Program overview
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary field combining biology and physics. Simply put, it uses physical theories and techniques to study life phenomena. You'll learn how to use tools like X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and fluorescence microscopy to observe the structure and dynamics of biomolecules such as proteins and DNA, as well as mathematical modeling and computer simulations to understand processes like intracellular signaling and energy conversion. Core courses include molecular biophysics, structural biology, bioinformatics, neurobiophysics, and biophysical chemistry. This major is ideal for students who enjoy biology and don't mind physics and math—you don't need to be a physics expert, but you should be curious about the physical principles behind life processes. China has a strong research tradition in biophysics, with institutions like the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, and Peking University at the international forefront in areas such as cryo-electron microscopy and single-molecule imaging. Many labs are equipped with world-class facilities, giving graduate students the opportunity to directly participate in high-level research.