Stanford University Department of Applied Physics

Experimental and Theoretical Biophysics

Physics-based approaches to complex problems in the life sciences; single-molecule biophysics, neuroscience and evolutionary dynamics.

Featured AP Faculty

Steven M. Block

The Block lab, which carries out research in the area of single molecule biophysics, explores the nanoscience of life. Nature’s own nanoscale machines, which include proteins and nucleic acids, are complex macromolecules that are exquisitely ‘de... More >>
Sebastian Doniach

My group is using small angle x-ray scattering to measure structure-function relationships for small functional RNA molecules such as ribo-switches. This work is being done in collaboration with Dan Herschlag and Rhiju Das of the Biochemistry dept. W... More >>
Daniel S. Fisher

Primary research interests are the dynamics of evolutionary processes. These include theoretical work on general issues and models in evolutionary dynamics, especially quantitative aspects, collaborations with experimental groups on laborato... More >>
Surya Ganguli

Our lab works on theoretical neuroscience, with the fundamental goal of understanding how networks of neurons and synapses cooperate across multiple scales of space and time to mediate important brain functions, like sensory perception, motor control... More >>
Hideo Mabuchi

Experimental and theoretical approaches to complex problems at the interface of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics with dynamical systems, estimation and control: chromatin mechanics and DNA/RNA folding studied by single-molecule fluorescence diff... More >>
W. E. Moerner

We optically probe single copies of fluorescent molecules in solution and in living cells, one at a time, with a combination of single-fluorophore labeling, active-control superresolution microscopy, stimulated emission depletion microscopey, FRET/po... More >>
Stephen Quake

Quake's interests lie at the nexus of physics, biology and biotechnology. Over the past half decade, he has focused on understanding the basic physics and biological applications of microfluidic technology. His group pioneered the development of Micr... More >>
Mark J. Schnitzer

Mark Schnitzer is an Associate Professor with a joint appointment in the Departments of Applied Physics and Biology and is an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He is a faculty member of the Neuroscience, Biophysics, and Molecular I... More >>

Additional Stanford/SLAC Faculty

Daniel Herschlag

The overarching goal of the Herschlag Lab is to understand the fundamental behavior of RNA and proteins and, in turn, how these behaviors determine and impact biological catalysis and biology. The lab takes an interdisciplinary approach, spanning and... More >>
Jan M. Skotheim

Our laboratory works on general aspect of control as applied to the cell division cycle. In spite of our exquisite molecular knowledge, we lack a precise understanding of the regulatory dynamics associated with cell cycle transitions. Surpr... More >>
KC Huang

How do cells determine their shape? How do molecules inside cells get to the right place at the right time? Our group uses a systems biology approach, in which we integrate interacting networks of protein and lipids with the physical forces determine... More >>
William Greenleaf

The positioning and composition of nucleosomes provides an epigenetic layer of information to the genome itself, creating a molecular memory that can help to perpetuate cell-specific gene expression patterns through generations. Indeed it is becoming... More >>
Daniel Palanker

Our research is focused on interactions of pulsed electric field and light with biological cells and tissues. We study laser-tissue interactions and develop their biomedical (primarily ophthalmic) applications. The research themes include: cellular r... More >>
Audrey K. Ellerbee

Our lab is interested in developing novel forms of coherent microscopy for studying cellular dynamics and for assisting in the diagnosis of clinical pathologies. Presently, our lab is mostly focused on advanced technology development of optical coher... More >>
Vijay S. Pande

The central theme of our research is to develop and apply novel theoretical methods to understand the physical properties of biological molecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipid membranes, and to apply this understanding to design novel s... More >>
Aaron Straight

The broad goal of our research is to understand the mechanisms that control eukaryotic chromosome segregation. We are interested in understanding the physical properties of chromatin and how those properties influence the higher order organization of... More >>
Olav Solgaard

In-Vivo Confocal Microscopy - Confocal microscopy is a promising technique for subsurface in-vivo imaging and early detection of anomalies associated with cancer and other diseases. In collaboration with the research groups of Professors Christopher... More >>
Jelena Vuckovic

Single molecule spectroscopy in optical nanocavities; development of nanophotonic tools for early cancer detection More >>
Philip H. Bucksbaum

My interest in biophysics is in the area of quantum control in rhodopsin, and this might also be extended to some other biologically relevant systems in the future. More >>