Center for the Physics of Biological Function | an NSF Physics Frontier Center

News

Congratulations to Lucy!

Haolin (Lucy) Liu has been awarded the department's Kusaka Memorial Prize in Physics.

Congratulations to Albert Qin

Albert Qin has been announced as one of the 19 recipients of the 2025 Hertz Fellowships in applied science, engineering and mathematics.

The Center for the Physics of Biological Function (CPBF), a joint effort between Princeton University and The Graduate Center at CUNY. We are a collection of scientists working at the interface of physics and biology with the goal of creating a physicist’s understanding of living systems: a physics of biological function that connects the myriad details of life, across all scales, to fundamental and universal physical principles. Our center focuses on new scientific opportunities and educational programs, integrating theory and experiment, research and education.

Biophysics Seminar Series

Mor Nitzan, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Mon, Sep 8, 2025, 12:30 pm1:30 pm
Location
Joseph Henry Room, Jadwin Hall
CPBF Seminar Series: TBA
Mon, Sep 15, 2025, 12:30 pm1:30 pm
Location
Joseph Henry Room, Jadwin Hall
CPBF Seminar Series: TBA
Mon, Sep 22, 2025, 12:30 pm1:30 pm
Location
Joseph Henry Room, Jadwin Hall

Education

Two students looking through slides

A true unification of the physics of biological function requires educating a new generation of scientists.

Explore our Programs

Research

Phase-separated liquid droplets (red) formed in a crosslinked chromatin network (white). Mechanical interactions with chromatin determine the size of droplets

Understanding the phenomena of life means understanding the emergence and integration of essential biological functions. 

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Fellowships

Group of Research Fellows

CPBF Fellows of 2018-2023

We are searching for Center Fellows, both theorists and experimentalists. Applications for 2025 CPBF fellows are now open!

Apply Now

ITS Symposia

Symposium: Physics of Behavior
Fri, Sep 12, 2025, 10:30 am5:30 pm
Location
CUNY Graduate Center (365 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan)

CPBF Fellows, 2025

CPBF Fellows

CPBF Fellows, 2025

Pictured (left to right): Josh Shaevitz, Luca Di Carlo, Colin Scheibner, LaNell Williams, Bill Bialek, François Bourassa, Junang Li

Not pictured: Ahmed Al Harraq, Ghita Guessous, Shengkai Li, Matt Rosenberg