Biophysics
	Prof. Dolores Bozovic Interface between Physics and Sensory Neuroscience
	Current research in our laboratory falls at the interface between physics and sensory neuroscience, and focuses at understanding the basic processes of hearing. The first step in our processing of sound is mediated by hair cells, specialized cells of the inner ear that detect mechanical stimuli and transduce them into electrical signals that are passed on to the rest of the brain. These cells display remarkable properties; they can detect displacements smaller than 1 nm, and yet can withstand loud sounds, covering a range of about 6 orders of magnitude. Further, they can amplify incoming stimuli and sustain prolonged oscillations, despite being immersed in a dissipative fluid environment. The mechanisms behind hair cell activity are still not fully elucidated, making hearing one of the least understood senses. Research in this laboratory is aimed at addressing some of these long-open questions.
	Prof. Katsushi Arisaka Ultra-fast Imaging of Live Cells
	Bio-physicists are beginning to address the most fundamental question of dynamical behavior of a single molecule in a live cell. Based on 20 years experience on advanced photon detectors, Prof. Katsushi Arisaka is developing an innovative imaging device, capable of detecting such a behavior with unprecedented sensitivity. An REU student will first evaluate the new device at Physics Department, then will study various biological systems such as neural networks in brains and hair cells in ears at the Medical School. Through this process, a student will learn the exciting new fields of bio-physics and its application.