Biological Physics

Graduate student Luis Palacio measuring biological samples with Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS)

Experimental

Work in progress involves:

• The use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to study structure-function relationships in biological macromolecules (Rao).
• The use of NMR and to study protein structure and dynamics (Kemple).
• Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (Kemple) is applied to investigate the effect of free radicals in biological processes.
• Solid state NMR is used to study biological membranes (Wassall).
• The structure and function of biological membranes is also investigated by X-ray scattering and ion transport (Petrache).

Computational

• Research is performed using computer modeling and simulations of the physical properties of biological macromolecules (Betancourt), and elementary processes in biological systems (Rader).
• There is also ongoing work in modeling the response of cells to cryopreservation (Kleinhans) and modeling membrane channels (Petrache).