Biophysics & Single Cell Technologies

EPFL leads innovative research in biophysics and single cell technologies, uncovering the fundamental principles that govern life at the molecular and cellular levels. By applying physics-based approaches to biological systems, researchers at EPFL explore the mechanics, dynamics, and interactions of biomolecules and cells with unprecedented precision. Advanced single cell technologies enable the analysis of individual cells in complex tissues, revealing cellular heterogeneity and unlocking insights into development, disease, and immune responses. This interdisciplinary effort is driving breakthroughs in systems biology, diagnostics, and precision medicine.

Key research themes

• Single-cell analysis
• Super-resolution & live-cell imaging
• Microfluidics & lab-on-chip systems
• Biophysical modeling & simulation
• Membrane biophysics
• Gene expression dynamics
• Stochastic modeling of biological systems
• Nanobiotechnology & biosensors
• Statistical and computational biophysics
• Single-molecule tracking & force spectroscopy

Professor with specific keywords

ALTUG Hatice

Nanophotonics, label-free biosensing, single-cell optical analysis, microresonators

BARTH Patrick

Protein dynamics, membrane proteins, structural modeling, signal transduction

BITBOL Anne-Florence

Theoretical biophysics, stochastic gene expression, statistical mechanics, protein evolution

D’ANGELO Giovanni

Lipid droplet biology, membrane remodeling, cell organelle biophysics, imaging lipophilic structures

DAL PERARO Matteo

Molecular dynamics, protein modeling, membrane protein biophysics, integrative modeling

DE LOS RIOS Paolo

Statistical biophysics, protein folding, phase transitions in cells, disordered proteins

DEPLANCKE Bart

Single-cell genomics, regulatory networks, epigenetic landscapes, gene expression variability

FANTNER Georg

High-speed atomic force microscopy, nanomechanics, single-cell imaging instrumentation

GUIDUCCI Carlotta

Biosensor electronics, single-cell electrical profiling, lab-on-chip, impedance spectroscopy

HATZIMANIKATIS Vassily

Computational systems biology, metabolic networks, pathway optimization

MAERKL Sebastian

Synthetic biology, microfluidics, single-cell gene circuits, transcriptional regulation

MANLEY Suliana

Super-resolution microscopy, single-molecule tracking, protein assembly, cytoskeletal dynamics

MERTEN Christoph

Droplet microfluidics, single-cell screening, organoid-on-chip, functional genomics

NAEF Félix

Single-cell transcriptomics, gene regulation dynamics, stochastic modeling, circadian biology

OATES Andy

Embryonic pattern formation, segmentation clocks, live imaging, spatiotemporal gene dynamics

PERSAT Alexandre

Bacterial biophysics, microfluidic assays, cell–environment mechanics, biofilm development

RAHI Sahand

Physical biology, statistical inference in cells, theoretical modeling of developmental processes

ROKE Sylvie

Nonlinear optics, membrane biophysics, vibrational spectroscopy, interfacial water structure

SCHOONJANS Kristina

Metabolic signaling, tissue-specific gene expression, single-cell lipid metabolism

STELLACCI Francesco

Nanoscale materials, supramolecular interfaces, membrane interactions, nanotoxicology

SUTER David

Live-cell imaging, gene expression kinetics, transcriptional bursts, single-cell time-lapse

TANG Li

Live-cell imaging, gene expression kinetics, transcriptional bursts, single-cell time-lapse