People Directory


Robijn Bruinsma

Robijn Bruinsma
Professor
Theoretical Condensed Matter

Office: 3-120 Knudsen
Phone: (310) 825-8539
E-Mail: [javascript protected email address]

Educational Background: 
  • Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, B.S. in Physics.(1974)
  • Rijks-Universiteit Utrecht, M.S. in Physics (1976)
  • University of Southern California., Ph.D. in Physics (1976)
Positions Held: 
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University 1979-1980.
  • Research Associate, Brookhaven National Lab.1980-1982.
  • Visiting Scientist, IBM Research Center, Yorktown, 1982-1984.
  • Assistant Professor of Physics, University of California, 1984-1988
  • Associate Professor of Physics, University of California, 1988-1990
  • Full Professor of Physics, University of California, 1990-present
  • Chair, Theoretical Physics for the Life Sciences, Leiden University, 2001-present

Academic and Professional Honors:

  • Pierre et Marie Curie Visiting Professorship (E.S.P.C.I.).(1994)
  • Rothschild Foundation Fellowship.(1996)
  • Fellow American Physical Society
  • Distinguished Lecturer, College de France (1999)
Research Interest: 

Video

My current work concerns the application of theoretical physics and numerical modeling to molecular biology. Emphasis is on the following areas:

  • Numerical Simulation of Active Proteins and of Gene Transcription.
  • Self-Assembly of Viruses (pdf).
  • Self-Assembly of DNA and the Physics of Chromatin.
  • Electrostatics of DNA and electrical transport along DNA.
  • Adhesion of vesicles and cells.
Selected Publications: 
  • Klapstein KD, Bruinsma R
    RecA force generation of hydrolysis waves
    BIOPHYS J 82 (1): 581 Part 2 JAN 2002
  • Bruinsma R, Rondelez F, Levine A
    Flow-controlled growth in Langmuir monolayers
    EUR PHYS J E 6 (3): 191-200 NOV 2001
  • Bruinsma R, Sackmann E
    Bioadhesion and the dewetting transition
    CR ACAD SCI IV-PHYS 2 (6): 803-815 AUG 2001
  • Bruinsma R
    Liquid crystals of polyelectrolyte networks
    PHYS REV E 63 (6): art. no. 061705 Part 1 JUN 2001
  • Schiessel H, Gelbart WM, Bruinsma R
    DNA folding: Structural and mechanical properties of the two-angle model for chromatin
    BIOPHYS J 80 (4): 1940-1956 APR 2001
  • Kosztin I, Bruinsma R, Schulten K
    Conformational changes and force generation in the molecular switch protein H-Ras
    BIOPHYS J 80 (1): 1005 Part 2 JAN 2001
  • Marx S, Guttenberg Z, Bruinsma R, et al.
    Measuring receptor-ligand unbinding forces with magnetic beads
    BIOPHYS J 80 (1): 1006 Part 2 JAN 2001
  • Bruinsma R, Gruner G, D'Orsogna MR, et al.
    Fluctuation-facilitated charge migration along DNA
    PHYS REV LETT 85 (20): 4393-4396 NOV 13 2000
  • Guttenberg Z, Bausch AR, Hu B, et al.
    Measuring ligand-receptor unbinding forces with magnetic beads: Molecular leverage
    LANGMUIR 16 (23): 8984-8993 NOV 14 2000
  • Schiessel H, Rudnick J, Bruinsma R, et al.
    Organized condensation of worm-like chains
    EUROPHYS LETT 51 (2): 237-243 JUL 2000
  • Klapstein K, Bruinsma R
    RecA force generation by hydrolysis waves
    J BIOL CHEM 275 (21): 16073-16083 MAY 26 2000
  • Bruinsma R, Behrisch A, Sackmann E
    Adhesive switching of membranes: Experiment and theory
