In the Third Institute of Physics we are three groups working on different aspects of Biophysics.

The Betz-Lab investigates how fundamental physical concenpts are used in complex biological systems to perform the amazingly variable functions and processes observable in nature. Despite the complexity of biological systems, by focussing on physical questions such as force generation as well as changes and adaptation in material properties and fundamental questions in the direction of non-equilibrium systems, it becomes possible to provide not only qualitative understanding of many biological processes, but also to generate mathematical model that allow precise quantitative predictions. Many of these appraoches are directly applicable to medically relevant questions, such as cancer cell invasion, development and muscle function.

Jörg Enderlein’s group develops and employs a broad array of fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy techniques with an emphasis on single-molecule techniques and novel super-resolution methods of light microscopy. These techniques are used to study fast conformational dynamics of proteins and peptides, protein folding, protein-protein interactions, protein aggregation, and the interaction of proteins with water, ions and lipids.

Florentin Wörgötter’s group combines neurobiology with robotics and strives to achieve a better understanding of the general control and plasticity principles in neural motor function, of how human-like manipulations can be recognized, learned, and performed in robotics and of the interaction between activity and plasticity in closed loop control structures.

Research collaborations