This Biophysics Week, we're highlighting some of the outstanding members of our Student Chapter program. Today, we'll hear from Kevin Yang, a Biophysics PhD student at the Student Society of Biophysics in the University of California, Riverside.
What inspired you to study biophysics?
I have always been fascinated by the origins of the life and the source of human self-cognizance. During my journey, I realize that life, just like all matter, is grounded in physical principles that give rise to mind and consciousness. Many of the technologies that enable modern biological research are rooted in physics—for example, NMR arises from our understanding of spin interactions. After studying physics as an undergraduate, I became convinced that some of the most exciting discoveries lie at the intersection of physics and biology. This realization naturally led me to pursue biophysics.
What do you think makes the study of biophysics unique?
The distinction between life and non-life has been a central question throughout intellectual history. Biophysics sits precisely at this boundary, where concepts from physics and biology meet and often challenge each other. This intersection has led to remarkable and sometimes unexpected advances—for example, recent breakthroughs in physics have contributed directly to the development of modern artificial intelligence. The synergy between these fields often produces results that are greater than the sum of their parts, and that sense of discovery is what makes biophysics uniquely exciting to me.
What skill have you learned in your studies that you find useful in other aspects of your life?
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, I had the opportunity to work on a project analyzing the resilience of healthcare systems. My role involved evaluating hospital performance using historical data and drawing meaningful inferences from complex datasets. This experience strengthened my ability to think quantitatively, extract insight from data, and approach real-world problems with a structured, analytical mindset—skills that I continue to apply beyond research.
What is your dream career?
I am interested in pursuing a career in either research and development or policy analysis. While these paths may seem quite different, I see them as sharing a common foundation: both involve breaking down complex real-world problems into abstract concepts and data, and then building toward informed solutions and consensus. Whether in a scientific or policy context, I am driven by the opportunity to apply rigorous thinking to meaningful challenges.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am most proud of developing a research approach that connects seemingly different systems through a common framework. In my work, I study trajectories—whether it is the assembly pathways of viral capsids, the frequency dynamics of bee acoustic signals, or the evolution of cellular signaling networks in phase space. Being able to apply similar quantitative and computational tools across these domains has helped me uncover patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed. More than any single result, I value this ability to bridge disciplines and build a coherent way of thinking about complex biological systems.
What advice do you have for someone thinking about studying biophysics?
Do not be afraid to build depth in one field while exploring others. Biophysics thrives at the interface of disciplines, but meaningful contributions often come from a strong foundation—whether in physics, biology, mathematics, or computation. At the same time, stay curious and open to unfamiliar ideas, because some of the most interesting problems lie outside your initial training. Finally, be patient with yourself: working across fields can feel challenging at first, but over time it becomes a powerful advantage.