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The U.S. Naval Academy
Physics Department

Biophysics

Biophysics is the field that applies the theories and methods of physics to understand how biological systems work.  The questions addressed by biophysics are quite broad (for more information see: https://www.biophysics.org/ what-is-biophysics )*.  At USNA, biophysics is one option in customizing the Applied Physics track.  This option fits well for midshipmen with dual interests in chemistry and physics or physics majors seeking to fulfill the pre-medical requirements.

Facilities: Microtime 200 (Picoquant) - "Time-resolved confocal fluorescence microscope with single molecule sensitivity"

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Professor Truex with a student

Biophysics Professors

Here are the professors that are currently working on research concerning biophysics. Midshipmen are encouraged to reach out to professors to conduct research.

Katherine Truex

truex@usna.edu

Dr. Truex has built the first biophysics laboratory in the physics department.  Using Picoquant’s confocal fluorescence microscope, she studies the dynamics of biological molecules with single molecule resolution.  Combining laser excitation, microscopy, fast electronics, and data analysis, questions such as “how fast does a protein bind to an RNA molecule?” or “how fast does a protein fold?” can be addressed.  Before USNA, Dr. Truex was a postdoctoral researcher at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.  She also has a persistent interest in quantum mechanics and quantum computing from her PhD project controlling electron spins in quantum dots.

Prof Truex
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This is an official U.S. Navy Web Site. URL: https://www.usna.edu   Page Last Updated: 2022-09-01