Erwin Frey
@physicsoflifelmu.bsky.social
Theoretical physicist interested in the physics of living systems and statistical physics. Professor at LMU Munich. Passionate about emergent phenomena and interdisciplinary research.
https://www.theorie.physik.uni-muenchen.de/lsfrey/
https://www.theorie.physik.uni-muenchen.de/lsfrey/
Pinned
Erwin Frey
@physicsoflifelmu.bsky.social
· Mar 17
🚀 The Frey Group is now on Bluesky! 🌐
We explore statistical physics, biophysics, and nonequilibrium systems. From active matter to self-organization in biology, we uncover fundamental principles of complex systems.
#Physics #Biophysics #ActiveMatter #ComplexSystems #TheoreticalPhysics
We explore statistical physics, biophysics, and nonequilibrium systems. From active matter to self-organization in biology, we uncover fundamental principles of complex systems.
#Physics #Biophysics #ActiveMatter #ComplexSystems #TheoreticalPhysics
Was great fun to give the physics colloquium at the University of Padova. indico.dfa.unipd.it/event/1570/
Colloquium October 23 - Emergence and Self-Organisation in Biological Systems
Speaker: Prof. Erwin Frey Affiliation: Chair for Statistical and Biological Physics at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Date: October 23rd, 2025, 3 p.m. Where: Aula Rostagni Abstract: Isolat...
indico.dfa.unipd.it
October 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Was great fun to give the physics colloquium at the University of Padova. indico.dfa.unipd.it/event/1570/
Reposted by Erwin Frey
📌 Join us for the next klogW seminar on October 21st at 12PM EST (register below) by Erwin Frey @physicsoflifelmu.bsky.social on "Emergence and Self-organization in Biological Systems".
Registration link:
apsphysics.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Registration link:
apsphysics.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
September 30, 2025 at 1:46 PM
📌 Join us for the next klogW seminar on October 21st at 12PM EST (register below) by Erwin Frey @physicsoflifelmu.bsky.social on "Emergence and Self-organization in Biological Systems".
Registration link:
apsphysics.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Registration link:
apsphysics.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Erwin Frey
WORK!
I currently have 5 (!) open positions for postdocs/PhD students in our CDlab for projects:
- Nanopore protein sequencing
- Archaeal CDV cell division
- Microfluidics for synthetic cells
- Nuclear Pore Complex
- Origami mimics of peroxisomes
Please apply! ceesdekkerlab.nl/come-join-us/
RT=👍
I currently have 5 (!) open positions for postdocs/PhD students in our CDlab for projects:
- Nanopore protein sequencing
- Archaeal CDV cell division
- Microfluidics for synthetic cells
- Nuclear Pore Complex
- Origami mimics of peroxisomes
Please apply! ceesdekkerlab.nl/come-join-us/
RT=👍
August 13, 2025 at 1:30 PM
WORK!
I currently have 5 (!) open positions for postdocs/PhD students in our CDlab for projects:
- Nanopore protein sequencing
- Archaeal CDV cell division
- Microfluidics for synthetic cells
- Nuclear Pore Complex
- Origami mimics of peroxisomes
Please apply! ceesdekkerlab.nl/come-join-us/
RT=👍
I currently have 5 (!) open positions for postdocs/PhD students in our CDlab for projects:
- Nanopore protein sequencing
- Archaeal CDV cell division
- Microfluidics for synthetic cells
- Nuclear Pore Complex
- Origami mimics of peroxisomes
Please apply! ceesdekkerlab.nl/come-join-us/
RT=👍
Reposted by Erwin Frey
do not think twice. Apply. 👇🏼
WORK!
