Biophysics (Ph.D.)
Offered by: Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Program Description
The Ph.D. in Biophysics offers training in the understanding of the fundamental processes of biological systems through the application of biophysical techniques, coupled with molecular biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, immunology, cell biology, physiology, and pharmacology. This program is designed to provide comprehensive insight into the many disciplines that comprise biophysics research and fundamental biophysics. The program includes laboratory rotations and a Ph.D. thesis research project.
Required Courses (9 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BPHY 601D1 | Fundamentals in Biophysics | 3 |
Fundamentals in Biophysics Terms offered: Fall 2025 Theory and practical topics in biophysics, including biophysical methods, light and electron optical theory and methods, structural biology, mass spectrometry, bioinformatics, physics of cells and statistical mechanics. | ||
| BPHY 601D2 | Fundamentals in Biophysics | 3 |
Fundamentals in Biophysics Terms offered: Winter 2026 Theory and practical topics in biophysics, including biophysical methods, light and electron optical theory and methods, structural biology, mass spectrometry, bioinformatics, physics of cells and statistical mechanics. | ||
| BPHY 602D1 | Current Topics in Biophysics | 1 |
Current Topics in Biophysics Terms offered: Fall 2025 Current topics and methods in biophysics. | ||
| BPHY 602D2 | Current Topics in Biophysics | 1 |
Current Topics in Biophysics Terms offered: Winter 2026 Current topics and methods in biophysics. | ||
| BPHY 603 | Effective Science Communication | 1 |
Effective Science Communication Terms offered: Fall 2025 Exploration of different forms of scientific communication with a focus on how to write exceptional proposals and scholarships and give effective presentations. | ||
| BPHY 701 | Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination | 0 |
Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An examination on the ability to conduct independent and original research (prospective comprehensive) that must be passed by all doctoral students to continue in the doctoral biophysics program. | ||
Complementary Courses (3 credits)
3 credits from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIEN 530 | Imaging and Bioanalytical Instrumentation. | 3 |
Imaging and Bioanalytical Instrumentation. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Microscopy techniques with application to biology and medicine. Practical introduction to optics and microscopy from the standpoint of biomedical research. Discussion of recent literature; hands-on experience. Topics include: optics, contrast techniques, advanced microscopy, and image analysis. | ||
| BIEN 535 | Electron Microscopy and 3D Imaging for Biological Materials. | 3 |
Electron Microscopy and 3D Imaging for Biological Materials. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to electron microscopy and 3D imaging. Dual-beam microscopy (FIB-SEM, or focused ion beam – scanning electron microscope); conventional and cryogenic preparation methods for biological materials. Complementary methods such as X-ray diffraction, X-ray tomography, atom probe tomography. 3D image processing and analysis, and the fundamentals of deep learning in imaging. | ||
| BIEN 580 | Synthetic Biology. | 3 |
Synthetic Biology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Engineering principles in biology, BioBricks and standardization of biological components, parts registries, advanced molecular biology tools for DNA assembly, genome editing, high-throughput genetic manipulation methods, construction of biological pathways, strategies for transcriptional control, examples of engineered systems. | ||
| BIOC 604 | Macromolecular Structure. | 3 |
Macromolecular Structure. Terms offered: Winter 2026 X-Ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, Electron Microscopy. Theory and methods used to determine macromolecular structures will be covered. Several practical sessions with hands-on experience for students are included. | ||
| BIOC 605 | Protein Biology and Proteomics. | 3 |
Protein Biology and Proteomics. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Examination of recent developments in protein biology and proteomics analysis. Proteomics, modeling and biophysical approaches to characterize the functional interactions of biological macromolecules; applications to biological problems. Lectures and in-class discussions are supplemented by practical training in proteomics. | ||
| BIOL 592 | Integrated Bioinformatics. | 3 |
Integrated Bioinformatics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 'Post-genomic' bioinformatics. Concepts behind large-scale computational analysis and comparison of genomes/proteomes (and beyond), and the implications for our understanding of the basic processes of molecular and cell biology and the evolution of those processes. | ||
| BMDE 505 | Cell and Tissue Engineering. | 3 |
Cell and Tissue Engineering. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Application of the principles of engineering, physical, and biological sciences to modify and create cells and tissues for therapeutic applications will be discussed, as well as the industrial perspective and related ethical issues. | ||
| BMDE 507 | Formulation and Delivery of Biotherapeutics. | 3 |
Formulation and Delivery of Biotherapeutics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to technologies for formulation and delivery of biotherapeutics. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental principles of formulation, delivery systems, manufacturing, analytical techniques, and biomedical applications. Translational aspects are considered for formulated biotherapeutic products. | ||
| BTEC 555 | Structural Bioinformatics. | 3 |
Structural Bioinformatics. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Fundamentals of protein structure and the application of tools for structure determination, how protein structure allows us to understand the complex biological functions, and how knowledge of protein structure can contribute to drug discovery. | ||
| BTEC 650 | Therapeutic Antibody Design. | 3 |
Therapeutic Antibody Design. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Principles and methodologies of structure-based molecular design, optimization, and development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. Role in therapy and diagnosis; structural features of various types of antibodies; dissection of antibody-antigen interactions; in silico affinity maturation; manipulation of antigen specificity by point mutagenesis; using antibody Fc domain to modulate pharmacokinetics and effector functions; design of antibody conjugates carrying toxic payloads; engineering T-cells with chimeric antigen receptors; evaluation and improving antibody immunogenicity and aggregation; antibody humanization. | ||
| CHEM 603 | Principles and Applications of Materials Characterization. | 3 |
Principles and Applications of Materials Characterization. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Fundamentals of materials characterization methods and their applications in materials chemistry. Topics include static and dynamic mechanical testing, vibrational spectroscopy (Raman and FTIR), surface-based spectroscopies (XPS, Auger), advanced electron microscopy methods, X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (pXRD, WAXD, SAXS). | ||
| PHYS 519 | Advanced Biophysics. | 3 |
Advanced Biophysics. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An advanced biophysics course, with a special emphasis on stochastic and out of equilibrium physical processes in living matter. | ||