Biophysics & Structural Biology

Research in Biophysics at UVA utilizes quantitative approaches to understand the physical and chemical basis of complex biological processes. Biological processes are studied at every level and across many fields, from the theoretical to the experimental.

The Biophysics Graduate Program at the University of Virginia is one of the oldest in the country. We employ a wide range of experimental and computational approaches in a highly interactive and multidisciplinary environment.  One of our strengths is in the study of membranes, which are of fundamental importance for biological systems. Membranes compartmentalize the cell, thereby controlling the internal cellular environment.  They are sites for energy transduction and signaling.  Finally, many regulatory processes take place at membrane surfaces.

Students in biophysics at UVA gain a strong foundation in biophysical approaches and analysis through innovative research and didactic coursework.

Research in Structural Biology at UVA seeks to acquire a thorough understanding of biological function by gaining a detailed knowledge of the structure of the macromolecules that comprise the machinery of life.Students interested in Structural Biology pursue research designed to determine the 3D structures of proteins and nucleic acids using a variety of methods, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, x-ray crystallography, electron microscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.  Through the use of these different structural methodologies, we are able to gain unique and complementary information about the structure of macromolecules.  These structures, in turn, provide important insights into the molecular basis of function and provide a framework for the design of experiments to address biological processes involving the macromolecules under investigation.  Structures of medically relevant targets can also play a critical role in accelerating the process of drug design through the use of structure-based lead compound discovery.

Structural biology laboratories at the University of Virginia have established strengths in integral membrane proteins, structural genomics, cell signaling factors, as well as macromolecular assemblies such virus particles and filaments.