I currently have 5 (!) open positions for postdocs/PhD students in our CDlab for projects:
- Nanopore protein sequencing
- Archaeal CDV cell division
- Microfluidics for synthetic cells
- Nuclear Pore Complex
- Origami mimics of peroxisomes
Please apply! ceesdekkerlab.nl/come-join-us/
RT=👍
I currently have 5 (!) open positions for postdocs/PhD students in our CDlab for projects:
- Nanopore protein sequencing
- Archaeal CDV cell division
- Microfluidics for synthetic cells
- Nuclear Pore Complex
- Origami mimics of peroxisomes
Please apply! ceesdekkerlab.nl/come-join-us/
RT=👍
August 14, 2025 at 11:53 AM
do not think twice. Apply. 👇🏼
Interested in learning about #intelligent #active #matter? We have three open spots for presenting a poster at an international conference close to Munich. Please send an email to frey@lmu.de before Friday noon (25.7) iam.physik.lmu.de
July 24, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Interested in learning about #intelligent #active #matter? We have three open spots for presenting a poster at an international conference close to Munich. Please send an email to frey@lmu.de before Friday noon (25.7) iam.physik.lmu.de
Reposted by Erwin Frey
📣Book alert📣
Finally out with Cambridge University Press: the book by Udo Seifert on "Stochastic thermodynamics". It comprehensively covers many topics, from an introduction to statistical physics to many special subjects such as reaction networks and active particles. Highly recommended 👍👍👍
Finally out with Cambridge University Press: the book by Udo Seifert on "Stochastic thermodynamics". It comprehensively covers many topics, from an introduction to statistical physics to many special subjects such as reaction networks and active particles. Highly recommended 👍👍👍
July 17, 2025 at 3:12 PM
📣Book alert📣
Finally out with Cambridge University Press: the book by Udo Seifert on "Stochastic thermodynamics". It comprehensively covers many topics, from an introduction to statistical physics to many special subjects such as reaction networks and active particles. Highly recommended 👍👍👍
Finally out with Cambridge University Press: the book by Udo Seifert on "Stochastic thermodynamics". It comprehensively covers many topics, from an introduction to statistical physics to many special subjects such as reaction networks and active particles. Highly recommended 👍👍👍
We present a theory explaining how the thymic medulla acquires its morphology. Our model shows that key interactions—thymocyte chemotaxis, selection, and signaling to epithelial cells—are sufficient to generate the observed spatial organization.
| PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
| PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Basic interactions responsible for thymus function explain the convoluted medulla shape | PNAS
The thymus is one of the most important organs of the immune system. It is responsible
for both the production of T cells and the prevention of the...
www.pnas.org
June 24, 2025 at 7:07 AM
We present a theory explaining how the thymic medulla acquires its morphology. Our model shows that key interactions—thymocyte chemotaxis, selection, and signaling to epithelial cells—are sufficient to generate the observed spatial organization.
| PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
| PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
One of the best spots in Austria!
June 23, 2025 at 10:20 AM
One of the best spots in Austria!
It was a fantastic visit in Heidelberg!
Inspiring talk by Erwin Frey @physicsoflifelmu.bsky.social sky.social in the Heidelberg physics colloquium yesterday. And a great introduction to their latest paper on Min oscillations in @natphys.nature.com https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-025-02878-w
June 14, 2025 at 9:27 PM
It was a fantastic visit in Heidelberg!
Reposted by Erwin Frey
#LMUMunich expands its network of international collaborations with top-class universities.🤝🌐 The new partnership with #StellenboschUniversity offers LMU faculty and researchers excellent joint research opportunities and new scientific perspectives on the African continent. 🌍 Find out more here:
LMU and Stellenbosch University launch strategic partnership
The Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich (LMU) expands its network of international collaborations with top-class universities. A research fund for 2025 has been set up together with Stellenbosch ...
www.lmu.de
June 5, 2025 at 9:27 AM
#LMUMunich expands its network of international collaborations with top-class universities.🤝🌐 The new partnership with #StellenboschUniversity offers LMU faculty and researchers excellent joint research opportunities and new scientific perspectives on the African continent. 🌍 Find out more here:
💧🌀 Active matter meets interface physics!
We show how conserved active emulsions form traveling interfacial waves and self-propelling liquid gears, powered by non-reciprocal chemical interactions.