    PHYS REV E 61 (4): 4253-4267 Part B APR 2000
  • Nardi J, Bruinsma R, Sackman E
    Vesicles as osmotic motors
    PHYS REV LETT 82 (25): 5168-5171 JUN 21 1999
  • Rudnick J, Bruinsma R
    DNA-protein cooperative binding through variable-range elastic coupling
    BIOPHYS J 76 (4): 1725-1733 APR 1999
  • Levine A, Ramaswamy S, Frey E, et al.
    Screened and unscreened phases in sedimenting suspensions
    PHYS REV LETT 81 (26): 5944-5947 DEC 28 1998
  • Luz Z, Weger M, Bruinsma R, et al.
    Shlomo Alexander - Obituary
    PHYS TODAY 51 (12): 73-74 DEC 1998
  • Nardi J, Bruinsma R, Sackmann E
    Adhesion-induced reorganization of charged fluid membranes
    PHYS REV E 58 (5): 6340-6354 Part B NOV 1998
  • Bruinsma R
    Electrostatics of DNA cationic lipid complexes: isoelectric instability
    EUR PHYS J B 4 (1): 75-88 JUL 1998
  • Albersdorfer A, Bruinsma R, Sackmann E
    Force spectroscopy on adhesive vesicles
    EUROPHYS LETT 42 (2): 227-231 APR 15 1998
  • Ahsan A, Rudnick J, Bruinsma R
    Elasticity theory of the B-DNA to S-DNA transition
    BIOPHYSICS J74(1): 132-137 JAN 1998
  • Julicher F, Bruinsma R
    Motion of RNA polymerase along DNA: A stochastic model
    BIOPHYS J 74 (3): 1169-1185 MAR 1998
  • Prost J, Manneville JB, Bruinsma R
    Fluctuation-magnification of non-equilibrium membranes near a wall
    EUR PHYS J B 1 (4): 465-480 FEB 1998
  • Bruinsma R, Mashl J
    Long-range electrostatic interaction in DNA cationic lipid complexes
    EUROPHYS LETT 41 (2): 165-170 JAN 15 1998
  • Martin JI, Wang ZG, Zuckerman D, et al.
    Forces between surfaces with weakly end-adsorbed polymers
    J PHYS II 7 (8): 1111-1121 AUG 1997
  • Nardi J, Feder T, Bruinsma R, et al.
    Electrostatic adhesion between fluid membranes: Phase separation and blistering (vol 37, pg
    371, 1997)
    EUROPHYS LETT 38 (2): 159-160 APR 10 1997
  • Bruinsma R
    Les liaisons dangereuses: Adhesion molecules do it statistically
    P NATL ACAD SCI USA 94 (2): 375-376 JAN 21 1997
  • Bekiranov S, Bruinsma R, Pincus P
    Solution behavior of polyethylene oxide in water as a function of temperature and
    pressure
    PHYS REV E 55 (1): 577-585 Part B JAN 1997
  • Gelbart WM, Bruinsma R
    Compositional-mechanical instability of interacting mixed lipid membranes
    PHYS REV E 55 (1): 831-835 Part B JAN 1997
  • Bruinsma R
    Rheology and shape transitions of vesicles under capillary flow
    PHYSICA A 234 (1-2): 249-270 DEC 15 1996
  • Bruinsma R, Pincus P
    Protein aggregation in membranes
    CURR OPIN SOLID ST M 1 (3): 401-406 JUN 1996
  • Lammert PE, Prost J, Bruinsma R
    Ion drive for vesicles and cells
    J THEOR BIOL 178 (4): 387-391 FEB 21 1996
  • Prost J, Bruinsma R
    Shape fluctuations of active membranes
    EUROPHYS LETT 33 (4): 321-326 FEB 1 1996
  • Bruinsma R.
    Theory of hydrodynamic convection in soap films
    PHYSICA A 216 (1-2): 59-76 JUN 1 1995
  • Zuckerman D, Bruinsma R.
    Statistical-mechanics of membrane adhesion by reversible
    molecular-bonds
    PHYS REV LETT 74 (19): 3900-3903 MAY 8 1995
  • Rudnick J, Bruinsma R
    Shape of domains in 2-dimensional systems ­ virtual
    singularities and a generalized wulff construction
    PHYS REV LETT 74 (13): 2491-2494 MAR 27 1995
