The case for biophysics super-groups in physics departments

TL;DR

The paper advocates for establishing dedicated biophysics super-groups within physics departments to better organize and support the growing interdisciplinary research and teaching activities at the physics-life science interface.

Contribution

It proposes strategies for structuring biophysics groups in physics departments to enhance research, teaching, and departmental value.

Findings

Biophysics activities are increasingly integral to physics departments.

Structured biophysics super-groups can improve research and education.

Departmental organization impacts the development of biophysics.

Abstract

Increasing numbers of physicists engage in research activities that address biological questions from physics perspectives or strive to develop physics insights from active biological processes. The on-going development and success of such activities morph our ways of thinking about what it is to 'do biophysics' and add to our understanding of the physics of life. Many scientists in this research and teaching landscape are homed in physics departments. A challenge for a hosting department is how to group, name and structure such biophysicists to best add value to their emerging research and teaching but also to the portfolio of the whole department. Here we discuss these issues and speculate on strategies.