Biophysical Society Bulletin | April 2026

April 2026

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY

Researchers from more than 49 countries convened in San Francisco for five days of discovery, collaboration, and career growth. The meeting opened on Saturday, February 21, with 17 Subgroup symposia, launching a dynamic program that continued with 24 symposia, 4 workshops, and 500+ platform talks over the following four days. Each day, the exhibit hall buzzed with excitement as more than 500 poster presentations sparked lively discussion and new connections. At the awards ceremony, President Lynmarie K. Thompson honored Ariane Briegel , Institut Pasteur, and Ilya Levental , University of Virginia, for their outstanding leadership as this year’s Annual Meeting Program Committee Co-Chairs. For meeting highlights, see page 10. New Discoveries, One Community: Biophysics in San Francisco Nominate yourself or a colleague for a 2027 Society Award

BPS President Lynmarie K. Thompson (left) recognizes 2026 Program Committee Co-Chairs Ilya Levental (center) and Ariane Briegel (right).

The Biophysical Society is now accepting nominations for its 2027 awards through May 1, 2026. The Biophysical Society Awards Program celebrates individuals whose achievements and contributions exemplify the best in our field and inspire us all. By recognizing excellence in discovery, innovation, education, mentorship, and service, the program honors those who personify integrity within our global community. BPS awardees serve as beacons for our discipline, embodying the curiosity, rigor, and commitment that strengthen the foundation of biophysics worldwide. If you know deserving members or you’d like to nominate yourself, this is the opportunity to recognize those contributions. Remember, awardees can only be selected from among those nominated! Learn more by visiting our website: biophysics.org/awards-funding/society-awards. Application Deadline: May 1, 2026

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Council Update

Member Corner Communities

Publications

Biophysicist in Profile

Career Development

Public Affairs Annual Meeting

Important Dates

10

Council Update

Council in San Francisco: Looking Ahead Together

Each year, the Biophysical Soci ety’s Council meets during the Annual Meeting to review prog ress, make important decisions, and chart the path forward for the Society. This year, Council gathered for a three-part series of meetings in San Francisco that

these conversations was balance: maintaining fiscal respon sibility without diminishing the member experience or the Society’s mission. Discussions included analysis of membership dues and registration rates. Council agreed to hold dues rates steady while exploring structural adjustments that better reflect today’s workforce—including adding a new dues category for members working in industry. Registration fees were also reviewed, with particular attention paid to supporting early career scientists through reduced rates. Expense management was another area of active discussion. Council reviewed adjustments already made for the 2026 Annual Meeting and looked ahead to potential refinements for 2027. Rather than making decisions in isolation, Coun cil members were asked to observe programs and events throughout the meeting and to provide feedback based on member participation and value. This evidence-based approach reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that changes are thoughtful and community informed. A recurring theme in all finance discussions was the impor tance of strengthening engagement with scientists working outside traditional academic pathways. Council spent consid erable time discussing how BPS can better support mem bers who are transitioning into industry and how to sustain long-term membership value for them once they make that transition. Council elected the 2026 Nominating Committee and dis cussed potential bylaw changes to expand committee membership in future years, enhancing representation and capacity. Annual Meeting Insights and Future Planning Ensuring a comprehensive yet inclusive Annual Meeting program remains one of Council’s most visible and impactful responsibilities. The 2026 Annual Meeting Co-Chairs, Ariane Briegel and Ilya Levental , shared reflections on program devel opment, noting that approximately 75% of the scientific pro gram grew directly from members’ responses to the annual call for topics. Nominations for the Future of Biophysics Bur roughs Wellcome Fund Symposium and the New and Notable Symposium were exceptionally high, highlighting both the enthusiasm of the community and the challenge of speaker selection when nominations far exceed available slots.

Karen G. Fleming

reflected both the opportunities and the challenges facing our community. While many of the discussions acknowledged real pressures such as financial uncertainty, shifting workforce dynamics, and a changing global research environment, the overall tone was constructive, forward looking, and grounded in a shared commitment to ensuring that BPS remains a vibrant and welcoming home for biophysicists worldwide. Following are highlights from those meetings, offered to help keep you informed about the direction of the Society and the work underway on your behalf. Opening Reflections and 2025 Accomplishments Outgoing BPS President Lynmarie K. Thompson opened with a review of the Society’s accomplishments over the past year. The breadth of activity across programs, publications, meet ings, education, and member engagement was a strong reminder that BPS is far more than a single annual event. From scientific programming to community-building initia tives, from journal growth to launching a new Subgroup, the Society continues to evolve in response to member needs. At the same time, Council recognized that the external envi ronment has become more complex. Federal policy develop ments include issues related to research funding, visa policies, and international mobility. These remain important areas to monitor because of the direct impact on our members’ ability to collaborate, travel, and build scientific careers. Financial Stewardship, Strategic Planning, and Governance One of the most significant discussion areas centered on finance and long-term sustainability. BPS Treasurer Samantha Harris reported that the Society’s reserves remain strong, providing stability and flexibility. However, like many scientific organizations, BPS is experiencing financial pressure tied to reduced funding and the resulting impact on meeting atten dance and member travel. Council reviewed several strategies aimed at reducing projected operating deficits while continu ing to invest in member value. A strong theme throughout

