Biophysics (BIPH)
Graduate Degree Program
College: Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences
Abstract
The Biophysics Program in the Institute for Physical Science and Technology offers Ph.D. degrees in Biophysics. It is affiliated with the College of Computer, Mathematical, & Natural Sciences and the College of Engineering.
The Maryland Biophysics Program aims to train graduate students in the use of theoretical, computational, and experimental methods to gain quantitative insights into biological systems. The post genomic era is bringing tools for unprecedented characterization and control of living systems. To fully harness these tools for quantitative insights in biology, biomedicine, and bioengineering requires expertise from a number of disciplines. Thus, our program includes faculty from Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics, Materials Science, and Bioengineering. The Biophysics Program is open to students with undergraduate degrees in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics, Computational Science, or Engineering. Because student backgrounds are diverse, we tailor the curriculum to suit the needs of the individual.
Research areas include Computational Biology and Complex Networks; Molecular Simulations; Cell Mechanics and Motility; Biological Machines and Molecular Motors; Protein and RNA Folding; Experimental and Computational Neuroscience; Membrane Biophysics; Machine Learning in Biology; Statistical Thermodynamics; Mechanobiology; Cellular dynamics in immune signaling and cancer.
The core courses that include (but are not limited to) Statistical Mechanics, Chemical Thermodynamics, Biophysical Chemistry, Membrane Biophysics and Cell Biology constitute the basis for further specialization.
Financial Assistance
TAships, RAships, Fellowships, arrangements for support from the National Institutes of Health.
Contact
Jeffery Klauda
Biophysics Program Co-Director
1227A Chemical & Nuclear Engineering Building
4418 Stadium Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.1320
Email: jbklauda@umd.edu
Arpita Upadhyaya
Biophysics Program Co-Director
1151 Physical Sciences Complex
4296 Stadium Drive
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.9939
Email: arpitau@umd.edu
Jessica Crosby
Program Coordinator
2123 Institute for Physical Science & Tech
8108 Regents Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.9307
Email: jcrosby@umd.edu
Website: http://www.marylandbiophysics.umd.edu
Courses: BCHM BIOE BIOL BIPH BSCI CHEM ENMA PHYS
Relationships: Chemical Physics (CHPH), Chemistry (CHEM), Materials Science and Engineering (ENMA), Physics (PHYS), Fischell Department of Bioengineering (BIOE)
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
- Statement of Purpose: In addition to the questions requested by the Graduate School, applicants should include their interests in the University of Maryland’s Biophysics Ph.D. program
- Transcript(s)
- TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
- Letters of Recommendation (3)
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (optional)
- GRE Subject (optional)
- CV/Resume
- Writing Sample(s) (optional, up to 3)
- Description of Research/Work Experience
Students dedicated to a career in experimental or theoretical biophysics are sought. For more admissions information or to apply to the program, please visit our Graduate School website: https://gradschool.umd.edu/admissions
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| Type of Applicant | Fall Deadline |
|---|---|
| Domestic Applicants | |
| US Citizens and Permanent Residents | January 7, 2025 |
| International Applicants | |
| F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas; A,E,G,H,I and L visas and immigrants | January 7, 2025 |
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Other Deadlines: marylandbiophysics.umd.edu
Program Website: marylandbiophysics.umd.edu/admissions/
Application Process: gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/application-process/step-step-guide-applying
Incoming students are provided with private desk space and up to date computer facilities. A Biophysics Seminar is run on the average of once a week generally given by visiting scholars. For those students electing to take the Seminar for credit (one credit is offered) must sign in each week. Three-person committee to mentor students. Symposia consisting of about six nationally and internationally known scholars are conducted once a year on various topics. Seminars and Symposia are well attended by students, postdocs, faculty, and visitors from local institutions such as NIH and Johns Hopkins.
