Physics of Behavior

Undergraduate / Graduate

From stochastic firing of ion channels in single cells to ordered flight paths of birds in a flock, much of what fascinates us about life emerges from the collective behavior of many smaller units. This course introduces mathematical frameworks used to describe, quantify, and predict behavior across scales, emphasizing tools from statistical physics and dynamical systems. Topics will include noise and stochasticity in gene expression and ion channels, neural dynamics from single cells to circuits, random walks and swarming in microorganisms, and movement ecology in larger animals. A central theme will be connecting microscopic variability to macroscopic behavioral patterns. Students will gain hands-on experience with mathematical modeling and simulation in Python and R.