Bae-Yeun Ha

Professor Bae-Yeun Ha is a faculty member in the Department of Life Physics at the University of Waterloo, serving as an Undergraduate Advisor. Their research focuses on theoretical problems in soft matter and biophysics, particularly bacterial chromosomes as confined polymers and the electrostatic modification of lipid bilayer membranes. Ha is affiliated with the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology and has taught courses such as PHYS 225 (Modeling Life Physics), PHYS 242 (Electricity and Magnetism 1), and others in recent years.

Ha's educational background includes:

• Doctorate in Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, U.S.A. (1996)
• Master of Science in Physics, Korea University, Seoul, Korea (1986)
• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Physics, Korea University, Seoul, Korea (1985)

Research Interests: Ha explores biomaterials, polymers, bioplastics, biochemistry, and theoretical molecular biophysics. Key emphases include polymer physics for chromosome organization, electrostatic interactions in biomolecules, and the dynamics of confined polymers. Their work also addresses membrane stability in Gram-negative bacteria and the physical mechanisms governing cell selectivity of antimicrobial peptides.

Recent publications (2015) highlight theoretical models of confined polymers and antimicrobial peptide interactions with lipid membranes, contributing to understanding molecular dynamics in cellular environments. These studies bridge soft matter physics with biological systems, examining both chromosome behavior and membrane permeability.

No scientific awards have been listed in the provided information. Advising and grants details are not specified here, though Ha has taught courses such as PHYS 225 (2020-2022, 2024), PHYS 242 (2022, 2025), and others in the past five years. Their affiliation with the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology supports interdisciplinary collaborations.

Ha's research affiliations include the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, where they engage in projects combining physics and life sciences. Their work often involves computational and theoretical approaches to biological systems.