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The Schwarz group
Our areas of expertise are theoretical physics, statistical mechanics, computer physics, theory of soft and biomatter, biological physics and cell biology. In our work, we aim at developing a systems level understanding of cell mechanics and adhesion. Such a framework has to integrate the effects of signal transduction, cytoskeletal dynamics, molecular motor activity, adhesion cluster dynamics, and the extracellular matrix. To this end, we develop models based methods and concepts from mechanics, stochastic dynamics, and non-linear dynamcis. We also collaborate closely with experimental groups working in biophysics, cell biology, molecular biology and developmental biology.
At Heidelberg, the Schwarz group belongs to the Institute of Theoretical Physics, where Ulrich Schwarz holds a chair for the Physics of Complex Systems. Besides being member of the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, he is also member of the Faculty for Life Sciences. In addition, the Schwarz group is affiliated with the Center for Quantitative Biology (BioQuant), the Center for Modelling and Simulation in the Biosciences (BIOMS), the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR) and the Heidelberg Graduate School for Mathematical and Computational Methods for the Sciences (HGS MathComp). Physically, the group is located both at the Institute of Theoretical Physics at Philosophenweg 19 and at the BioQuant at Neuenheimer Feld 267.
From 2008-2009, the Schwarz group belonged to the Institute of Zoology of the University of Karlsruhe, where Ulrich Schwarz held a chair for Theoretical Biophysics. The University of Karlsruhe has recently merged with the Research Center Karlsruhe to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The Schwarz group is still active at Karlsruhe, in particular in the framework of the Center for Functional Nanostructures (CFN).
Last Update: 01.06.2010