April 2026

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Council Update

Officers President

Karen G. Fleming President-Elect Enrique M. De La Cruz Past-President Lynmarie K. Thompson Secretary Teresa Giraldez Treasurer Samantha Harris Council Robert Best Silvia Cavagnero Timothy D. Craggs Tanja Mittag Renae Ryan Tamar Schlick Biophysical Journal Vasanthi Jayaraman Editor-in-Chief The Biophysicist Padmini Rangamani Editor-in-Chief Biophysical Reports Theanne Griffith Taviare Hawkins Ryota Iino Anne Kenworthy Kandice Levental

Council also reviewed abstract submission and registration trends. As many members observed firsthand, the 2026 meeting was smaller than in some recent years, affected by funding constraints, travel restrictions, and broader uncertainty in the research environ ment. Rather than viewing this simply as a challenge, Council discussed ways to maintain connection with members unable to attend. These include sharing selected recorded ses sions and expanding meaningful programming throughout the year. Of course, Biophysics Week in March represents another mecha nism for members to participate in activities remotely. Looking ahead, the 2027 Annual Meeting Program Co-Chairs, Linda Columbus and Henry Colecraft , received enthusiastic feedback on their draft program. For the first time, four Subgroups will be incorporated directly into the main scientific program, an exciting ex periment designed to increase visibility and integration while preserving Subgroup iden tity and community spirit. Council approved the program following substantial discussion about balancing scientific topics, speaker di versity, and international representation. Subgroups: Growth and Community Subgroups remain one of the Society’s greatest strengths, and Council discussions reflected their vitality. BPS Secretary Teresa Giraldez shared feedback from the meeting of the Subgroup Chairs at the Annual Meeting, which indicated strong participation, high en thusiasm, and an overall successful Subgroup Saturday in San Francisco. An early milestone this year was the official launch of the new Muscle Biology Subgroup, expanding the Society’s scientific reach and creating new opportunities for collaboration. Council also discussed the evolution of Sub group programming. While integration into the main meeting program beginning in 2027 offers new visibility and a chance to highlight topics, Subgroup leaders emphasized the im portance of maintaining the distinct “Subgroup vibe”—the flexibility, intimacy, and community building that make these gatherings special. Council agreed that clear communications will be essential to ensure members understand

that Subgroup identity remains central even as formats evolve. Inclusion, Engagement, and BPS Values Council approved a recommendation to rename the Committee on Inclusion and Diver sity as the Committee on Excellence and En gagement in Biophysics. This change reflects an intention to emphasize broad participation and scientific excellence while continuing to foster welcoming environments for all mem bers. Incoming BPS President Karen G. Fleming shared her vision for the Society, framing the coming year as a time not merely to “hold on tight,” but to actively shape the future of the field. Several key priorities emerged: • Clarifying the role and value of a scien tific society in an increasingly digital and interconnected world and articulating the value of membership beyond the Annual Meeting; • Strengthening BPS as a natural home for emerging areas, including applied artificial intelligence in biophysics; • Expanding support for members pursuing diverse careers, especially those in industry; and • Maintaining strong international engagement amid challenging geopolitical conditions. These themes resonated across many discus sions and will guide Council’s work in the year ahead. Publications: Momentum and Opportunities Publications remain a vital pillar of the Society, both scientifically and financially. Council heard encouraging news from Biophysical Journal Ed itor-in-Chief Vasanthi Jayaraman , who reported a significant increase in submissions at a time when many journals are experiencing declines. This success reflects the grassroots efforts by editors and contributors, the strength of new sections such as Computational Bio physics, and innovative special issues that attract global attention. Council also discussed

Melanie Cocco Editor-in-Chief

Society Office Jennifer Pesanelli Executive Officer Newsletter

Executive Editor Jennifer Pesanelli Managing Editor John Long Production Ray Wolfe Meredith Zimmerman Proofreader/Copy Editor The Biophysical Society Newsletter (ISSN 0006-3495) is published eleven times per year, January-December, by the Biophysical Society, 6903 Rockledge Drive, Suite 540, Bethesda, Maryland 20817. Distributed to USA members and other countries at no cost. Canadian GST No. 898477062. Postmaster: Send address changes to Biophysical Society, 6903 Rockledge Drive, Suite 540, Bethesda, MD 20817. Copyright © 2026 by the Biophysical Society. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Darren Early Laura Phelan

