Physics of Life

A vintage discussion with Johnjoe McFadden about possible quantum contributions to biological processes, republished as episode 13 of this series.

Dag Hessen discusses scientific questions about life's origins and the possible transition from chemistry to living systems. Conversation in Norwegian.

Johnjoe McFadden discusses possible quantum effects in living organisms, including sensory processes and photosynthesis. Conversation in English.

Investigate mitochondrial DNA architecture and function at LNBio/CNPEM in Campinas with Thayna Mendonça Avelino. Combine coherent X-ray diffraction imaging with STED microscopy, develop multimodal imaging strategies and integrate structural and functional measurements. The fellowship starts in November 2026. Submit a CV, motivation letter and recommendation letter to the investigator’s address on the official call by 12 October 2026.

Study microbes confined within synthetic hydrogels in the Engineered Living Materials programme led by Aránzazu del Campo. Combine imaging, microfluidics and molecular biology to understand microbial behaviour under dynamic environmental conditions, collaborating across materials science and synthetic biology. Responsibilities include student supervision and digital research practices. The appointment is initially two years at EG13 TV-L, with hybrid working; part-time arrangements are possible. Applications close on 15 October 2026.

Develop models of how cells sense and transmit mechanical cues, linking deformable soft materials and cell interfaces to intracellular signalling and mechanosensitive calcium responses. The project is primarily computational, with opportunities to connect models to experiments. Join Vesna Bacheva’s research at the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, located within UMCG. Employment is full time for one year initially, with possible renewal for three further years. Applications close on 16 October 2026 at 23:59 Dutch local time.

Join Filippo Prischi’s group at the Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics for a 36-month appointment. Investigate protein–RNA interactions and regulation relevant to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, including the interaction network of Annexin A11. The work combines biological NMR, SAXS, recombinant protein preparation and cellular approaches. The role is full time, with a start no earlier than 1 November 2026. Applications close on 16 October; the employer may close recruitment earlier if application volume warrants it.

The American Physical Society's Global Physics Summit, the world's largest annual physics research conference, joining the March Meeting and April Meeting; the 2027 edition is announced for April 11-16, 2027 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 71st Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society, held Saturday, February 20 through Wednesday, February 24, 2027 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA, convening the international biophysics community.

Public lecture by Prof. Didier Queloz, FRS (Jacksonian Professor of Natural Philosophy, Cambridge; Professor of Physics, ETH Zurich), organized by the Swiss Physical Society at EPFL, on how exoplanet discoveries transformed understanding of planet formation and the search for life signatures in planetary atmospheres. Free admission for the general public.

Cryopreservation constrains manufacturing and clinical delivery of immune cells such as NK and T cells. DMSO protects against freezing but becomes toxic at physiological temperatures; associated infusion morbidity can require washing or divided dosing that diminishes therapeutic effectiveness. This talk presents an alternative in which reversible, cytocompatible hydrogels encapsulate cells before freezing without DMSO. The speaker examines evidence that encapsulation cushions osmotic stress, suppresses kinetic and phase transitions, and reduces injury caused by extracellular ice growth and fusion. The discussion covers recovery efficiency, function after thawing, control of biological stress responses, and the challenges of extending the approach to clinical-scale cell preservation.