[MIT Department of Mathematics.]

[Applied Mathematics.]
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[Applied Probability and Statistics.] [Astrophysics.] [Computational Physics.] [Condensed Matter Physics.] [Fluid Dynamics.] [Geophysics.] [Nonlinear Waves.] [Numerical Analysis.] [Quantum Field Theory.] [Theoretical Biology.]

[Theoretical Biology | Physical Applied Math.]

  • Prof. Bonnie Berger
Several members of the department apply the methods of applied mathematics to problems in biology. There are two different thrusts. Research in computational biology applies computational and statistical techniques to problems in protein folding and genomics. Examples of problems addressed include predicting the coiled-coil regions in amino acid sequences and viral membrane fusion proteins, and virus shell assembly. Research in biophysics attempts to uncover the basic mechanisms of biological process through formulating mathematical models. Examples of current problems involve modeling of the mechanics of the inner ear, understanding the basic mechanisms of electroporation (a process in which DNA is injected into cells by large electric fields), and efforts to understand the mechanics of growing yeast colonies. All of the research is done in close collaboration with biologists.


[Main.] [Research.] [Graduate Program.] [Faculty.] [Classes.] [Seminars.] [Contact.]
[Massachusetts Institute of Technology.]