Stochastic thermodynamics
of life processes

We work at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP, Trieste, Italy), within the Quantitative Life Sciences section. ICTP's mission is to develop excellent science worldwide, with special focus on research and education with scientists from developing countries. Perspective The Need for Statistical Physics in Africa.

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Our main research interests are stochastic thermodynamics,  biophysics and active matter. We investigate the thermodynamic properties of processes that take place in the microscopic world, where the dynamics is strongly affected by fluctuations. Our work on non-equilibrium thermodynamics has provided innovative insights on the fluctuations of biological processes that occur at mesoscopic scales, such as sound transduction, transcription, and energy transduction by living matter. We have also participated in the construction of colloidal heat engines and information engines using optical tweezers.

Our group has been engaged in active research collaboratations with researchers from the five continents of the planet: Europe, America (North and South), Africa, Asia, and Oceania

Key research interests:

• Thermodynamics of life processes

• Stochastic thermodynamics with Martingales: Tutorial Review

• Stochastic processes

• Experimental nanoscale thermodynamic machines Review 

We welcome applications of outstanding, independent and highly-motivated Msc/PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. For inquiries about research opportunities please contact  edgar(at)ictp(dot)it

Key recent publications:

• 1. Y Thipmaungprom, L Saliekh, R Alonso, É Roldán, F Berger, R Belousov, PRX Life 4 (1), 013039 (2026)

  2. É Roldán, Science 383 (6686), 952 (2024) 

  3. T. Tohme, V. Bedoya, C. di Bello, L. Bresque, É Roldán, PRL 135 (6), 067101 (2025)

  4. L. Bresque, D. Das, É Roldán, PRL 134 (20), 200402 (2025)

  5. É. Roldán, et al., Advances in Physics 1-128 (2024) -- Tutorial Review

  6. C. Di Bello, R. Majumdar, R. Marathe, R. Metzler, É Roldán, Ann. Phys. 536 (4), 2300427 (2024)