Welcome to the Molecular Biophysics Class!

In this course you will learn how the structure and function of proteins can be explained from fundamental physical properties of amino acids and their structure. You will learn how to develop simplified models and reasoning based on physics and free energy to determine what processes are likely to happen, and why proteins look the way they do, and we will apply this while looking at a number of different proteins and systems both inside cells and in their membranes.

The calendar has now been updated for the fall 2021 class round!

Add this ICS link to get all the events (and possible updates) in your calendar app: https://kth.instructure.com/feeds/calendars/user_mDWhwCqyV1VBHsgiZnMNWGvMj7HaUFu3DyZI48ub.ics

Check out the calendar for the seminar events that I do instead of the lectures. I will post the recorded lectures ahead of the corresponding originally scheduled slot, and starting this week I hope to gradually have them out well before that.

Let me know how you like the format with shorter concepts collected into playlists, and/or if there is anything else we should change. After having watched lecture 3 you should also be in good shape to start working on the first hand-in task!

After having taken the course, you should be able to

Explain the physical basis of structure and dynamics in proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids
Use thermodynamics and molecular interactions to explain protein folding and molecular properties of amino acids
Describe and practically use methods to model, simulate and calculate how proteins interact with other molecules
Assess the quality and precision of theoretical and experimental physical methods used to study biomolecular structure and dynamics
Have a basic knowledge of modern bioinformatics tools, and how the informatics approach relates to physics
Combine theory and experimental results in biophysics to draw conclusions about biological processes, and use advanced computational tools in your work

You can view the formal course syllabus including eligibility criteria at the course's KTH student page.

The teaching consists of a series of 13 lectures combined with discussions of the previous lecture, three hand-in tasks, and two lab events. The hand-in tasks have been planned so you have roughly two weeks to complete each of them from the lecture where we cover the concept.

There is no mandatory presence at the lectures, but you must register yourself on the course in LADOK within a week - after that the registration closes. If you have any problems with the registration, talk to the physics student front desk - unfortunately I do not have access to that system as a teacher.
However, remember that this freedom comes with responsibility: If you cannot participate in a lecture you are free to download all material, study both slides and the literature yourself - but the teachers won't be able to give you one-on-one assistance to repeat material covered in lectures you decided not to attend.
The hand-in tasks must be submitted on time. This is important both so we have a chance to correct them and give you feedback on time - so it in turn helps you understand the course better.
You have to be present at the computer lab, but when you are present the T/A and teachers present will approve your work right there - no need to submit any report. If you absolutely cannot attend, you will be allowed to do it on your own, but then the requirement will be a written report instead.

Ready to begin? Start with the Modules page.

SK2534 HT21-1 Molecular Biophysics