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Council Update

Looking Forward As we concluded our final Council session, one message came through clearly: the Biophysical Society is navigating change from a position of strength. Challenges exist, but so do op portunities. We are well poised to broaden engagement, to support evolving career paths, to innovate scientifically, and to ensure that BPS continues to serve as a global home for biophysics. The Annual Meeting remains our “mecca” for in-person networking and scientific exchange, but Council discussions underscored an equally important goal: making the Society’s value felt throughout the year and across disciplines, career stages, and geographic boundaries. On behalf of Council and the dedicated staff who support its work, thank you for your engagement and commitment to the Society. Your ideas, participation, and scientific contributions shape the future we are building together, and we look for ward to continuing this work with you in the months ahead. — Karen G. Fleming , President — Jennifer Pesanelli , Executive Officer

the importance of member participation in Society journals, emphasizing that the long-term health of BPS publishing depends on community support. The Biophysicist Editor-in-Chief Padmini Rangamani described both challenges and exciting possibilities. Submissions have slowed somewhat as researchers navigate uncertainties in their labs, but mentorship-focused editorial practices con tinue to strengthen the journal. Planned thematic issues on graduate education worldwide and AI in education aim to expand its reach and relevance. Discussions also included the possibility of a future title change to better communicate the journal’s identity and scope. Biophysical Reports continues its evolution under the new editorial leadership of Melanie Cocco . Council explored ways to distinguish the journal more clearly from Biophysical Journal , and supported Cocco’s recommendation for a new article type called Method Review, which would allow authors to provide a complete explanation of a method that typically isn’t pos sible in the confines of a research article. A virtual collection could be created that would allow readers to find the reviews in one place. Cocco also would like to investigate changing the name of the journal, such as to Biophysical Methods and Re ports , to better describe the focus and content of the journal.

Access expert advice on topics like: • Navigating career transitions • Science communications • Leadership and mentorship • Work-life balance in academia and industry Explore these resources at your own pace and gain valuable insights to support your professional growth. Start learning today at www.biophysics.org/ondemand Expand Your Skills with BPS On-Demand Looking to strengthen your professional skills and advance your career in biophysics? The BPS On-Demand Video Library offers a wide range of webinars and resources focused on career development, mentoring, and essential skills for scientists at all career stages.

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Publications

Know the Editor Lalima K. Madan

Editor’s Pick

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Medical University of South Carolina Editor, Proteins Biophysical Journal

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At a cocktail party of non-scientists, how would you explain what you do? I study how proteins “change their mind.” Proteins are the molecular machines that run everything in your body: they carry oxygen, fight infections, and send signals between cells. But here’s the thing: most proteins don’t just sit there pas sively waiting to be switched on or off. They’re constantly shifting shape, subtly, in ways that change what they do and how well they do it. My lab uses computer simulations to watch these shape changes in slow motion: think of it like having a super-powered microscope that can see individual atoms moving. We’re trying to figure out the hidden rules that govern these shape changes, because when those rules go wrong, you get diseases like cancer. Who would you like to sit next to at a dinner party (scientist or not)? Marie Curie , without a question. She is the only person in history to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences, Physics and Chemistry, at a time when women in her home country of Poland weren’t even permitted to attend university. She found a way anyway. I’d want to ask her what it felt like to do world-changing work and still have to fight to be seen. As a woman in science myself, her story is my deepest inspiration. Her grit, her refusal to be diminished, fuels me every day— and I know I am not alone in that. Countless women in science carry her story forward into every lab, every lecture hall, every room where we are still, sometimes, the only one who looks like us. I think the conversation would last well past dessert!

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Biophysical Reports Dynamic velocity response of E. coli powered by proteorho dopsin Silvio Bianchi, Giacomo Donini, Maria Cristina Cannarsa, Giacomo Frangipane, and Roberto Di Leonardo “Proteorhodopsin, a well-known, light-activated proton pump, enables precise regulation of bacterial motility. Here, the authors present a systematic and quantitative analysis of light-driven E. coli propulsion, examining how response time and amplitude depend on illumination intensity and wave length. Measurements were used to test an electrical circuit model for the proton motive force, providing insights into proton fluxes through flagellar motors while simultaneously revealing the model’s limitations.” F-ATPase light on light off τ τ ATP τ stator c) d)

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Version of Record Published February 23, 2026 DOI: https:/doi.org/10.1016/j.bpr.2026.100254

Numbers By the Biophysical Society members may join and participate in multiple Subgroups to reflect their diverse research interests and expertise. Currently, 35% of BPS members belong to more than one Subgroup.

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Daniel J. Deredge Area of Research

Institution University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

Application of structural protein mass spectrometry tools integrated with computational chemistry approaches to address biophysical questions

At-a-Glance

Daniel J. Deredge , Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Univer sity of Maryland School of Pharmacy, recalls feeling inspired as a student in science class, an early spark that has since grown into his career in structural biology. “I still remember my fascination the first time I encountered concepts like the genetic code, the central dogma of gene expression, and the idea that a protein’s sequence encodes its structure, and that structure determines function,” he shares. “These concepts were very impactful and inspiring to me.” Now, Deredge integrates exper imental and computational tools to understand how proteins move and why those movements matter for human disease.

