Advanced Methods in Biophysics

Course goals

After completion of the course, the student

• has an understanding of the time and length scales relevant in biology on how to probe them experimentally.
• knows the basic principles and key advantages and disadvantages of state-of-the art biophysical techniques.
• understands and can apply key models, such a binding equilibria and cooperativity, random walks and diffusion, to experimental data.

Content

Biophysics uses both experimental tools and theoretical models from physics and applies them to biological problems. This course aims to give a broad overview of key concepts in biophysical methods and how they can critical tests models – and how, conversely, models suggest and inspire experimental tests. We will highlight both fundamental measurement principles, but also applications to topics of current interest. The emphasis of the course is on experimental principles and an understanding of concepts. The aim of the course is to give students a broad overview and working knowledge of key methods and experimental approaches in biophysics, with a focus on molecular and cellular scales. In addition, we will discuss examples from the historical and current literature on the topics.