What is Biophysics?

Biophysics is a branch of the sciences which applies chemistry and physics to the study of living organisms. For example, a biophysicist might explore cell signaling, in which cells transmit chemicals to each other to stimulate various responses. This field is extremely varied, with a number of applications, and new topics in biophysics are constantly being developed and discussed by researchers and other professionals in the field.

In molecular biophysics, researchers study topics at the molecular level, including the structure and function of molecules. Molecules are the building blocks of complex organisms, making the study of molecules important to people who want to understand how entire organisms work. Molecular systems are also very complicated and interconnected, furnishing a huge number of topics for study and exploration, and often one discovery uncovers a multitude of new questions.

In physiological biophysics, also known as classical biophysics, researchers apply physics to questions like how animals move and interact with their surrounding environment. Research can explore things like how animals interact physically with each other, and how organisms interact with water, sand, and other media. These researchers also explore physical systems within organisms, such as the physics of the musculoskeletal system.

Radiation biophysics is a branch of this field which looks specifically at the relationship between living organisms and radioactive materials. It includes research on radiation exposure, how radiation can be used beneficially, and how organisms respond to various radioactive materials. Topics of interest include radiation-induced mutations, cell death caused by radiation, and systemic issues like radiation sickness.

Theoretical biophysics relies on theory and mathematics to explore how living organisms are constructed, how they function, how the interact, and why they develop in the ways that they do. This field is often highly interdisciplinary, studying everything from the molecular to the ecosystem level to learn more about the natural world and the ways in which it functions. There is usually a sound scientific and rational basis for a natural phenomenon, and theoretical biophysics aims to find these explanations and explore them.

Researchers in biophysics often have doctoral degrees and have completed postdoctoral work. This work can be very interesting, especially for people who like to work with the latest lab technology, such as crystallography equipment to explore the structure of cells. It requires a high level of discipline and attention to detail, along with curiosity about the world and the science behind the natural environment.