  • Schwartz DK, Knobler CM, Bruinsma R.
    Direct observation of langmuir monolayer flow-through a
    channel
    PHYS REV LETT 73 (21): 2841-2844 NOV 21 1994
  • Bruinsma R, Goulian M, Pincus P.
    Self-assembly of membrane junctions
    BIOPHYS J 67 (2): 746-750 AUG 1994
  • Bruinsma R, Prost J
    Fluctuation forces and the devils staircase of
    ferroelectric smectic C-asterisk-S
    J PHYS II 4 (7): 1209-1219 JUL 1994
  • Bruinsma R, Rabin Y
    Mesoscopic physics of swollen polymer networks ­ statics
    and dynamics
    PHYS REV E 49 (1): 554-569 JAN 1994
  • Prost J, Bruinsma R, Tournilhac F
    Theory of longitudinal ferroelectric smectics
    J PHYS II 4 (1): 169-187 JAN 1994
  • Bekiranov S, Bruinsma R, Pincus p
    A primitive model for single-chain aqueous-solution
    behavior of peo under pressure
    EUROPHYS LETT 24 (3): 183-188 OCT 20 1993
  • Rabin Y, Pekarski P, Bruinsma R
    Charge effects on density-fluctuations in stretched gels
    EUROPHYS LETT 24 (2): 145-149 OCT 10 1993
  • Lederman M, Selinger JV, Bruinsma R, et al.
    Dynamics of the diluted ising antiferromagnet
    in the (h,t) plane
    PHYS REV B 48 (6): 3810-3819 AUG 1 1993
  • Zuckerman D, Bruinsma R
    Chaotic drainage of soap films
    ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S 206: 179-COLL Part 1 AUG 22 1993
  • Goulian M, Bruinsma R, Pincus P
    Long-range forces in heterogeneous fluid membranes (vol
    22, pg 145, 1993)
    EUROPHYS LETT 23 (2): 155-155 JUL 10 1993
  • Larson RG, Winey KI, Patel SS, et al.
    The rheology of layered liquids - lamellar block-
    copolymers and smectic liquid-crystals
    RHEOL ACTA 32 (3): 245-253 MAY-JUN 1993
  • Shi J, Bruinsma R, Bishop AR
    Excitations of the one-dimensional, 2-band peierls-hubbard
    model at 3/4 filling in the large-u limit
    PHYS REV B 47 (15): 9181-9188 APR 15 1993
  • Goulian M, Bruinsma R, Pincus P
    Long-range forces in heterogeneous fluid membranes
    EUROPHYS LETT 22 (2): 145-150 APR 10 1993
  • Rabin Y, Pekarski P, Bruinsma R
    Fluctuations in strained polymer gels
    ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S 205: 126-PMSE Part 2 MAR 28 1993
  • Martin T, Bruinsma R, Platzman PM
    Quantum-theory of surface-adsorption
    PHYS REP 223 (3): 135-181 JAN 1993
  • Bruinsma R, Dimeglio JM, Quere D. et al.
    Formation of soap films from polymer-solutions
    LANGMUIR 8 (12): 3161-3167 DEC 1992
  • Rabin Y, Bruinsma R
    Strain effects on thermal fluctuations in soft solids ­
    butterfly patterns
    EUROPHYS LETT 20 (1): 79-85 SEP 1 1992
  • Rabin Y, Bruinsma R
    Strain effects on thermal fluctuations in soft solids ­
    butterfly patterns
    EUROPHYS LETT 20 (1): 79-85 SEP 1 1992
  • Lederman M, Selinger JV, Bruinsma R, et al.
    Low-temperature dynamics of a diluted ising
    antiferromagnet
    PHYS REV LETT 68 (13): 2086-2089 MAR 30 1992
  • Bruinsma R
    Elasticity and excitations of minimal crystals
    J PHYS II 2 (3): 425-451 mar 1992
  • Bruinsma R, Rabin Y
    Shear-flow enhancement and suppression of fluctuations in
    smectic liquid-crystals
    PHYS REV A 45 (2): 994-1008 JAN 15 1992
  • Eklund EA, Bruinsma R, Rudnick J, et al.
    Submicron-scale surface roughening induced by ion-
    bombardment

