Biophysics is where the mysteries of biology and the intricacies of chemistry meet the rigour of physics to understand living systems. Biophysics applies the same rigorous tools used to describe matter, motion, and energy, as physics, to investigate biological questions. Implementing a physics framework to investigate living organisms provides order to life's “messy” behaviours. 

What Makes Physics a Powerful Tool for Biology? Physics gives us a framework to explain the world in terms of fundamental rules. In biophysics, we apply that same mindset to questions like:
●    How do molecular machines (like motor proteins) generate force and motion?

●    How does the structure of biological molecules determine their function?

●    How do cells process information and respond to stimuli?

●    How do collective behaviours arise in biological systems?

Biophysicists employ the principles of physics, mathematical modelling, and computational tools to describe biological systems. Because of the intricacy involved in living organisms, biophysics research is constantly evolving, uncovering surprising behaviours and pushing the boundaries of technology. By approaching biological questions with a physics lens, biophysics enables fundamental insights into the mechanisms of life and creative problem-solving that power innovative solutions in medicine.
Our biophysics group spans the discipline from pure to applied science, from theoretical to experimental work, and from curiosity-driven science to health-based research. Research projects in biophysics cover a wide array of topics, from microsystems instrumentation, computer simulation and theory of biomolecular behaviours, to the study of structure-properties-function relationships in a wide variety of bio-materials.

Banner image: Structure of the TNF receptor associated factor, or TRAF6, a protein involved in marking other proteins for degradation. Both the solvent-accessible surface and a ribbon diagram showing the secondary structure are shown. Regions are colored by their predicted likelihood to interact with another protein called SOD1, with blue being more likely. The likely interaction regions form a kind of "belt" around the protein. Credit: Steven Plotkin.

Faculty Engaged: Biophysics

Name Position Research
Sabrina Leslie Associate Professor, The Leslie Lab (Michael Smith Laboratories)
Research Field: Single-molecule biophysics
Topics Include: DNA, RNA and protein interactions and dynamics
Therapeutic oligonucleotides
Nano-characterization and analytics
DNA super-structure
Polymers under confinement
Carl Michal Associate Professor, Biophysics Research Website
Research Field: Biophysics and Materials,Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, biological and energy storage materials
Topics Include: Biological Materials, ionic conductors, relaxation and magnetization transfer in brain tissue, NMR Instrumentation & Methods
Steven Plotkin Professor, Biophysics Research Website
Research Field: Theory, Computation, and Experiment
Topics Include: Evolutionary Developmental Biology, Protein Misfolding & Aggregation, Molecular origins of neurodegenerative disease, Genetic networks, Coarse-graining in biomolecular modelling
Joerg Rottler Professor, Condensed Matter Research Website
Research Field: Condensed Matter/Computational Physics, Soft Condensed Matter
Topics Include: Nonequilibrium statistical physics, polymer science, deformation and flow of disordered solids, nanoscale transport phenomena, computational materials physics

Postdoctoral Fellows & Research Associates Engaged in Biophysics Research

Name Position Research
Andrew Leung Research Associate,
Santanu Sasidharan Postdoctoral Research Fellow,