Physics has come to play a key role for related sciences, such as chemistry, biology, medicine, and environmental and materials sciences, in understanding microscopic aspects, their effects, and their relevance for applications. Also, the development of innovative investigation methods, e.g. in the field of microscopy or spectroscopy, and the interpretation of the results obtained with them rely on a deep understanding of fundamental physical concepts.

The field of study "Physics of Life, Light, and Matter" deals with topics in physics that are of particular importance for these interdisciplinary tasks. This includes the physics of molecules, nanostructures, and surfaces. Applications include, for example, the study of cell adhesion, the use of quantum effects in bio-sensing, the physics of biomolecules and cells, and modern methods of spectroscopy and microscopy with resolutions down to atomic length scales.