Daniel J. Deredge

Daniel J. Deredge was born in France and spent many of his formative years in Ethiopia, also with time spent in other countries including the United States. “All this travel gave me an early appreciation for cultural diversity and adaptability,” he says. “Growing up across different environments shaped both my worldview and my comfort with navigating new endeav ors, something that turns out to be very useful in interdisci plinary, collaborative science.” Neither of his parents were scientists, but both worked in academia and education. That household environment nor malized academia, which might have otherwise seemed like a distant world. “Growing up, I frequently heard conversations about teaching, academic concerns, and institutions, which, in hindsight, made academia feel like a natural environment rather than a distant objective,” Deredge reflects. “They instilled in me a deep respect for education and curiosity, and perhaps just as importantly, a comfort with academic life that made pursuing a research career feel less intimidating and more like a continuation of something familiar.” His scientific journey formally started at Louisiana State Uni versity (LSU), where he earned both his Bachelor of Science degree and PhD in Biochemistry. He explains, “A first real crossroads came when I was choosing a lab for graduate studies. I had the opportunity to join two broadly different research groups, and I ultimately chose the Licata lab at LSU. That decision proved foundational. The science and the intellectual culture of constant curiosity and rigor truly set me on this path.” His decision to join Vince Licata ’s lab for his graduate studies proved pivotal. “In the Licata lab, the pursuit of quantitative, physics-based, and thermodynamic principles to explain biological phenomena, combined with a culture of constant scientific curiosity, was both highly stimulating and deeply rewarding,” he says. His doctoral research focused on protein-DNA interactions, and he became deeply interested in

the ways molecular recognition and conformational dynamics govern biological function. His graduate research experience sparked a broader fascination with structural mechanism and macromolecular flexibility. Postdoctoral training at Case Western Reserve University, in Patrick Wintrode ’s lab, introduced Deredge to the experi mental technique that would define his independent career: hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS). The method measures how readily the hydrogen atoms in a protein’s backbone exchange with the surrounding sol vent—a readout of how open, flexible, or protected different regions of the protein are. “It felt like finding the right experi mental tool for the question: how do proteins move, and why does it matter?” he says. “The ability to experimentally probe conformational dynamics in solution was transformative for me. That curiosity ultimately evolved into my current work in tegrating HDX-MS with computational modeling and applying those approaches to complex systems like the Dengue virus NS5 protein.” However, HDX-MS has its limits. It provides information at the level of peptide segments, not individual atoms. During his postdoctoral years, which also included time at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, Deredge began working to bridge that gap. “HDX-MS provides peptide-level information about protein flexibility, while simulations give atomistic detail,” he explains. “Integrating both, if done right, provides the best of both worlds.” That insight became the cornerstone of his research program: combining experimental HDX-MS with molecular dynamics simulations to make protein dynamics not just observable, but quantitatively interpretable. Today, Deredge’s lab at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy works at the intersection of structural mass spectrometry, computational modeling, and translational

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Biophysicist in Profile

Deredge’s connection to the Biophysical Society goes back to his first major scientific conference, the BPS Annual Meeting, attended as a graduate student in the mid-2000s. “I remem ber being struck by the breadth and depth of the science and by the intellectual energy of the community,” he recalls. “I left that meeting convinced that this was a community I wanted to be part of.” That meeting was held in Baltimore, Maryland, the city where Deredge now works and lives. “I am reminded of that meeting almost weekly as I drive past the convention center,” he says. He now serves as faculty advisor to a Biophysical Society Student Chapter at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, an initiative he sees as emblematic of what makes the Society valuable. Beyond the Annual Meeting and the pages of Bio physical Journal —an important outlet for his group’s work—it is the Society’s investment in the next generation of scientists that he finds most meaningful.

virology. A central focus is the NS5 protein of the Dengue virus, the largest and most conserved protein the virus produces, and a compelling target for therapeutic intervention. The lab uses HDX-MS alongside cryo-electron microscopy and computa tional modeling to map the protein’s conformational landscape: the range of shapes it adopts and how those shapes relate to its function. The goal is not only to understand NS5, but to use that understanding to guide the development of antivirals. Increasingly, machine learning is entering the picture. “The future lies in tightly coupling experiment, simulation, and machine learning so that we do not just observe dynamics, we model them quantitatively and use them to guide intervention,” Deredge says. He describes his broader vision for the field in terms that are both ambitious and grounded: “I hope to con tribute by advancing HDX-MS toward high-resolution, quanti tative structural modeling and by applying these approaches to translational challenges such as antiviral development against Dengue.” Running an interdisciplinary lab is not a simple undertaking. Deredge identifies it as the biggest challenge of his career so far. “Integrating advanced mass spectrometry, high-per formance computing, and translational virology requires infrastructure, collaboration, and a shared language across disciplines,” he says. His approach has been to lean into collab oration and mentorship, building a team comfortable thinking in both experimental and computational registers. The effort, he says, has also been the most rewarding of his professional life. When asked what he finds most rewarding about his work, the answer has shifted over the years. Early in his career, it was the clean satisfaction of research done well. “Formulating a hy pothesis grounded in careful observation, rigorously testing it, and discovering that the data support your mechanistic insight,” he says. Now, something else has moved to the foreground. “Observing the transformation of trainees and students as they develop technical skills, intellectual independence, and scientif ic judgment and ultimately begin to think and act as scientists has become profoundly meaningful.” Daniel J. Deredge at an early social event for the University of Maryland, Baltimore BPS Student Chapter.

