Rob B. Phillips
Rob B. Phillips
Fred and Nancy Morris Professor of Biophysics, Biology, and Physics
B.S., University of Minnesota, 1986; Ph.D., Washington University, 1989. Clark Millikan Visiting Assistant Professor, Caltech, 1997; Professor, 2000-2011; Morris Professor, 2012-.
Research Interests: physical biology of the cell, models of transcription and active matter, physical genomes, and biophysical approaches to evolution.
Overview
Professor Phillips focuses on physical biology of the cell: models of transcription and active matter, physical genomes, and biophysical approaches to evolution.
Selected Awards
- Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching, Caltech's Highest Teaching Prize, 2021
- Caltech ASCIT Teaching Award, 2017
- National Science Foundation CAREER Award
- National Institute of Health Director's Pioneer Award, 2004
- Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Fellow, American Physical Society
Selected Awards
- Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching, Caltech's Highest Teaching Prize, 2021
- Caltech ASCIT Teaching Award, 2017
- National Science Foundation CAREER Award
- National Institute of Health Director's Pioneer Award, 2004
- Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Fellow, American Physical Society
Related News
Read more newsRelated Courses
FS/Ph 11 abc. First-Year Seminar: Beyond Physics.
6 units (2-0-4); second, third terms of a first-year student's first year and first term of sophomore year, 2025-26.
First-year students are offered the opportunity to enroll in this class by submitting potential solutions to problems posed in the fall term. A small number of solutions will be selected as winners, granting those students permission to register. This course demonstrates how research ideas arise, are evaluated, and tested and how the ideas that survive are developed. Weekly group discussions and one-on-one meetings with faculty allow students to delve into cutting edge scientific research. Ideas from physics are used to think about a huge swath of problems ranging from how to detect life on extrasolar planets to exploring the scientific underpinnings of science fiction in Hollywood films to considering the efficiency of molecular machines. Support for summer research at Caltech between an undergraduate's first and sophomore years will be automatic for students making satisfactory progress. Graded pass/fail. First-year (undergraduates) only; limited enrollment.
Instructor: Phillips
Instructor: Phillips