  • PHYS REV LETT 67 (13): 1759-1762 SEP 23 1991
    Bruinsma R
    Growth instabilities of vesicles
    J PHYS II 1 (8): 995-1012 AUG 1991
  • Shi J, Bruinsma R, Bishop AR
    Theory of vanadium dioxide
    SYNTHETIC MET 43 (1-2): 3527-3530 JUN 7 1991
  • Martin T, Bruinsma R, Platzman PM
    Adsorption of positronium on metal-surfaces - theory
    PHYS REV B 43 (8): 6466-6473 MAR 15 1991
  • Mills AP, Shaw ED, Leventhal M, et al.
    Evidence for quantum sticking of slow positronium
    PHYS REV LETT 66 (6): 735-738 FEB 11 1991
  • Bruinsma R
    Growth instabilities of vesicles
    J PHYS-PARIS 51 (23): C753-C771 Suppl. C7 DEC 1 1990
  • Golubovic I, Bruinsma R
    Surface-diffusion and fluctuations of growing interfaces
    PHYS REV LETT 66 (3): 321-324 JAN 21 1991
  • Bales GS, Bruinsma R, Eklund EA, et al.
    Growth and erosion of thin solid films
    SCIENCE 249 (4966): 264-268 JUL 20 1990
  • Bruinsma R
    The statistical-mechanics of meandering
    J PHYS-PARIS 51 (9): 829-845 MAY 1 1990
  • Bruinsma R, Alexander S
    Theory of electrohydrodynamic instabilities in
    electrolytic cells
    J CHEM PHYS 92 (5): 3074-3085 MAR 1 1990
  • Bruinsma R, Zangwill A
    Long-period polytype structures - reply
    PHYS REV LETT 64 (10): 1179-1179 MAR 5 1990
  • Martin T, Bruinsma R
    Surface-adsorption - quantum reflection versus polaron
    collapse
    PHYS REV B 41 (5): 3172-3184 FEB 15 1990
  • Tang C, Alexander S, Bruinsma R
    Scaling theory for the growth of amorphous films
    PHYS REV LETT 64 (7): 772-775 FEB 12 1990
  • Bruinsma R
    Slow spreading of polymer melts
    MACROMOLECULES 23 (1): 276-280 JAN 8 1990
  • Martin T, Bruinsma R
    Surface polaron - statics
    PHYS REV B 40 (12): 8290-8298 OCT 15 1989
  • Bruinsma R
    Thermodynamics - what, if anything, is melting
    NATURE 341 (6242): 486-487 OCT 12 1989
  • Bruinsma R
    Theory of polytypism and the fcc hcp transition
    PHASE TRANSIT 16: 275-285 Part B 1989
  • Karunasiri RPU, Bruinsma R Rudnick J
    Growth dynamics of sputter deposition - reply
    PHYS REV LETT 63 (6): 693-693 AUG 7 1989
  • Martin T, Bruinsma R, Platzman PM
    Critical-like behavior in quantum adsorption
    PHYS REV B 39 (16): 12411-12413 Part B JUN 1 1989
  • Karunasiri RPU, Bruinsma R, Rudnick J
    Thin-film growth and the shadow instability
    PHYS REV LETT 62 (7): 788-791 FEB 13 1989
  • Cornwall JM, Bruinsma R
    Quantum evolution of an unstable field in a desitter-space
    thermal bath
    PHYS REV D 38 (10): 3146-3157 NOV 15 1988
  • Bruinsma R
    Diffraction from complex-crystals and pattern-
    recognition
    PHYS REV LETT 61 (17): 1966-1968 OCT 24 1988
  • Martin T, Bruinsma R, Platzman PM
    Quantum reflection in the presence of dissipation
