Our PQB track focuses on principles, modeling and simulations as a route to insight in biology. We believe in the importance of coupling theory with experiments and in the importance of evolutionary principles. The PQB track gives all our students − whether from physics, math, computation or chemistry − options for learning the full breadth of the physical-science tools of the trade, including physical model-making, computational structural biology, bioinformatics and genomics, systems biology and dynamics. And, in conjunction with the Stony Brook University's Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, we help our students acquire the strongest possible career and communication skills.

You can choose your PhD research advisor from among our 16 Laufer Center faculty across Stony Brook, Cold Spring Harbor and Brookhaven National Labs.

Stony Brook University has a world-class scientific environment that includes highly ranked departments in the disciplines at the interface between the life and physical sciences, and an outstanding Medical School on the same campus. We have strong ties to neighboring institutions – Brookhaven National Labs and Cold Spring Harbor. Taken together, our three institutions account for 18 Nobel Prizes over the past half century.

The Laufer Center is designed to foster scientific interactions and collaborations, through a state-of-the-art video-conferencing facilities, our own 72-seat auditorium, and our Laufer Hub, a great little lounge for eating, meeting, greeting or just hanging out. We have regular seminars by leaders of physical and quantitative biology from around the world. These get-togethers are a great opportunity to understand new perspectives and to develop your network.

Depending upon your interest (Physics, Chemistry, Applied Math, Computer Science or Biology) there are different academic paths for entering the Laufer Center PQB track. The following departmental PhD programs provide a gateway to the PQB track. For information on applying, please visit the departmental web sites.

If your interest is Physics apply at Stony Brook Physics Department, for Math or Computer Science apply at SBU Department of Applied Math & Statistics, for Chemistry apply at SBU Chemistry Department. And if your interest is Biology apply though one of these departments: Molecular & Cellular Biology, Biochemistry & Structural Biology, or Biomedical Engineering.

Stony Brook University is a thriving seaside academic community in a beautiful wooded New-England-like environment, only a 90-minute train ride away from New York City. We welcome your application for our Laufer Center PhD track in physical & quantitative biology.

In short, you will take some courses that are specific to your home department (Physics, Chemistry, Applied Math & Statistics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, or Biochemistry and Structural Biology). You will take other courses in Physical & Quantitative Biology, such as the following:

S/B BME 558/CHE 558/PHY 558

S/B AMS 537/CHE 559/PHY 559

AMS 535: Introduction to Computational Structural Biology and Drug Design

CSE 549: Computational Biology

AMS 533: Numerical Methods and Algorithms in Computational Biology

In addition, you'll take an introduction and overview of PQB (iPQB), a basic introduction to biology, a journal club, and a course on leadership, career skills and how to communicate science. And, in your first year, you'll do rotations in a few research labs of your choice, to help you choose the lab for your PhD research. This curriculum provides the background you need in biology, even if have not had much before.