🎥 Gears & belts in motion👇
📄 arxiv.org/abs/2505.20028
#ActiveMatter #PhaseSeparation #PatternFormation
We show how conserved active emulsions form traveling interfacial waves and self-propelling liquid gears, powered by non-reciprocal chemical interactions.
🎥 Gears & belts in motion👇
📄 arxiv.org/abs/2505.20028
#ActiveMatter #PhaseSeparation #PatternFormation
June 3, 2025 at 5:12 PM
💧🌀 Active matter meets interface physics!
We show how conserved active emulsions form traveling interfacial waves and self-propelling liquid gears, powered by non-reciprocal chemical interactions.
🎥 Gears & belts in motion👇
📄 arxiv.org/abs/2505.20028
#ActiveMatter #PhaseSeparation #PatternFormation
We show how conserved active emulsions form traveling interfacial waves and self-propelling liquid gears, powered by non-reciprocal chemical interactions.
🎥 Gears & belts in motion👇
📄 arxiv.org/abs/2505.20028
#ActiveMatter #PhaseSeparation #PatternFormation
Just out in Nature Physics: Research Briefing (with Suckjoon Jun) on how Min protein oscillations in E. coli remain robust. The secret? A conformational switch that buffers change, and a fresh look at an old system through a physicist’s lens.
📘 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#patternformation
📘 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#patternformation
Robust Min protein oscillations revealed in living bacterial cells - Nature Physics
Bacteria can sustain spatial protein oscillations for a remarkably wide range of protein concentrations. The robustness arises from a conformational switch of a key protein between latent versus activ...
www.nature.com
May 29, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Just out in Nature Physics: Research Briefing (with Suckjoon Jun) on how Min protein oscillations in E. coli remain robust. The secret? A conformational switch that buffers change, and a fresh look at an old system through a physicist’s lens.
📘 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#patternformation
📘 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#patternformation
Reposted by Erwin Frey
Research Briefing article with Erwin Frey (@physicsoflifelmu.bsky.social) is also out in Nature Physics.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
May 27, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Research Briefing article with Erwin Frey (@physicsoflifelmu.bsky.social) is also out in Nature Physics.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Erwin Frey
The #ClustersOfExcellence have been selected: today, the Excellence Commission approved 70 projects for funding. 45 clusters will continue and 25 will be newly established. Funding starts on 1 Jan 2026 for 7 years, with €539 million per year. The full list: www.dfg.de/resource/blo... 1/3
May 22, 2025 at 6:10 PM
The #ClustersOfExcellence have been selected: today, the Excellence Commission approved 70 projects for funding. 45 clusters will continue and 25 will be newly established. Funding starts on 1 Jan 2026 for 7 years, with €539 million per year. The full list: www.dfg.de/resource/blo... 1/3
My lecture “Nonequilibrium Field Theories and Stochastic Dynamics” is now on YouTube!
Here a short film on my teaching philosophy.
Watch lectures here: www.youtube.com/@PhysicsOfLi...
#Physics #Biophysics #StochasticDynamics #NonequilibriumPhysics #SoftMatter #TheoreticalPhysics #ScienceEducation
Here a short film on my teaching philosophy.
Watch lectures here: www.youtube.com/@PhysicsOfLi...
#Physics #Biophysics #StochasticDynamics #NonequilibriumPhysics #SoftMatter #TheoreticalPhysics #ScienceEducation
May 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
My lecture “Nonequilibrium Field Theories and Stochastic Dynamics” is now on YouTube!
Here a short film on my teaching philosophy.
Watch lectures here: www.youtube.com/@PhysicsOfLi...
#Physics #Biophysics #StochasticDynamics #NonequilibriumPhysics #SoftMatter #TheoreticalPhysics #ScienceEducation
Here a short film on my teaching philosophy.
Watch lectures here: www.youtube.com/@PhysicsOfLi...
#Physics #Biophysics #StochasticDynamics #NonequilibriumPhysics #SoftMatter #TheoreticalPhysics #ScienceEducation
Reposted by Erwin Frey
Wanted to learn more on "Nonequlibrium Field Theories and Stochastic Dynamics". Now you can from the expert himself! @physicsoflifelmu.bsky.social. Prof Erwin Frey's lecture series is now available!
www.youtube.com/@physicsofli...
www.youtube.com/@physicsofli...