Ask Deredge what he loves about biophysics and the answer reveals both the scientist and the teacher. “Biophysics seeks to explain how biological observations happen as they do through a foundation rooted in fundamental, quantitative, physics-based principles,” he says. “It asks not just what happens in biology, but why and how, and does so using the language of thermo dynamics, mechanics, and molecular interactions.” It is a framework he finds both

Daniel J. Deredge poses in a frame used for social media photos during Biophysics Week 2024.

intellectually elegant and practically powerful. “Biophysical insight plays a critical role in pharmaceutical and biomedical development, guiding everything from understanding disease mechanisms to designing therapeutics. For me, that combi nation—quantitative rigor and real-world impact—is what makes biophysics so compelling.” To younger scientists considering the field, Deredge offers advice that reflects his own trajectory: “Do not be afraid of technical difficulty—that is often where the most meaning ful and impactful science resides. Develop depth in at least one area but remain intellectually curious across disciplines. Biophysics thrives at the interfaces between fields.” Above all, he emphasizes resilience: “Progress in our field often requires sustained effort and resilience in the face of uncertainty.”

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Public Affairs

NSF Reorients Funding Toward AI and Quantum Science The National Science Foundation (NSF) is undergoing a significant strategic shift, with AI and quantum information science emerging as dominant priorities in its $9 billion research portfolio. At a recent meeting of the National Science Board, Acting Director Brian Stone and Chief Management Officer Micah Cheatham described how the agency is aligning its programs with White House goals emphasizing technological leadership in AI and quantum systems. The change marks a significant departure from the NSF’s long-standing bottom-up model, in which research directions were shaped primarily by investigator proposals and community input across all scientific disciplines. To accelerate progress in these transformative fields, the NSF has created a new interdisciplinary funding track, “frontier ini tiatives,” currently focused exclusively on AI and quantum research. The agency has also reduced the number of topic-specific grant solicitations and narrowed its use of rotating academic program officers to those with expertise aligned with these areas. Officials say the streamlined structure is intended to concentrate resources and reduce administrative complexity. The pivot comes amid a 35% reduction in staff over the past year, with further growth constrained by budget uncertainties. Although Congress ultimately limited funding cuts to 3%, earlier proposals had called for substantially deeper reductions, placing pres sure on the agency to prioritize strategically. While many researchers acknowledge the scientific and economic importance of AI and quantum technologies, they caution that sustained US leadership in science depends on maintaining the NSF’s historic breadth—supporting fundamental research in biology, geoscience, mathematics, social science, and engineering that often seeds future breakthroughs in emerging fields. As the NSF recalibrates its funding mechanisms, the central question for the scientific community is how to balance targeted investment in high-impact technologies with the broad, curiosity-driven research ecosystem that has long defined the agency’s mission.

New DOE Advisory Panel Signals Strategic Focus for Office of Science The Department of Energy (DOE) has appointed a new 21-member Office of Science Advisory Committee (SCAC) to guide its $8.4 billion Office of Science, the nation’s largest funder of physical sciences research. The panel replaces six discipline-specific advisory committees that were disbanded last year, consolidating guidance into a single body. Chaired by Persis Drell , former director of SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, the committee includes leaders from universities, nonprofit research organizations, and industry. In announcing the panel, DOE Undersecretary for Science Darío Gil stated that its creation “underscores the Department’s commitment to scientific integrity and the power of partner ship.” The SCAC’s composition reflects a strategic emphasis on AI and advanced computing, areas central to the DOE’s Genesis Mission to integrate AI across scientific research. Computer science expertise is strongly represented, alongside experi ence in energy technology and research management. Some scientific communities note that not all of the DOE’s six core research programs—advanced scientific computing, basic en ergy sciences, biological and environmental research, fusion

energy sciences, high-energy physics, and nuclear physics— have direct representation on the panel. As a high-level ad visory body, the SCAC is expected to focus on broad priorities and major initiatives rather than program-level decisions. The restructuring marks a shift toward centralized strate gic oversight at a time when the DOE is investing heavily in AI-enabled discovery, next-generation computing, and large scale scientific infrastructure. For the research community, the effectiveness of the new model will depend on how well it balances cross-cutting national priorities with the depth and diversity that have long characterized the Office of Science’s portfolio. Proposed NIST Security Rules Raise Broader Concerns for US Science The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is considering new security rules that would limit stays for foreign visiting researchers to three years and restrict after-hours lab access. Scientists from several countries classified as “high risk” could face earlier reviews and possible termination, particularly in areas such as quantum science and AI.

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Public Affairs

NIST says that the policy is intended to ensure that its foreign national associate program supports the agency’s mission while minimizing national risk. The rules have not been final ized. Roughly 500 foreign graduate students, postdocs, and research scientists across its Boulder, Colorado and Gaith ersburg, Maryland campuses could be affected, and many of them require more than three years to complete doctoral research. Because NIST operates as a hub for measurement science, quantum standards, semiconductor metrology, and advanced manufacturing, a contraction in its international workforce could reverberate beyond a single agency. Federal research institutions, including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy National Laboratories, rely on similar global talent pipelines and collaborative training models. A precedent that shortens research appointments or narrows international participation could slow graduate training, disrupt multiagency research partnerships, and weaken the United States’ ability to com pete in strategically important fields. For a federal science enterprise built on openness, mobility, and long-term invest ment in people, the implications extend well beyond NIST’s campuses.

