Focus on education in biophysics

Abstract

During its publication history, Biopolymers has emphasized that the study of macromolecules is truly a multidisciplinary endeavor, bridging chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics. In recent years, biophysics and biophysical chemistry have expanded, bringing in the tools and concepts from an ever-growing list of related fields and subfields. Although this growth continues to invigorate and drive the science, it has also generated a unique set of challenges for educators at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. This issue of Biopolymers presents the first four in a series of articles from leading graduate programs addressing current challenges and approaches in the training of the next generation of biophysicists. In this first collection of articles, the biophysics training programs at Northwestern University, Osaka University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Texas – Southwestern Medical School are featured. The authors present their views on how to approach some of the general issues that many training programs grapple with: How do you stimulate interest in multiple areas of science without overwhelming students? Which undergraduate science(s) should serve as the foundation for more in-depth studies in a graduate program? What should constitute a core curriculum for training inbiophysics and/or biophysical chemistry? Should we start teaching students interested in biophysicswhen they are undergraduates or wait until graduate school? How should we take students with diverse scientific training and help them appreciate both the physical science and the biology of cellular processes? To complement these articles focusing on education programs in the field of biophysical science, Biopolymers also will periodically publish in-depth, high-level reviews on core topics in biophysics. In the first of the articles, Jan M. Antosiewicz discusses protonation free energy levels in complex molecular systems. We hope that both series of articles will serve as a stimulus for further discussion and exchange of ideas. As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas. Gary D. Glick Editor-in-Chief, Biopolymers