Physical Biology™ publishes articles in the broad interdisciplinary field bridging biology with the physical sciences and engineering. This journal focuses on research in which quantitative approaches – experimental, theoretical and modeling – lead to new insights into biological systems at all scales of space and time, and all levels of organizational complexity.

Physical Biology accepts contributions from a wide range of biological sub-fields, including topics such as:

molecular biophysics, including single molecule studies, protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions
subcellular structures, organelle dynamics, membranes, protein assemblies, chromosome structure
intracellular processes, e.g. cytoskeleton dynamics, cellular transport, cell division
systems biology, e.g. signaling, gene regulation and metabolic networks
cells and their microenvironment, e.g. cell mechanics and motility, chemotaxis, extracellular matrix, biofilms
cell-material interactions, e.g. biointerfaces, electrical stimulation and sensing, endocytosis
cell-cell interactions, cell aggregates, organoids, tissues and organs
developmental dynamics, including pattern formation and morphogenesis
physical and evolutionary aspects of disease, e.g. cancer progression, amyloid formation
neuronal systems, including information processing by networks, memory and learning
population dynamics, ecology, and evolution
collective action and emergence of collective phenomena.
In addition, the journal considers papers that focus on new tools that will facilitate investigations in the aforementioned topics. These include (but are not limited to) innovation in physical techniques such as:

advanced microscopy (including advanced optical microscopy) and spectroscopy
synthetic biology, e.g. reprogramming genetic and metabolic systems
as well as new theoretical methods including (but not limited to):

bioinformatics and/or information theoretic tools
network-based analysis of biological systems
theory of active non-equilibrium media
multiscale modeling and simulation approaches.