Molecular Biophysics Graduate Program at Washington University in St. Louis

Molecular biophysics brings together elements of biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics to describe and understand biological processes. It is a fusion of two scientific cultures: the systems and processes of biochemistry and molecular biology are joined with the principles and quantitative laws of physical chemistry. The goal is to develop a quantitative and predictive understanding of biology at a detailed molecular level.

The Program in Molecular Biophysics, established in 1990, seeks to train students who understand biological processes and who can take advantage of the sophisticated physical techniques necessary to probe those processes at a detailed molecular level. An important feature of the Program in Molecular Biophysics is its emphasis on multidisciplinary, interactive approaches to the study of biological systems. Communication and collaboration among investigators with diverse interests is fundamental to defining the interesting questions and developing the systems which make biophysics a unique synthesis of disciplines. At Washington University, the Program brings together scientists who share the biophysicist's goal of understanding biological processes, yet who work on systems which range from single molecules to whole cells.

For more specific information about the program, or the related Molecular Engineering and Biophysics Pathway, please visit the links at the top of this page or contact us. Additional information can be found on the DBBS website.

For more images of research in the Molecular Biophysics program, visit our Research gallery.