Applying and developing concepts from statistical and theoretical soft-condensed matter physics, as well as applied mathematics, to describe biological systems.
Biology, at its most fundamental, cannot reasonably be disentangled from that of physics. That is, thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, statistical mechanics and soft-condensed matter physics, far from being subjects distinct from biology, are in fact, the building blocks of all living matter. As Goldenfeld and Woese [1] rightly pointed out a decade ago, even evolution— the conductor that has orchestrated life as we know it-is an emergent phenomena of classical physics itself.
But, biology is very hard. Especially when seen through the eyes of a physicist. Systems are very far from equilibrium and typically involve enormous numbers of coupled degrees-of-freedom. All of which is compounded by the fact that Occam’s Razor-that the simplest description is the right description-rarely works, because evolution ensures that systems operate in a way that reflects their history as well as their current function.
We are therefore led to ask: can science develop adequate, quantitative theories of living systems, such that experiment and theory work ‘hand in glove’ like much of modern fundamental physics? This is the question that concerns the Morris Group, which applies and develops concepts from statistical and theoretical soft-condensed matter physics, as well as applied mathematics, in order to describe living matter.
The focus spans a range of length-scales, from molecular signalling on a sub-cellular scale, to emergent phenomena at the tissue scale and beyond. We work closely with experimental partners, typically studying systems in which an interplay between mechanics, geometry and information processing is important.
[1] N. Goldenfeld & C. Woese, Annu. Rev. Condens. Matter Phys. 2:375–99 (2011)
The Morris Lab is interested in animate, living matter.
We want to understand animate matter the same way that a physicist understands inanimate matter. To do this, we develop and apply concepts from non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, active soft matter, and applied mathematics.
Aside from the EMBL Australia program, the lab is affiliated with the Australian Centre of Excellence for the Mathematical Analysis of Cellular Systems (MACSYS), and coordinates the national Theory of Living Systems webinar series, which showcases leading research at the interface of physics and biology.
Our broad areas of research are:
Geometry and topology
The mathematical fields of geometry and topology are intimately related to biological matter, since form is so closely related to function.
We are interested in how ideas from contemporary theoretical physics can be used to reveal otherwise hidden, or obscured, design principles and rules in biology. These range from how the curvature of membranes serves to alter their hydrodynamics and therefore influence the organisation of membrane embedded proteins and channels, to notions of morphogenesis in tissues, and their close link with liquid-crystal physics.
Phase transitions and critical phenomena
The notions of phase transitions and critical phenomena are cornerstones of the modern understanding of classical and quantum matter.
We are interested in how such ideas translate to animate matter, and whether they can provide guiding principles for classifying otherwise highly complex phenomena. One area of focus has been to try and unite work that characterises driven transport processes – a ubiquitous phenomena in biology – to notions of criticality in active matter. Another area is that of noise-induced transitions. Here, statistical noise is more than simply a nuisance, obscuring an underlying signal; noise is the signal. This behaviour arises from non-trivial correlations between fluctuations, which are a classic hallmark of biological systems.
Molecular signalling and information processing
We are interested in the information encoded by molecular concentrations, and what can be inferred from their knowledge.
In particular, we are interested in the interplay between molecular signals and the work performed by a cell or a tissue. This might take the form of exerting a force, or changing a shape, or moving in a particular direction.
Highlight publications
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Anillin promotes cell contractility by cyclic resetting of RhoA residence kinetics Developmental Cell (2019) 49(6): 894-906. |
Anillin promotes cell contractility by cyclic resetting of RhoA residence kinetics |
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Morphodynamics of active nematic fluid surfaces Journal of Fluid Mechanics (2023) 957: A4. |
Morphodynamics of active nematic fluid surfaces |
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Nonstationary critical phenomena: Expanding the critical point Physical Review E (2025) 111(6): 064129. |
Nonstationary critical phenomena: Expanding the critical point |
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Capturing nematic order on tissue surfaces of arbitrary geometry Nature Communications (2025) 16(1): 7596. |
Capturing nematic order on tissue surfaces of arbitrary geometry |
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Morse Theory and Meron-Mediated Interactions Between Disclination Lines in Nematic Materials Physical Review X (2025) 15(2): 021099. |
Morse Theory and Meron-Mediated Interactions Between Disclination Lines in Nematic Materials |