauty and intricacies of how biology works. Coupling math and physics with biochemistry, the strength of biophysics lies in analyzing biological systems in a quantitative fashion. In the Thomas C. Jenkins Biophysics, we use cutting edge experimental techniques and modeling to gain mechanistic insight into a wide range of key biological questions.

The Jenkins Biophysics Program is designed for students interested in obtaining a doctorate in biophysics. This program is financially supported through departmental funds, and therefore can support international students who are ineligible for NIH training grants.

As a theorist, I am excited to be in the field of biophysics, as it provides a rich of experimental phenomena that benefit from a rigorous application of quantitative frameworks.

Chia-Chen Liu, Melissa E. Murray, Xia Li, Na Zhao, Na Wang, Michael G. Heckman, Francis Shue, Yuka Martens, Yonghe Li, Ana-Caroline Raulin, Cassandra L. Rosenberg, Sydney V. Doss, Jing Zhao, Melissa C. Wren, Lin Jia, Yingxue Ren, Tadafumi C. Ikezu, Wenyan Lu, Yuan Fu, Thomas Caulfield, Zachary A. Trottier, Joshua Knight, Yixing Chen, Cynthia Linares, Xue Wang, Aishe Kurti, Yan W. Asmann, Zbigniew K. Wszolek, Glenn E. Smith, Prashanthi Vemuri, Kejal Kantarci, David S. Knopman, Val J. Lowe, Clifford R. Jack Jr., Joseph E. Parisi, Tanis J. Ferman, Bradley F. Boeve, Neill R. Graff-Radford, Ronald C. Petersen, Steven G. Younkin, John D. Fryer, Hu Wang, Xianlin Han, Carl Frieden, Dennis W. Dickson, Owen A. Ross, Guojun Bu (2021). Sci Transl Med. 2021 Sep 29 13(613):eabc9375. doi: 10.1126 scitranslmed.abc9375. Epub 2021 Sep 29.

Kober, Melissa D. Stuchell-Brereton, Colin E. Kluender, Hunter B. Strickland, Deborah F. Steinberg, Samantha S. Nelson, Berevan Baban, David M. Holtzman, Carl Frieden, Jennifer Alexander-Brett, Erik D. Roberson, Yuhua Song, Tom J. Brett (2020). Alzheimers Dement. doi: 10.1002 alz.12194. Online ahead of print.

Mathivanan Chinnaraj, David A. Barrios, Carl Frieden, Tomasz Heyduk, Robert Flaumenhaft, Nicola Pozzi. Chembiochem. 2020 Aug 28. doi: 10.1002 cbic.202000537. Online ahead of print.

Ruben, Prafull S. Gandhi, Zhiwei Chen, Sarah K. Koester, Gregory T. DeKoster, Carl Frieden, Enrico Di Cera. J Biol Chem. 2020 Jun 12 295(24):8227-8235. doi: 10.1074 jbc.RA120.013419. Epub 2020 May 1.

Petroff 2nd, Ailing Tong, Lawrence J. Chen, Gregory T. Dekoster, Farha Khan, Jeff Abramson, Carl Frieden, Wayland W. Cheng (2020). 2020 May 5 92(9):6622-6630. doi: 10.1021 acs.analchem.0c00454. Epub 2020 Apr 14.

Frieden C., Wang H., Ho C.M.W. (2017). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Jun 13 114(24):6292-6297. Epub 2017 May 30.

Wang H., Shu Q., Frieden C., Gross M.L. (2017). Biochemistry. 2017 Jun 13 56(23):2865-2872. doi: 10.1021 acs.biochem.7b00241. Epub 2017 May 26.

Mondal T., Wang H., DeKoster G.T., Baban B., Gross M.L., Frieden C. Biochemistry. 2016 May 10 55(18):2613-21. doi: 10.1021 acs.biochem.6b00324. Epub 2016 Apr 27.

Physiology, Biophysics Systems BiologyToggle Physiology, Biophysics Systems Biology menu options.

Weill Cornell Graduate School Physiology Biophysics System Biology.

Physiology, Biophysics Systems Biology graduate program at WCGS is designed to engage students with research at the forefront of biomedical engineering sciences: physiology, the functions of cells, tissues, and organs biophysics, the application of principles of physics to biological processes and systems, the complex interactions between components of a biological system. The outlook of the education and research program is quantitative, based on state of the art approaches in genomics, bioinformatics and computational biology, major areas of molecular and cellular biophysics (including fluorescence microscopy and single molecule imaging, crystallography, electrophysiology and membrane systems, stem cells, and computational simulations of macromolecular systems), computational and systems neuroscience, organogenesis and development, learning, memory, and behavior.

