Biophysics is by definition an interdisciplinary science where ideas and techniques from physics are utilized to understand biological systems and phenomena. Biological materials are classed as soft materials and there is a natural synergy between these disciplines. The unique academic structure at UC Merced is especially conducive to research in biophysics with collaborations between faculty across physics, chemistry, biology, applied math and bioengineering disciplines. The biophysics group at UC Merced has a wide variety of research interests including
- macromolecular transport (Gopinathan)
- structure and function of cell membranes (Hirst)
- biopolymers- structure, dynamics and function (Gopinathan, Hirst, Dasbiswas)
- biophotonics (Sharping)
- bacterial physics - growth, division, motility (Gopinathan, Liu)
- molecular motors and intracellular transport (Xu, Gopinathan, Dasbiswas).