| Last Name | First/Middle Name | Graduate Faculty Status | Academic Credentials | Positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aranda-Espinoza | Jose Helim | Full Member | B.S., University of Zacatecas, Mexico 1990; M.S., University of San Luis Potosi, Mexico 1993; Ph.D., University of San Luis Potosi, Mexico 1998. | Associate Chair, Bioengineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Associate Professor, Bioengineering Associate Professor, Biophysics Affiliate Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering |
| Briber | Robert M. | Full Member | B.S.,Cornell University, 1979; M.S., University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 1981; Ph.D., 1984. | Professor, Materials Science and Engineering Professor, Biophysics Professor, Chemical Physics |
| Butts | Daniel | Full Member | B.A., Oberlin College, 1994; Ph.D., University of California Berkeley, 2000. | Professor, Biophysics Associate Professor, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation Associate Professor, Neurosciences and Cognitive Science Associate Professor, Biological Sciences |
| Dayie | Kwaku | Full Member | B.A. Physics,1990, Hamilton College; PhD., Biophysics, 1996, Harvard University | Associate Professor, Biochemistry Associate Professor, Biophysics Associate Professor, Chemistry |
| Duncan | Gregg | Full Member | Associate Professor, Bioengineering Assistant Professor, Biophysics | |
| Feijo | Jose | Full Member | Ph.D., University of Lisbon | Professor, Biological Sciences Professor, Biophysics |
| Fushman | David | Full Member | M.S., University of Kazan, 1978; Ph.D., University of Kazan, 1985. | Associate Director, Biophysics Professor, Biochemistry Professor, Chemical Physics Professor, Chemistry |
| Girvan | Michelle | Full Member | B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1999; Ph.D., Cornell University, 2003; Ph.D., 2004. | Associate Professor, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation Associate Professor, Physics Associate Professor, Biophysics |
| Huang | Huang Chiao | Full Member | Associate Professor, Bioengineering Assistant Professor, Biophysics | |
| Jarzynski | Christopher | Full Member | Professor, Physics Professor, Biophysics Professor, Chemical Physics Professor, Chemistry | |
| Klauda | Jeffery | Full Member | Ph.D. University of Delaware | Associate Professor, Biophysics Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering Graduate Director, Chemical Engineering |
| Levy | Doron | Full Member | B.Sc., Tel-Aviv University,Israel 1991 M.Sc., Tel-Aviv University,1994 Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University,1997 | Distinguished Scholar-Teacher, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation Distinguished Scholar-Teacher, Mathematics Professor, Mathematics Professor, Biophysics |
| Losert | Wolfgang | Full Member | M.S., University of Munich, 1995; Ph.D., City College of New York, 1998 | Professor, Physics Professor, Biophysics Associate Professor, Chemical Physics Affiliate Professor, Bioengineering |
| Matysiak | Silvina | Full Member | Ph.D., Rice University, 2007 | Associate Professor, Bioengineering Assistant Professor, Biophysics |
| Papoian | Garegin | Full Member | B.S.,1994,Russian Academy of Science; Ph.D., 1999, Cornell University | Director, Chemical Physics Associate Professor, Biophysics Associate Professor, Chemistry |
| Scarcelli | Giuliano | Full Member | Assistant Professor, Biophysics | |
| Speer | Colenso | Full Member | Ph.D., University of California, Davis, 2010 | Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences Assistant Professor, Biophysics |
| Stroka | Kimberly | Full Member | Associate Professor, Bioengineering Assistant Professor, Biophysics | |
| Sukharev | Sergei I. | Full Member | M.S., Russia, 1980; Ph.D., M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1987. | Director, Biophysics Professor, Biological Sciences |
| Tiwary | Pratyush | Full Member | n/a, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation Assistant Professor, Biochemistry Assistant Professor, Biophysics Assistant Professor, Chemistry | |
| Upadhyaya | Arpita | Full Member | B.E. & M.S., Birla Institute of Technology and Science, India, 1994; Ph.D., University of Notre Dame, 2000; | Associate Professor, Physics Assistant Professor, Biophysics Assistant Professor, Chemical Physics |
| Weeks | John D. | Full Member | B.A., Harvard University, 1965; Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1969. | Distinguished University Professor, Biophysics Distinguished University Professor, Chemical Physics Distinguished University Professor, Chemistry Affiliate Professor, Physics |