The cuts could indirectly affect biophysics, which relies on STFC-supported infrastructure such as synchrotrons, neutron sources, and advanced imaging. Reduced access to facilities and a smaller pipeline of trained physics researchers may slow interdisciplinary work, structural biology, and molecular modeling. By prioritizing applied programs over curiosity- driven research, the changes risk slowing both fundamental physics discoveries and cross-disciplinary innovation, threat ening the United Kingdom’s long-term scientific leadership. Japan’s New Government Signals Boost for Science and Research and Development Since taking office in October 2025, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has prioritized making Japan a technology-driven nation. Now with a supermajority behind her, Takaichi plans to invest heavily in strategic sectors, including AI, semicon ductors, and biotechnology, framing technology development as part of a security-oriented growth strategy. The admin istration is also calling for a substantial expansion of basic research in a five-year plan being drafted by the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation. Modest budget increases are already underway: the fiscal year 2026 budget proposes a 1.5% increase for basic and academic research to the equivalent of $12.7 billion, a 4% boost for the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi) program to $7.1 billion, and a 1.7% increase in university operating grants to $6.4 billion. These measures aim to strengthen competitive funding for individual researchers, support younger scientists, and stabilize university research operations. Although the increases remain small relative to long-term funding needs, the focus on both applied tech- nology and basic research marks a potentially transformative shift for Japan’s science ecosystem.

Around the World UK Physics Cuts Threaten Biophysics and Curiosity-Driven Research

The United Kingdom’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) will cut funding for particle physics, nuclear physics, and astronomy by 30%, aligning with UK Research and Innovation’s focus on applied research and government priorities. The reductions affect ongoing and new projects, with some potentially losing all support, and include reviews of facilities to achieve an overall £162 million savings by the end of the decade.

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Annual Meeting

Symposia & Workshops

There were sessions for every interest, beginning with 17 Saturday Subgroup symposia and including 24 Annual Meeting symposia, 5 workshops, and 51 platforms, all highlighting the latest research topics and biophysical techniques.

BPS Lecture Lewis E. Kay, University of Toronto, delivered his presentation, “The Essentiality of Solution NMR Spectroscopy in the Post-AlphaFold Era,” at the BPS Lecture on Monday, February 23.

Apple Airpod and Bose Speaker Ra ff l e

John Werb University of Southern California

Ziyun Zhang Soka University

Career Programs

There were 43 career and education-related sessions for attendees at all career levels, in addition to one-on-one resume critiquing and career counseling.

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Annual Meeting

Poster Presentations

The over 500 daily poster presentations were overflowing with scientists from around the globe wanting to hear about the latest research spanning the interdisciplinary field of biophysics. In addition, more than 500 attendees presented their research in the daily platform sessions.

1 st Place Lipid on the Move Yupeng Li, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

2 nd Place Fission and Flow Jessica Heebner, Thermo Fisher Scientific

3 rd Place Nanoscale Battle Inside a Zombie Fly Sohaib Abdul Rehman, Harvard University

The Biophysical Society Art of Science Image Contest received more than 30 submissions. The 10 finalists were displayed at the Annual Meeting, where attendees voted on their top two images. Congratulations to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. A special thank you to Chroma Technology for sponsoring the contest and prizes. Visit the BPS website for the full descriptions of the images: www.bipohysics.org.

Image Contest

Exhibits

Exhibitors had a full three days of interactions with attendees, giving product demonstrations to see the latest lab equipment, discussing scientific publications, and introducing new technologies. There were 15 one-on-one exhibitor presentations held to provide more in-depth information along with equipment demonstrations at the Annual Meeting.

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Annual Meeting

2026 Student Research Achievement Award Poster Competition Winners The 35 winners of the annual Student Research Achievement Awards (SRAA) were recognized at the 70th Biophysical Soci ety Annual Meeting Awards Ceremony on February 23, 2026. These students were selected by judges from the Society’s Subgroups for their outstanding presentations during the poster competition. A total of 153 students participated in the competition. The 2026 SRAA winners are: Bioenergetics, Mitochondria, and Metabolism Subgroup Sarah Crotzer , New Mexico Tech, USA In Silico Mutagenesis Reveals Residues That Modulate ATP Syn thase Transmembrane Domain Leak Channel Behavior Bioengineering Subgroup Avisekh Pal , Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Centre for Nano science and Engineering, India Label-Free Identification of Bacteria and Beads via Micropore Translocation Dynamics Helena Miljkovic , École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland SICM as a Novel Tool: From Single-Protein Detection to Material Properties of Biomolecular Condensates Biological Fluorescence Subgroup Himanshi Devi , Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India Lysine Succinylation in Charge Rich Proteins Measured Using a Novel Label Free Tool Biopolymers in Vivo Subgroup Yu-Huan Wang , University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA Fluorescence Imaging of Gene Loci in Escherichia coli Reveals Marker Size-Dependent Dynamics and Spatially Heterogeneous Chromosome Confinement Tommaso Inzani , Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy Polymer Conformational Entropy as Driver of Complex Coacervation Channels, Receptors, and Transporters Subgroup Sarah Luise Schmidt , Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland Unravelling Rapid Kinetics Driving Human Daylight Vision Brice Durocher , University of Iowa, USA Structural Basis of the Tok1 Potassium Channel from Candida albicans

