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Biophysics
School of Humanities & Sciences
  • MS
  • PhD
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  1. Home
  2. Programs
  3. Graduate
  4. Biophysics
  5. Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy

PhD
  • Biophysics opens in a new tab
Program Minimum Units
20 Units
University Minimum Units
135 Units
Program Length
6 Years
Interests
Data and Information Sciences, Ecology & Environment, Experimentation & Discovery, Public Health, Technology
Academic Areas
Natural Sciences, Engineering & Computer Science, Medicine

Overview

The Stanford Biophysics Program is an interdisciplinary, interdepartmental training program leading to the PhD in Biophysics. The program centers on understanding biological function in terms of physical and chemical principles. Faculty mentors come from more than 20 departments in the Schools of Humanities and Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, and the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory. Research in the Program involves two overlapping branches of biophysics: applying physical and chemical principles and methods to solving biological problems, and developing new methods.

The Biophysics Program aims to train students in quantitative approaches to biology while developing their perspective in choosing research questions. A balanced academic program is tailored to the diverse backgrounds of the students. The program requires graduate-level coursework in physical and biological sciences, participation in seminar series, and, most importantly, achievement of a high level of proficiency in independent research.

This program is full time, and doctoral students in the Biophysics PhD program are expected to maintain a significant physical presence on campus throughout their graduate studies. This ensures that students have access to advisors and mentors, laboratories, and other resources that support timely progress towards completion of degree requirements. Additionally, being on campus ensures that students are part of the academic and campus community which supports continued professional development.

Requirements

Program Requirements

Required Courses

Complete all of the following course(s):
BIOPHYS 241

Biological Macromolecules

3-5 Units
or
BIOE 300A

Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering

4 Units
BIOPHYS 242

Methods in Molecular Biophysics

3 Units
BIOPHYS 250

SEMINAR IN BIOPHYSICS

1 Units
MED 255

The Responsible Conduct of Research

1 Units

Additional Course Requirements

PhD students in Biophysics must also complete at least four additional graduate-level courses in physical or biological sciences, which must include:

at least 1 literature-based course in biological science, and
at least 1 quantitative course in physical science.

Suggested courses for fulfilling these requirements are listed in detail below.

Complete all of the following requirements:
Complete 1 literature-based course in the biological sciences. The following is a non-exhaustive list of eligible courses.
Complete at least 1 of the following courses:
BIO 222

Exploring Neural Circuits

3 Units
BIO 247

Genomic approaches to the study of human disease

3 Units
BIOE 331

Protein Engineering

3 Units
GENE 205

Advanced Genetics

3 Units
MCP 221

Advanced Cell Biology

3 Units
MI 210

Microbe-Host Interactions in Health and Disease

4 Units
MI 215

Principles of Biological Technologies

3 Units
and
Complete 1 quantitative course in the physical sciences. The following is a non-exhaustive list of eligible courses.
Complete at least 1 of the following courses:
APPPHYS 205

Introduction to Biophysics

3-4 Units
APPPHYS 237

Quantitative Evolutionary Dynamics and Genomics

3 Units
BIOE 210

Systems Biology

3 Units
BIOE 226

MRI Spin Physics, Relaxation Theory, and Contrast Mechanisms

3 Units
BIOPHYS 294

Cellular Biophysics

3 Units
CHEM 273

Advanced Physical Chemistry

3 Units
CHEM 275

Quantum mechanics with spectroscopy examples

3 Units
CHEMENG 300

Applied Mathematics in the Chemical and Biological Sciences

3 Units
CHEMENG 340

Molecular Thermodynamics

3 Units
CHEMENG 466

Polymer Physics

3 Units
ME 235

Biotransport Phenomena

3 Units
PHYSICS 212

Statistical Mechanics

3 Units
PHYSICS 220

Classical Electrodynamics

3 Units
PHYSICS 223

Stochastic and Nonlinear Dynamics

3 Units
PHYSICS 240

Introduction to the Physics of Energy

3 Units
PHYSICS 330

Quantum Field Theory I

3 Units
PHYSICS 332

Quantum Field Theory III

3 Units
STATS 217

Introduction to Stochastic Processes I

3 Units
STATS 219

Stochastic Processes

4 Units
and
Complete 2 additional graduate courses in physical or biological science. The following is a non-exhaustive list of eligible courses.
Complete any of the following course(s):
APPPHYS 205

