davidasivak.bsky.social
@davidasivak.bsky.social
Professor & Canada Research Chair @SFUPhysics
Nonequilibrium statistical biophysics
Is it more efficient to push a molecular motor with a constant force, or at a constant velocity? See our collaborative paper in @physrevlett.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1103/b24h...
and the Focus article
physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
to learn the winner and the why (it’s all about the fluctuations).
Efficiently Driving ${\mathrm{F}}_{1}$ Molecular Motor in Experiment by Suppressing Nonequilibrium Variation
Turning a biologically important molecular motor at a constant rate saves energy, according to experiments.
doi.org
October 6, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Reposted
Johann du Buisson, Jannik Ehrich, mleighton.bsky.social, davidasivak.bsky.social, and John Bechhoefer introduce a one-coordinate test that infers heat flow to flag “demonic” operation. In kinesin simulations tuned to experiments, the motor grows more demon-like as active fluctuations rise.
September 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Still accepting postdoc applications!
Postdoc opportunity!
Join us in heavenly Vancouver (Canada) to develop fundamental nonequilibrium stat mech, thermo, and info theory applied to biomolecular machines and in close collaboration with experiment.
Details: www.sfu.ca/physics/siva...
Postdoc Ad
www.sfu.ca
June 24, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Reposted
New preprint out today: “Information Thermodynamics of Cellular Ion Pumps”. Led by talented undergraduate student Julián Jiménez-Paz, and working with @davidasivak.bsky.social, we explore the thermodynamics of cellular ion pumps like the sodium-potassium pump.

arxiv.org/abs/2506.11248
June 17, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Fun new paper by Callum @sfuphysics.bsky.social, on energetically efficient multi-parameter driving of our favorite molecular motor (shout out F1!).
doi.org/10.1103/bm3d...
Multiparameter optimal control of ${\mathrm{F}}_{1}$-ATPase
Biological molecular machines convert free energy between different forms in cells, often at high efficiency. Optimal control theory provides a framework to elucidate design principles governing energ...
doi.org
June 11, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Congratulations to Matt on his Convocation Medal!
June 10, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Canada Excellence Research Chairs offer $4-8M over eight years to build a world-class research focus.
June 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Postdoc opportunity!
Join us in heavenly Vancouver (Canada) to develop fundamental nonequilibrium stat mech, thermo, and info theory applied to biomolecular machines and in close collaboration with experiment.
Details: www.sfu.ca/physics/siva...
Postdoc Ad
www.sfu.ca
June 2, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Kudos to Matt for his complete leadership from start to finish on this review, which was invited as a result of his compelling, cohesive, and ground-breaking graduate research!
Now out in @annualreviews.bsky.social of Physical Chemistry: @davidasivak.bsky.social and I review recent work studying flows of free energy into, out of, and within molecular machines. These nanoscale protein machines convert energy within cells of all living organisms with remarkable efficiencies.
May 12, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Check out the CUNY-ITS/Princeton-CPBF symposium tomorrow on Information and Irreversibility itsatcuny.org/calendar/202... featuring @fakhrilab.bsky.social, my colleague John Bechhoefer, and yours truly!
Information and Irreversibility — Initiative for the Theoretical Sciences
Friday, 18 April, 2025 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM Skylight room
itsatcuny.org
April 17, 2025 at 1:25 PM
I have openings for graduate students in
@sfuphysics.bsky.social, Chemistry, or MBB. Check out davidsivak.com for our research interests!
April 17, 2025 at 1:16 PM
The sixth annual Workshop on Stochastic Thermodynamics (WOST VI) will be held May 12-16, 2025. This workshop is entirely online and free to attend. 10-minute lightning talks will be chosen from 1-page abstracts, with priority given to early-career researchers.
January 29, 2025 at 5:14 PM