Molecular biophysics is an interdisciplinary area of research found at the intersection of molecular biology, chemistry, chemical biology, and molecular physics, with an emphasis on a quantitative, molecular-based mode of inquiry in research. Undergraduate students majoring in chemistry and/or molecular biology and biochemistry (MB&B) at Wesleyan can choose to obtain a minor in molecular biophysics.
What You'll Study
- Topics of active research interest in molecular biophysics at Wesleyan include protein structures and folding, molecular models of enzyme mechanisms, protein-DNA and protein-RNA interactions, and the nature of gene expression and regulation at the molecular level.
- As a consequence of recent advances stemming from the human genome project, the field of structural bioinformatics has gained an increasingly important emphasis in the program.
- To achieve a minor in molecular biophysics, you'll need to follow the prescribed major in each department, choosing your elective courses in the area of molecular biophysics from a set of courses offered by participating faculty.
- In addition, you'll be required to do independent research for at least two semesters under the direction of one of the program faculty and will be expected to present (orally or with a poster) at the annual molecular biophysics retreat.