Introduction to Biophysics

3-4 Units
APPPHYS 237

Quantitative Evolutionary Dynamics and Genomics

3 Units
BIO 222

Exploring Neural Circuits

3 Units
BIO 230

Cellular and Molecular Immunology: An Introductory Course

4 Units
BIO 244

Fundamentals of Molecular Evolution

4 Units
BIO 247

Genomic approaches to the study of human disease

3 Units
BIOE 210

Systems Biology

3 Units
BIOE 214

Representations and Algorithms for Computational Molecular Biology

1-4 Units
BIOE 221G

Gut Microbiota in Health and Disease

3 Units
BIOE 226

MRI Spin Physics, Relaxation Theory, and Contrast Mechanisms

3 Units
BIOE 320

Cryogenic electron microscopy and tomography

2-3 Units
BIOE 331

Protein Engineering

3 Units
BIOPHYS 232

Advanced Imaging Lab in Biophysics

4 Units
BIOPHYS 244

Mechanotransduction in Cells and Tissues

3 Units
BIOPHYS 279

Computational Biology: Structure and Organization of Biomolecules and Cells

3 Units
BIOPHYS 294

Cellular Biophysics

3 Units
BIOS 200

Foundations in Experimental Biology

5 Units
BIOS 202

Understanding Kinetics for Biologists and Biology

3 Units
CHEM 221

Advanced Organic Chemistry I

3 Units
CHEM 273

Advanced Physical Chemistry

3 Units
CHEM 275

Quantum mechanics with spectroscopy examples

3 Units
CHEM 281

Synthesis and Analysis at the Chemistry-Biology Interface

3 Units
CHEMENG 274

Environmental Microbiology I

3 Units
CHEMENG 281

Biochemistry I

4 Units
CHEMENG 300

Applied Mathematics in the Chemical and Biological Sciences

3 Units
CHEMENG 340

Molecular Thermodynamics

3 Units
CHEMENG 466

Polymer Physics

3 Units
CS 205L

Continuous Mathematical Methods with an Emphasis on Machine Learning

3 Units
CS 224N

Natural Language Processing with Deep Learning

3-4 Units
CS 230

Deep Learning

3-4 Units
CS 231N

Deep Learning for Computer Vision

3-4 Units
CSB 250

The Biology of Chromatin Templated Processes

3 Units
GENE 205

Advanced Genetics

3 Units
MATSCI 210

Organic and Biological Materials

3-4 Units
MCP 221

Advanced Cell Biology

3 Units
MCP 222

Imaging: Biological Light Microscopy

3-5 Units
MCP 256

How Cells Work: Energetics, Compartments, and Coupling in Cell Biology

4 Units
ME 235

Biotransport Phenomena

3 Units
MI 210

Microbe-Host Interactions in Health and Disease

4 Units
MI 215

Principles of Biological Technologies

3 Units
PHYSICS 212

Statistical Mechanics

3 Units
PHYSICS 220

Classical Electrodynamics

3 Units
PHYSICS 223

Stochastic and Nonlinear Dynamics

3 Units
PHYSICS 240

Introduction to the Physics of Energy

3 Units
PHYSICS 330

Quantum Field Theory I

3 Units
PHYSICS 331

Quantum Field Theory II

3 Units
STATS 217

Introduction to Stochastic Processes I

3 Units
STATS 219

Stochastic Processes

4 Units
STEMREM 201A

Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine

1-3 Units
STEMREM 205

Bioinformatics for Stem Cell and Cancer Biology

3 Units

Qualifying Exam

PhD students in Biophysics are required to complete a qualifying exam by the end of the second year. This exam consists of a written proposal for dissertation research, and an oral defense of the proposal. The examiners consist of the student’s prospective thesis reading committee, including the thesis advisor and typically two additional Stanford faculty members. The committee will determine if the student is prepared to conduct the thesis research, and may award an unconditional pass, a pass with conditions specified by the committee, or a fail. Additional details are provided in the Student Handbook.

Teaching Requirement

Teaching

Although teaching is not a requirement for the degree, students may teach as part of the financial support commitment and their professional training.

Research Requirement

Research

During the first year, students conduct up to three research rotations in prospective thesis laboratories, with each rotation lasting one quarter. A fourth rotation during the summer may be approved by the Program Director in exceptional cases. As a requirement of the program, students are expected to match with a thesis advisor by the end of the first year, and conduct thesis research for the remainder of the PhD program.

Advancement to Candidacy

Candidacy

Admission to candidacy is a prospective judgement by the faculty of a student’s potential to successfully complete the requirements of the degree program. Qualifying procedures in Biophysics include required coursework, research rotations, identification of an advisor, and successful completion of the Qualifying Exam.

Oral Exam

University Oral Exam

In the Biophysics Program, the oral exam is a defense of the dissertation presented upon the completion of a pre-final draft. Students consult with their dissertation advisor and reading committee members on the timing of the defense. Students are expected to complete this milestone by the end of their sixth year in the program.

Dissertation

Dissertation Requirement

Students are required to submit an approved dissertation that makes an original contribution to scientific knowledge in the field of Biophysics. Students are expected to submit the dissertation in the same quarter that they complete the oral exam, and no later than the subsequent quarter.