    PHYS REV B 38 (4): 2257-2266 AUG 1 1988
  • Heidel B, Knobler CM, Hilfer R, et al.
    Pattern-formation at liquid interfaces
    PHYS REV LETT 60 (24): 2492-2495 JUN 13 1988
  • Alexander S, Bruinsma R, Hilfer R, et al.
    Phase-separation by coupled single-crystal growth and
    polycrystalline fingering in al-ge - theory
    PHYS REV LETT 60 (15): 1514-1517 APR 11 1988
  • Bruinsma R, Zangwill A
    Morphological transitions in solid epitaxial overlayers
    EUROPHYS LETT 4 (6): 729-735 SEP 15 1987
  • Bruinsma R, Zangwill A
    Long-period structures in alloys - reply
    PHYS REV LETT 59 (4): 514-514 JUL 27 1987
  • De’almeida JRL, Bruinsma R
    Replica symmetry-breaking in random-field systems
    PHYS REV B 35 (13): 7267-7270 MAY 1 1987
  • Bruinsma R, Platzman PM
    Quantum reflection and dissipation
    PHYS REV B 35 (9): 4221-4223 MAR 15 1987
  • Bruinsma R, Zangwill A
    Structural transitions in epitaxial overlayers
    J PHYS-PARIS 47 (12): 2055-2073 DEC 1986
  • Bruinsma R, Maki K, Wheatley J
    Local modes in anharmonic solids and the kondo problem
    PHYS REV LETT 57 (14): 1773-1776 OCT 6 1986
  • Bruinsma R, Maki K, Wheatley J
    Local modes in anharmonic solids and the kondo problem
    PHYS REV LETT 57 (14): 1773-1776 OCT 6 1986
  • Bruinsma R, Mihaly L
    A ginzburg-landau theory for hysteresis in charge-density
    wave systems
    SOLID STATE COMMUN 59 (12): 881-885 SEP 1986
  • Bruinsma R.
    Spin-glass on a bethe lattice - comment
    PHYS REV LETT 57 (2): 272-273 JUL 14 1986
  • Bruinsma R, Coppersmith SN
    Anderson localization and breakdown of hydrodynamics in
    random ferromagnets
    PHYS REV B 33 (9): 6541-6544 MAY 1 1986
  • Aeppli G, Bruinsma R
    Nonequilibrium behavior of the random field ising-model
    J MAGN MAGN MATER 54-7: 25-26 Part 1 FEB 1986
  • Bruinsma R, Bak p
    Quantum tunneling, dissipation, and fluctuations
    PHYS REV LETT 56 (5): 420-423 FEB 3 1986
  • Bruinsma R, Zangwill A
    Theory of the HCP-FCC transition in metals
    PHYS REV LETT 55 (2): 214-217 1985
  • Bak P, Bruinsma R
    Dislocation-loop theory of the NEMATIC SMECTIC-A SMECTIC-C
    multicritical point - comment
    PHYS REV LETT 54 (15): 1731-1731 1985
  • Aeppli G, Bruinsma R
    Hexatic order and liquid density-fluctuations
    PHYS REV LETT 53 (22): 2133-2136 1984
  • Zangwill a, bruinsma R
    Origin of martensitic pseudoelasticity
    PHYS REV LETT 53 (11): 1073-1076 1984
  • Bruinsma R
    Random-field ising-model on a bethe lattice
    PHYS REV B 30 (1): 289-299 1984
  • Bruinsma R, Aeppli G
    Interface motion and nonequilibrium properties of the
    random-field ising-model
    PHYS REV LETT 52 (17): 1547-1550 1984
Attachments: 
Research Interest Video
Self-Assembly of Viruses