Biological Physics

Professor Pralle and a graduate student at a microscope in the lab. The student holds a vial of the superparamagnetic nanoparticles the team uses to local heat and trigger neurons deep in the brain. Work that has founded a new field, magnetogenetics, and was funded by NIH and HFSP.

Professor Markelz and a graduate student check the optical alignment on the near field terahertz microscope in the Markelz lab. The microscope is a unique facility for characterizing protein structural dynamics which can impact their biological function.

Assistant Professor Banerjee and his PhD students examines a microfluidic chip containing protein droplets. The group studies basic physical properties of intrinsically disordered proteins using optical tweezers, single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy, and microfluidics.

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What is Biophysics?

Biophysics applies approaches and methods of physics to study and model biological systems quantitatively. Exciting discoveries often come out of the sciences that at the interfaces between multiple fields. Physics and biology are two such fields. It takes an adventurous scientist to train in these two fields at the same time. The impact, when they are brought together, leads new and amazing understanding of the living world.

The Biophysics groups at UB develop new computational and experimental tools to investigate structure-function relationships in proteins, study the nanoscale details of the surface of cells effecting their function in health and disease, and use nanotechnology to manipulate signaling deep in the brain. Students learn to work with advanced optical and laser methods, build electronics, develop software and compute models.

The labs at UB utilize cutting edge technologies, such as super-resolution fluorescence-lifetime microscopy, optical trapping, magnetic nanoparticle heating and nanoscale temperature measurements, as well as THz-spectroscopy and single molecule spectroscopy. UB projects address questions of how enzymes function, protein switches operate, neuronal networks control behavior, anesthetics function, or fever is beneficial.

Biophysics News

Study looks at RNA’s solo act on the ever-changing stage of cellular dynamics
11/16/23
RNA, in the limelight for its starring role in cutting-edge vaccine technology, is also a key player in the inner workings of cells.
How might chimeric, droplet-forming proteins contribute to cancer?
6/8/22
A review article highlights the latest science in this field, focusing on protein droplets termed, “ectopic condensates."
These model liquid organelles are viscoelastic fluids. You know, like Silly Putty!
11/16/21
New research illuminates the properties of protein-RNA droplets.
What rules govern the structure of membraneless organelles?
2/8/21
A study in Nature Communications outlines physical rules regulating the architecture of these liquid organelles.
Scientists use protein, RNA to make hollow, spherical sacks called vesicles
6/23/20
Such bubble-like structures — crafted without traditional lipid building blocks — could potentially be engineered to deliver drugs, researchers say.

Who We Are

Priya Banerjee – Molecular Biophysics, Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
Andrea Markelz – Molecular Biophysics, THz-Spectroscopy
Arnd Pralle – New Optical Tools for Cellular Biophysics, Magnetothermal Stimulation for Neuroscience
Wenjun Zheng – Computational Biophysics

Biophysical Society UB Student Chapter

The goal of this chapter is to promote biophysics research and education and to help create a sense of community amongst students interested in biophysics at UB and in the Buffalo region. The chapter engages in outreach activities, organizes educational events and supports biophysics students' activities.

Current Biophysics Graduate Students, Postdocs and Research Staff

Ibraheem Alshareedah, Taranpreet Kaur, and Dr. Wei Wang (Banerjee group)
Yanting Deng, Catherine Luck, Dr. Deepu George, and Dr. Jeffrey Mckinney (Markelz group)
Muye He, Yue Xing, Michael Zucker, Dr. Junting Liu, and Sara Parker (M.Sc.) (Pralle group)
Han Wen (Zheng group)

Biophysics Courses

PHY433/533 - Introduction to Cellular Biophysics this course discusses concepts, theoretical modeling, and experimental methods used in modern biophyiscs focusing on how cells and tissues acquire shape and communicate; book: "The Physical Biology of the Cell". This course will be offered next in Fall 2020. (email apralle@buffalo.edu for further info)

PHY483/583 - Introduction to Molecular Biophysics this course discusses concepts, theoretical modeling, and experimental methods used in modern molecular biophyiscs. This course is be offered in alternating Spring semesters. (email prbanerj@buffalo.edu for further info)

PHY425 - Optics this course discusses concepts, theoretical modeling, and experimental methods used in modern optics. This course is be offered in alternating Fall semesters. (email amarkelz@buffalo.edu for further info)

Recent Biophysics Alumni

Where are the Biophysics alumni of the past ten years now ?

Meet some recent alumni: Heng Huang (PhD) , Junghon Choi (BS)

CAMBI Fellowship

The CAMBI Fellowship promotes the pursuit of interdisciplinary biological physics graduate research, and retention of the best and brightest graduate students in physics. This fellowship is awarded based on a student’s demonstration of excellence in their first year of graduate study, and supplies $8,000 in addition to the recipient's annual stipend. Application in Spring semester.

Eligibility:

Both domestic and international students are eligible for the award. All applicants must:

Demonstrate excellent academic achievement through a minimum 3.5 GPA based on core physics courses.
Demonstrate excellent research achievement through independent study work in biological physics under the supervision of one of the biological physics faculty.
Have completed no more that 9 months of graduate study at the University at Buffalo.

To Apply:

Applicants must submit a one-page proposal on the biological physics research they intend to pursue at UB.

The annual deadline is April 15. Faculty in biological physics will choose the recipient on or before April 30. If chosen to receive this fellowship, the recipient must commit his/her efforts to summer research in biological physics in the Department of Physics.

For further information on this fellowship, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies.

2018 - Muye He and [Pralle] and Ibraheem Alshareedah [Banerjee]
2017 - Isiaka Mansaray [Pralle] and Nathaniel Fuller [Zheng]
2014 - Yanting Deng, Menyang Xu [both Markelz], and Han Wen [Zheng]
2013 - Rahul Munshi [Pralle],
2012 - Weixiang Jin [Pralle]
2011 - Katherine Niessen [Markelz]
2010 - Ben Keen [Markelz]
2009 - Muhammed Simsek [Pralle]
2008 - Huang Heng [Pralle]
2007 - Yunfen He [Markelz]