Graduate students in PBSB participate in the design and evolution of these approaches and in their innovative application to state-of-the-art research in human structure and function. The course of study in the PBSB program is organized into modular courses and seminars offering education at the conceptual level, as well as in the experimental and computational tools of the component disciplines (physiology, biophysics and systems biology), and emphasizes quantitative methods and approaches.

We are pleased to announce that in the Fall 2021, Weill Cornell Medicine is expanding its PhD program in Physiology, Biophysics, and Structural biology (PBSB) to a new site at Houston Methodist Academic Institute, the education and research arm of Houston Methodist. This partnership extends the 16-year academic affiliation between WCM and Houston Methodist to provide graduate training.

The application requires a personal statement describing the student background and specific interest in the PBSB program. Applicants are not required to take the General Graduate Record Examination. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL examination.

The ACE consists of two parts: a uniform written exam and an oral exam, which includes discussion of a written research proposal. Students are expected to take this exam by the end of June of their second year. The exam provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate that they have attained the requisite breadth of knowledge to continue in the PhD program and are prepared to undertake full-time thesis research.

The culmination of the student successful progression through the program is the final examination (the defense ) and certification by the Special Committee that the thesis represents an official piece of research that satisfies the requirements of the Graduate School for a PhD degree.

There is an incredible diversity of research at Weill Cornell, and all completely accessible to graduate students.

Weill Cornell Medicine Graduate School of Medical Sciences1300 York Ave.

The Biophysics PhD program offers the opportunity for inter and multi-disciplinary research in physics, chemistry, biochemistry, and biological, and computational sciences in an exploration of our experimental and theoretical understanding of how biology works at the molecular level.

Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution one must show conferral of a bachelor degree. (Due upon enrollment).

Education and training of doctoral students is a core mission of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics.

At any given time approximately 50 graduate students are conducting doctoral research in laboratories within the department. After completion of the doctorate, the majority of students go on to postdoctoral positions at leading research institutions.

Prospective students interested in research at the department laboratories most commonly apply through the Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Studies or the Program in Neurobiology and Behavior, both of which are within the Coordinated Doctoral Programs.

The program presents students with a unique opportunity to obtain individualized training in basic cell and molecular biology, microbiology, structural biology, biophysics, genetics, immunology, neurobiology, and computational biology, as well as translational biomedical disease-related research.

The Program in Neurobiology and Behavior is founded on the principle that the study of the biological roots of behavior is essential for an understanding of animal and human behavior, as well as for insights into the causes and cures of nervous system disorders. The program offers a diverse set of research and academic experiences that reflect the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience.

The Biophysics Graduate Group is an interdisciplinary PhD program hosted by the California Institute for the Biosciences (QB3). Our program trains graduate students for careers at the interface of the biological and physical sciences. This interdisciplinary group provides an opportunity for interested students to receive training leading to the PhD in Biophysics.

The Program in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Michigan is an interdisciplinary gateway program that coordinates admissions and the first year of Ph.D. studies for 14 department programs, including Biophysics.

PIBS offers you the flexibility and convenience of applying to any of our participating programs through one application. We invite you to thoroughly explore Biophysics and the other 13 programs before selecting your top preferences when you apply.

Initiated in 1949, the Biophysics Ph. D. program is one of the first such programs in the world. Beer, H.R. Crane, C. Levinthal, H.M. Randall, G. Sutherland, C. Thomas, and R.

To provide graduate students with both intellectual and technical training in biophysics to prepare them for a career in biophysical research and teaching. This is achieved by providing our students with a solid working knowledge in three key areas: physics, chemistry, and biology.

Students are offered the opportunity to conduct research in a variety of areas of contemporary biophysics, including:.

Biophysics promotes interdisciplinary partnerships, and the opportunity to work in this environment of a scientific melting pot encourages our students to learn each other’s scientific language and acquire the essential skill sets to become biophysicists.

The Program provides coursework in three areas: the physical sciences, the biological sciences, and biophysics. All students take four core courses in biophysics: Biophysical Chemistry (theory, methods, and techniques), Intro to the Biophysics Lab and Professional Development, as well as 7 terms of Biophysics Seminar and two additional cognates electives.

Although there are no formal teaching requirements, as part of their training students are strongly encouraged to teach at least one semester as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) in Biophysics, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry or Physics.

Two main student constituencies are served by the Biophysics IDP: students with a training in the physical sciences (physics, chemistry, engineering, and mathematics) who wish to apply their expertise and perspectives to biological systems, and students with background in the life sciences (biology, biochemistry, molecular biology) who wish to incorporate the powerful tools of the physical sciences in their work and or to apply a quantitative approach to basic biomedical research.