PhysicsOfLifeLMU
The official YouTube account of the Erwin Frey Group focuses on statistical and biological physics.
www.youtube.com
May 9, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Wanted to learn more on "Nonequlibrium Field Theories and Stochastic Dynamics". Now you can from the expert himself! @physicsoflifelmu.bsky.social. Prof Erwin Frey's lecture series is now available!
www.youtube.com/@physicsofli...
www.youtube.com/@physicsofli...
Reposted by Erwin Frey
How do bacteria keep their internal patterns stable despite fluctuating protein concentrations? A team led by #LMU biophysicist Erwin Frey @physicsoflifelmu.bsky.social & @junlab.bsky.social found that MinE proteins act as a buffer by switching between active and latent states.
Biological patterns: stability through protein reservoirs
Biophysicists figure out how bacteria form robust patterns despite changing environmental conditions and fluctuating protein concentrations.
www.lmu.de
May 7, 2025 at 11:16 AM
How do bacteria keep their internal patterns stable despite fluctuating protein concentrations? A team led by #LMU biophysicist Erwin Frey @physicsoflifelmu.bsky.social & @junlab.bsky.social found that MinE proteins act as a buffer by switching between active and latent states.
New in Nature Physics! In a great collaboration with @junlab.bsky.social and my students Henrik Weyer & @lwuerthner.bsky.social, we show how Min proteins in E. coli self-organize into robust, efficient patterns ensuring accurate cell division across conditions.
📄 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
📄 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
May 6, 2025 at 1:25 PM
New in Nature Physics! In a great collaboration with @junlab.bsky.social and my students Henrik Weyer & @lwuerthner.bsky.social, we show how Min proteins in E. coli self-organize into robust, efficient patterns ensuring accurate cell division across conditions.
📄 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
📄 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Erwin Frey
Our paper on the E. coli Min system in vivo with @physicsoflifelmu.bsky.social & Judy Kim (UCSD) has been published in Nature Physics today. Tight integration of experiment and theory, and physiology and biophysics. Incredible perseverance of our young students. rdcu.be/ekIpO
Robust and resource-optimal dynamic pattern formation of Min proteins in vivo
Nature Physics - Oscillatory Min protein patterns prevent abnormal bacterial cell division. Now it is shown that Min pattern formation is resource efficient and involves wavelength-invariant...
rdcu.be
May 5, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Our paper on the E. coli Min system in vivo with @physicsoflifelmu.bsky.social & Judy Kim (UCSD) has been published in Nature Physics today. Tight integration of experiment and theory, and physiology and biophysics. Incredible perseverance of our young students. rdcu.be/ekIpO
Reposted by Erwin Frey
In an open letter of support to the President of @harvard.edu, Max Planck President Patrick Cramer @patrick-cramer.maxplanck.de has expressed his full support of the University in its stance against demands by the Trump administration to change its policies in order to retain federal funding.
April 22, 2025 at 10:51 AM
In an open letter of support to the President of @harvard.edu, Max Planck President Patrick Cramer @patrick-cramer.maxplanck.de has expressed his full support of the University in its stance against demands by the Trump administration to change its policies in order to retain federal funding.
Congratulations to Mehran Kardar of @MIT and Yoshiki Kuramoto of @kyotou_news on receiving the @IUPAP_physics Boltzmann Medal — the highest honor in #StatisticalPhysics 🏅
🔗 go.aps.org/4jCqbsR
🔗 go.aps.org/4jCqbsR
Physical Review congratulates the 2025 Boltzmann Medalists
Mehran Kardar and Yoshiki Kuramoto will be awarded the prestigious Boltzmann Medal during the StatPhys29 Conference in Florence, Italy.
go.aps.org
April 17, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Congratulations to Mehran Kardar of @MIT and Yoshiki Kuramoto of @kyotou_news on receiving the @IUPAP_physics Boltzmann Medal — the highest honor in #StatisticalPhysics 🏅
🔗 go.aps.org/4jCqbsR
🔗 go.aps.org/4jCqbsR
Reposted by Erwin Frey
Thrilled to be featured in The New York Times! @nytimes.com
Fantastic piece by @jack-tamisiea.bsky.social on our discovery of the role of physical forces in evolution! With insightful comments from @wcratcliff.bsky.social!