Kaei Ryu , Jichi Medical University, Japan The Extracellular Turret Is Essential for Gating in Both HCN and Kv Channels Lasse Desdorf , Aarhus University, Denmark Structure-Guided Design for NBCn2: Routes to Selective Inhibition Arnav Paul , University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA Mechanistic Insights into Glucose Transport for PfHT1 from Mo lecular Dynamics and Graph Attention Models Cryo-EM Subgroup Vinh Truong , St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, USA Structural Basis of End Recognition and Pairing by Cut-and-Paste Transposons Haley Johnson , Baylor College of Medicine, USA (wwPDB Spon sored Winner) Basehunter, a New Approach to Determining DNA Sequence in Cryo-Electron Density Maps, Reveals DNA Sequence-Dependent Capture of Gyrase Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Subgroup Virginia Jiang , Princeton University, USA Development of a Multiscale Framework for Engineering Protein Condensates as Microreactors Nicholas Razo , Washington University in St. Louis, USA Dynamic Time Warping for Sequence Alignments Macromolecular Machines and Assemblies Subgroup Alana Gudinas , Stanford University, USA Ion-Selective Structural Transitions of a Disordered Repeats-in-Toxin Protein Domain Martin Yepes , Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA Substrate Binding Sites and Conformational Dynamics of the Bacterial Peptidoglycan Synthase Complex Luke Johnson , University of Leeds, United Kingdom Single-Molecule Fluorescence Provides Insights into the Rate-Limiting Step in BAM-Mediated OMP Folding Mechanobiology Subgroup Natalie Rogers , University of Michigan, USA Mapping the Lipid Environment of Structures that Sense Plasma Membrane Tension Membrane Fusion, Fission, and Traffic Subgroup Ana Paula Vargas Ruiz , University of California, Berkeley, USA A FRET Based Molecular Tension Sensor Reveals Actin-Driven Force Dynamics in Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis Anelise Hutson , Case Western Reserve University, USA Structural Insights into Regulation of Mitochondrial Fission Membrane Structure and Function Subgroup Melissa Hübschen , Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Germany Excipients vs. Lipophilic Plasma Components: Investigation of the Binding Mechanism of Lipids, Fatty Acids, and Detergents with Human Serum Albumin

April 2026

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Annual Meeting

2026 Undergraduate Poster Award Competition Winners The 10 winners of the annual Undergraduate Poster Award Competition (UPAC) were recognized at the 70th Biophysical Society Annual Meeting Awards Ceremony on February 23, 2026. Judges from every career level selected these students for their outstanding presentations during the poster compe tition. A total of 71 students participated in the competition. The winners are: Colin Frank , University of Florida, USA Molecular Mechanisms of TRPM1 Regulation by Heterotrimeric G-Protein Alice Walker , Williams College, USA Mechanistic Influence of pH, Lipid Composition, and Small Mole cule Inhibitors on Dengue Virus Membrane Fusion Julian Chen , Swarthmore College, USA Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Reveals Concentration-Dependent Assembly of a Bacterial Amyloid Jenson Aaron , University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA Sex- and Age-Dependent Mechanisms of the Mechano-Chrono tropic Response in the Sinoatrial Node Soleil Chung , University of Arizona, USA Deciphering Retinal Orientation and Dynamics in Rhodopsin with Deuterium NMR and Quantum Mechanical Calculations Alexander Holloway , University of Texas at Austin, USA HaloTag-Based Approach to Quantify Subcellular Localization of TRPV3 Channel Kieran Fruebis , University of Washington, USA Structural Dynamics of Myosin Loop 2 as a Regulator of Actomy osin Interaction Iren Saffarian-Deemyad , Stanford University, USA Single-Molecule Measurements of an Ancestral RNA-Guided Nuclease Reveal R-Loop Dynamics, Discrete Intermediates, and Mechanisms of Improved Variants Ronan Tia , Stony Brook University, USA Object Engulfment by Cellular Aggregates (“Spherophagy”): Com putational Simulations with Applications to Destruction of Solid Tumors Rajiv Venkatesh , University of Chicago, USA Investigating the Role of the HFLK/C-FTSH Protease Complex on Membrane Modulation and State Transition in E. coli Using Molec ular Dynamics Simulation

