Frank L. H. BrownView profile
Professor
Frank L. H. Brown is a Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara with joint appointments in the Department of Physics and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. His research focuses on theoretical and computational approaches to understanding biomembrane dynamics and related biophysical phenomena, situated within the College of Letters and Science. Dr. Brown's research interests span the interface between physical chemistry and biophysics. He employs a variety of theoretical tools including statistical mechanics , hydrodynamics , elasticity theory , and quantum mechanics to study complex biological systems. His work particularly emphasizes the dynamics and structure of biomembranes and the interpretation of various spectroscopy experiments including single molecule fluorescence, neutron spin echo, and flicker spectroscopy. Analysis of his publication record reveals a consistent focus on computational modeling of lipid bilayers, membrane proteins, and related phenomena, with particular emphasis on developing novel theoretical frameworks for understanding membrane behavior across multiple scales. Dr. Brown leads an active research group that includes current members Ehsan Noruzifar (Postdoctoral Researcher) and Sean Cray (Graduate Student). His former group members include numerous successful scientists such as Grace Brannigan, Brian Camley, Lawrence Lin, and Max Watson who completed their graduate studies under his supervision, along with several postdoctoral researchers. His research has been supported by funding that enables theoretical and computational investigations of biomembrane systems. The Brown Research Group operates at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and biology, with facilities connected to the Biomolecular Sciences & Engineering Program and the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) at UCSB. Their work combines advanced computational techniques with theoretical physics to address fundamental questions about soft and living matter systems, particularly at biological interfaces.








