Nonequilibrium Statistical Biophysics

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Living things must maintain orderly structures and processes to function effectively; organisms avoid the inherently disordered state of equilibrium via constant input of high-energy food and output of low-energy waste. Using such energy efficiently should provide an evolutionary advantage. Theoretical far-from-equilibrium analysis of biomolecules (like ATP synthase, the protein producing the widely-used chemical currency ATP) will uncover physical constraints on microscopic energy conversion and design principles for efficient biological function. This work will illuminate evolutionary pressures, and the knowledge gained will aid the design of molecular devices for sustainable energy harvesting, efficient information storage and manipulation, or targeted drug delivery.