Daryna Sputay , University of Virginia, USA The Functional Role of Localized Plasma Membrane Scrambling in Immune Cell Activation Membrane Transport Subgroup Peixuan Yu , Michigan State University, USA Structure and Functional Characterization of the Human Prosta glandin Transporter (PGT) Sarah McGuinness , University of Illinois at Chicago, USA Computational Scanning of Pore-Lining Residues in Claudin-15 Ion Channels and Their Effect on Channel Selectivity Motility and Cytoskeleton Subgroup Adam Decker , University of Michigan, USA Resolving the Organization and Dynamics of Membrane-Proximal Actin in Live Cells Maryum Irshad , University of Cincinnati, USA A Machine Learning Approach to Extracting Protein-Protein Bind ing Energies from Molecular Dynamics Simulations Nanoscale Approaches to Biology Subgroup Yongsuk Lee , Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), South Korea Molecular Contact Map of Biomolecular Condensates Shows Connectivity Giving Rise to Mechanical Properties Nicole Voce , Northeastern University, USA Molecular Biophysics: A Quantum Sensing Approach Physical Cell Biology Subgroup Shi Yu William Guo , Scripps Research Institute, USA Developing an Assay to Quantitatively Measure Protein-RNA Interactions in the Cellular Context Yuyi Zhang , University of California, San Diego, USA The Endoplasmic Reticulum as an Intracellular Transport Hub— From Contact Sites to Ca²⁺ Refill Single-Molecule Forces, Manipulation, and Visualization Subgroup Alyssa Gonneville , University of Tennessee, USA Single-Molecule Visualization of Function-Related Dynamics of the Human Stimulatory G-Alpha Protein Peter Murray , Johns Hopkins University, USA Light-Activated CRISPR for On-Demand Perturbation of Chromatin Insulators Theory and Computation Subgroup Sophia Alvarez , University of Texas at Dallas, USA Rational Sequence Evolution from an Epistatic Model Produces Well Characterized Variants with Specified Antibiotic Resistances Bryan Gworek , University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA Modeling-Informed Experiments Capture Arc-Lipid Interactions Critical to Intercellular Communication

April 2026

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2026 Call for Local or Virtual Networking Events

Are you interested in hosting an event to connect with fellow biophysicists? The Biophysical Society can help! BPS is calling for Networking Events. BPS will support both virtual and in-person local Networking Events—the format will be up to you. Past events have included career panels, trivia nights, and programs of short talks from different institutions. The goal is to bring biophysicists together. Benefits of Hosting a Virtual BPS Networking Event: • BPS will provide the Zoom virtual platform for the meeting • BPS will help you advertise the meeting (social media, emails, BPS Bulletin , etc.) • BPS will collect and coordinate the registration process on our website • You can attract attendees from all over the world to get together on a topic! Benefits of Hosting an In-Person BPS Networking Event: • BPS will reimburse you up to $500 for the costs associated with hosting the meeting • BPS will help you advertise the meeting (social media, emails, BPS Bulletin , etc.) • You can meet and exchange ideas with others at your institution and neighboring communities! All current Society members are eligible to apply. BPS will be accepting Networking Event proposals for events occurring in September 2026 and beyond. The Networking Event submission site will be open until April 30, 2026. Applicants will be notified of the results in June. For more information about proposal requirements and to view past and upcoming Networking Events, please visit www.biophysics.org/networking-events.

Submit your paper.

cell.com/biophysreports

April 2025

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Member Corner

Members in the News

Mary Jo Ondrechen , Northeastern University and Biophysical Society member since 2006, is the recipient of the 2026 AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award.

Mary Jo Ondrechen

Grants & Opportunities

Kavli Scholars The Kavli Foundation invites applications from Kavli affiliates to nominate an individual who has experienced disruption in their work, or interruption of previously committed scholarship or grant funds, to be considered for a Kavli Scholar award. Who can apply: Kavli Institutes, Kavli Prize Laureates, and other Kavli Affiliates can nominate individuals. Deadline: June 15, 2026 Website: www.kavlifoundation.org/funding-opportunities

Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants The Burroughs Wellcome Fund aims to stimulate the growth of new connections between thinkers working in largely disconnected fields who, together, may change the course of climate change’s impact on human health. Between Fall 2023 and Summer 2026, $1 million will be dedicated to supporting small, early-stage grants of $2,500–$50,000 toward achieving this goal. Who can apply: Academic scientists, physicians, and public health experts, community organizations, science outreach centers, non-biomedical academic departments, and more. Deadline: April 23, 2026 and July 23, 2026 Website: www.bwfund.org/grants/climate-change-and human-health/climate-change-and-human-health seed-grants/#about

Student Spotlight

Josephine Ngo Bamal University of Yaoundé I What inspired you to study biophysics?

Since secondary school, I have been passionate about natural science subjects. During my undergraduate study, I chose physics to become a role model in a discipline that was male dominated. During my postgraduate study, I real ized that my impact would be more meaningful in a multidisciplinary field of natural sciences, leading me to biophys ics. Being able to apply the fundamental laws of physics and mathematical tools to understand complex biological systems, from molecular interactions to medical applications, is exactly the kind of study I was looking for.

Josephine Ngo Bamal

April 2026

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