Biophysics begins each year with an exciting Program Retreat jam-packed with student presentations and special break-out sessions. Biophysics hosts weekly tea socials, as well as many other student appreciation events. Biophysics has an active Graduate Student Council which organizes social and professional development events throughout the year as well as assisting in planning the annual Biophysics student symposium in the spring.

RESEARCH INTERESTBiochemistry, Biophysics, Cancer Biology, Molecular Medicine, Structural Biology.

Several research programs are undertaking in my lab with a focus of epigenetic regulation of HIV latency, including molecular mechanisms of HIV replication and latency establishment, host-virus interaction, innate immune response to viral infection, and the role of microbiome in the gut health. Extensive in vitro HIV latency models, ex vivo patient latency models, and in vivo patient and rhesus macaque models of AIDS are carried out in my lab. Multiple tools are applied in our studies, including RNA-seq, proteomics, metabolomics, highly sensitive digital droplet PCR and tissue RNA DNAscope, digital ELISA, and modern and traditional molecular biological and biochemical techniques. We are also very interested in how non-CD4 expression cells in the Central Nervous System (CNS) get infected by HIV-1, how the unique interaction among HIV-1, immune cells, vascular cells, and neuron cells contributes to the initial seeding of latent reservoirs in the CNS, and whether we can target the unique viral infection and latency signaling pathways to attack HIV reservoirs in CNS for a cure remission of HIV-1 and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). strategy, such as histone deacetylase inhibitors and ingenol family compounds of protein kinase C agonists, and latency enforcing agents for deep silencing of latent HIV-1. Several clinical and pre-clinical studies are being tested to evaluate their potential to eradicate latent HIV reservoirs in vivo.

RESEARCH INTERESTBiochemistry, Biomaterials, Biophysics, Cell Biology, Cell Signaling, Drug Delivery, Drug Discovery, Nanomedicine, Pathology, Physiology, Systems Biology, Translational Medicine.

RESEARCH INTERESTBiochemistry, Biophysics, Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, Structural Biology.

PHD PROGRAMBiochemistry Biophysics, Genetics Molecular Biology.

With an emphasis on chromatin biology and cancer epigenetics, our group focuses on mechanistic understandings of how chemical modifications of chromatin define distinct patterns of human genome, control gene expression, and regulate cell proliferation versus differentiation during development, and how their deregulations lead to oncogenesis. Multiple on-going projects employ modern biological technologies to: 1) biochemically isolate and characterize novel factors that bind to histone methylation on chromatin, 2) examine the role of epigenetic factors (chromatin-modifying enzymes and chromatin-associated factors) during development and tumorigenesis using mouse knockout models, 3) analyze epigenomic and transcriptome alternation in cancer versus normal cells utilizing next-generation sequencing technologies, 4) identify novel oncogenic or tumor suppressor genes associated with leukemia and lymphoma using shRNA library-based screening. We are also working together with UNC Center of Drug Discovery to develop small-molecule inhibitors for chromatin-associated factors as novel targeted cancer therapies.

We are especially interested in deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying aberrant signaling events that contribute to tumorigenesis, mediated through protein modifications and protein-protein interactions. Understanding these events may lead to identification of novel drug targets and provide new treatment strategies to combat human cancer.

Biophysics, Structural Computational Biology (BSCB) PhD Program.

The Biophysics, Structural Computational Biology (BSCB) program at the University of Rochester Medical Center is one of the oldest Biophysics PhD programs in the country and it continues to offer a record of excellence in research and teaching. The students trained in the program typically go on to positions of leadership in academia and industry.

The Biophysics, Structural Computational Biology Program is primarily designed for students interested in obtaining a Ph.D. in Biophysics. It operates within the broader context of the program for Graduate Education in Biomedical Sciences of the University of Rochester Medical Center. Students interested in obtaining a Ph.D. in Biophysics should BSCB program for admission to graduate studies at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Major features of the Biophysics, Structural Computational Biology (BSCB) program at the University of Rochester:.

Diverse research programs at the forefront of scientific knowledge. Research areas include: Cellular and Membrane Biophysics, Genomics, Macromolecular Folding Design, Membrane Proteins, Nucleic Acid Structure Function, Protein Structure Function. Each research area has several active laboratories.

Programs of instruction tailored for students with backgrounds ranging from pure physics to biochemistry and biophysics.

An excellent history of placing graduates in academic and industrial positions.

Information on core courses, electives, lab rotations to guide you through our program.

We support and guide trainees in several areas of research. Browse research by current program trainees.

March 6, 2023Study: Yi-Tao Yu, Paul Boutz Harness Power, Precision of RNA to Make Mutations Invisible.