Important information for students outside of Denmark:

This course is primarily for students at the University of Copenhagen and other universities in Denmark. If you wish to participate in this course, but you are outside of DK, please send an email to the course responsible or the contact person to find out if you may be allowed to participate. Do not use the online application, as it will be voided. Thank you.

Skills
The aim of the course is to make the students able to:

- describe biological polymers with continuous mechanics
- explain how entropy drives elasticity of biopolymers
- describe polymerization dynamics and how it drives pushing and pulling
- explain directed motion of molecular motors
- identify the few key parameters that drive cell motility
- apply non-equilibrium theories; including Jarzynski's Equality and Crooks theorem
- describe polymer networks and membranes with continuous mechanics
- classify viscous and elastic regimes for cellular micro-rheology
- derive analytical expressions predicting shapes of biomembranes
- classify the different physical interactions that exist between biomembranes
- derive analytic expressions for the different nano-scale interactions between biomembranes

Knowledge
The course aims at providing an overview of the field of cell mechanics; including single molecule systems such as molecular motors and nuclear acids, as well as the mechanics of membranes and the dynamic filaments of the cytoskeleton. Furthermore, the student will gain knowledge of particular examples from the forefront of experimental biophysics research.

Competencies
The aim of the course is that the student should be able to apply physics to obtain a quantitative understanding of complex biological systems. The course participants will understand how important force and mechanical properties are for the development of life at all scales. The course participants will also gain competences in understanding the principles, capabilities, and limitations of some techniques commonly used to study experimental biophysics. Finally, the students will learn to critically read scientific papers and to disseminate the content to fellow students.