Fantastic piece by @jack-tamisiea.bsky.social on our discovery of the role of physical forces in evolution! With insightful comments from @wcratcliff.bsky.social!
April 15, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Thrilled to be featured in The New York Times! @nytimes.com
Fantastic piece by @jack-tamisiea.bsky.social on our discovery of the role of physical forces in evolution! With insightful comments from @wcratcliff.bsky.social!
Fantastic piece by @jack-tamisiea.bsky.social on our discovery of the role of physical forces in evolution! With insightful comments from @wcratcliff.bsky.social!
Reposted by Erwin Frey
Opportunity to work with Hannes Mutschler and Dieter Braun on the BubbleLife project
The project aims to find the conditions on the young Earth that enabled molecules to form the precursors of organic life. For more info, we recently wrote an article on this project: syntheticcell.eu/erc-synergy-...
The project aims to find the conditions on the young Earth that enabled molecules to form the precursors of organic life. For more info, we recently wrote an article on this project: syntheticcell.eu/erc-synergy-...
Interested in a #postdoc in #originsoflife research? Are you a geek who loves #RNA, #RNAseq and tinkering, with a background in #biochemistry, #chemistry or #biophysics? Join #bubblelife! Apply now by email (CV + a short motivation letter)!
cordis.europa.eu/project/id/1...
cordis.europa.eu/project/id/1...
From RNA-peptide coevolution to cellular life at heated air bubbles | BubbleLife | Projekt | Fact Sheet | HORIZON | CORDIS | European Commission
"The origin of life on Earth is one of humanity's profound mysteries that lacks scientific answers. We aim to answer this fundamental question by performing pioneering experiments starting from the Da...
cordis.europa.eu
April 14, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Opportunity to work with Hannes Mutschler and Dieter Braun on the BubbleLife project
The project aims to find the conditions on the young Earth that enabled molecules to form the precursors of organic life. For more info, we recently wrote an article on this project: syntheticcell.eu/erc-synergy-...
The project aims to find the conditions on the young Earth that enabled molecules to form the precursors of organic life. For more info, we recently wrote an article on this project: syntheticcell.eu/erc-synergy-...
Excited to share our new paper. We show how membrane-mediated interactions stabilize protein patterns, halting coarsening.
Check it out:
journals.aps.org/pre/abstract...
Check it out:
journals.aps.org/pre/abstract...
April 11, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Excited to share our new paper. We show how membrane-mediated interactions stabilize protein patterns, halting coarsening.
Check it out:
journals.aps.org/pre/abstract...
Check it out:
journals.aps.org/pre/abstract...
RNA origami builds artificial cytoskeletons!
A new paper in Nature Nanotech shows how folded RNA filaments can act as structural scaffolds—advancing bottom-up synthetic cells without proteins.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A new paper in Nature Nanotech shows how folded RNA filaments can act as structural scaffolds—advancing bottom-up synthetic cells without proteins.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Genetic encoding and expression of RNA origami cytoskeletons in synthetic cells - Nature Nanotechnology
This study introduces RNA origami nanotubes as self-assembling cytoskeleton mimics for synthetic cells. Expressed in vesicles from DNA templates, these RNA structures reach micrometre lengths, deform ...
www.nature.com
April 10, 2025 at 8:45 PM
RNA origami builds artificial cytoskeletons!
A new paper in Nature Nanotech shows how folded RNA filaments can act as structural scaffolds—advancing bottom-up synthetic cells without proteins.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A new paper in Nature Nanotech shows how folded RNA filaments can act as structural scaffolds—advancing bottom-up synthetic cells without proteins.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...