3 credits
Fall 2025 Lecture Upper Division
Biological applications of physical methods including absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis, FTIR and Raman and CD spectroscopy), fluorescence spectroscopy and super high-resolution imaging, spin resonance methods (NMR and ESR spectroscopy), mass and thermodynamic based methods (thermophoresis, analytical ultracentrifugation, ITC and surface plasmon resonance) and diffraction/structural methods using NMR, cryo-EM and X-ray scattering/crystallography. Each topic is treated at an introductory level with examples from the literature. The course objective for students is to obtain a general understanding of the physical principles underlying each of the techniques, as well as the basic ability to apply the technique to biological systems of interest.
Learning Outcomes1Understand basic biophysical principles and the biophysical approach to research.
2Interpret biophysical data from real experimental examples in the literature.
3Develop presentation skills.
4Practice Team Cooperation.
5Demonstrate an understanding of biophysical methods and how these are used in modern biological experiments.
Prerequisites
Restrictions
made by Purdue students.