Biophysical Society Bulletin | December 2018

Annual Meeting

BPS Congressional Fellow

Yasmeen Hussain Shares Her BPS Congressional Fellowship Experience

Join our panel of government and industry insiders as we explore how the congressional budget is developed, historical trends in science funding, and what the future may hold! Invited speakers include: • Hon. Barbara Mikulski , former US Senator, Maryland, and former Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Professor, Public Policy, Johns Hopkins University. • Hon. John Tierney , former US Representative, Massachu- setts. • Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI-2), House Committee on Appropriations. The Nuts and Bolts of Preparing Your NIH Grant Tuesday, March 5, 1:30 PM–3:00 PM The National Institutes of Health is the world’s largest funder of fundamental biomedical research. You have likely spent years training and are now ready to apply for a NIH grant. But where do you start? At this session, program directors and officers with exper- tise in biophysics will be providing details on the 2019 NIH

grant-making process, with a particular emphasis on grant writing and submission for new and early career investiga- tors. Organizer: Peter Preusch , Biophysics Branch Chief in the Divi- sion of Biophysics, Biomedical Technology, and Computational Biosciences, NIH. Publications Session Virtual Biophysics: Virtual and Augmented Reality Meets Biophysics Monday, March 4, 2:15 PM–3:45 PM As virtual reality has become cheaper and more accessible, the research and educational applications of this technolo- gy have grown. Virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (VR, AR, and MR) technologies offer immersive experiences by exposing human senses to computer-generated sounds, images, and haptic stimulations. This session will showcase to researchers, educators, and students how these technol- ogies are being applied in biophysics research and education and offer participants a chance to test out these new tools and experience the power and prospects of VR and AR in the classroom and the research lab.

Hello, fellow BPS members! I can’t believe my year as the Biophysical Society AAAS Congressional Fellow has come to an end. I learned a lot about how the federal government works and how to advocate effec- tively, and I wanted to share a few tips with you: Know your audience This may sound cliché but is often forgotten. A congressional staffer

Making policy is often a long game Bills often don’t advance through committee and the odds of a bill being enacted into law are lower than biomedical research grant proposal success rates. So approach your advocacy with optimism and patience for a system that isn’t designed for expediency. Are you interested in becoming more involved in science policy? Depending on your career stage, you might consider these on-campus activities: Take a class from your universi- ty’s school of public policy, or classes in other departments on communication, leadership, ethics, or other topics of interest to you. Participate in campus “lobby days” to state government, and in BPS or other professional society advo- cacy activities. Get involved in student government and other academic policy bodies — some schools require student or postdoc representation on boards and faculty councils. Facili- tate career exploration seminars. Or you might engage in these off-campus activities: Partici- pate in outreach activities, communicate with public audienc- es in person or through writing, and be generally involved in your community. Advocate directly to your representatives in Congress and in your state’s government, through visits to their offices or invitations to your workspace. Write an op-ed or public science communication piece. Serve on a local government advisory board or on public affairs committees. Apply for a science policy fellowship. VOTE. You don’t have to quit your research job in order to be a great advocate for science. Some of the most powerful voices for research that I heard from this year were researchers like you who have scientific experience and credentials and also take the time to visit congressional offices to tell the stories of the broader impacts of their work and the stories of how their work is impacted by federal policy. But if you’re finding yourself more drawn to policy than ever, consider applying for the Biophysical Society Congressional Fellowship! BPS Congressional Fellow Members of have obtained their PhD and are eligible to work in the United States may apply. Application deadline: December 22, 2018 Visit www.biophysics.org for additional content.

may not know the famous lab in your field or get much out of a detailed description of your methodology. They will more likely be interested in why you’re working on what you’re working on, the potential impact of your work, and how you can inform federal policy or how you’re affected by it. Meet- ings with congressional staff last a maximum of 30 minutes, so get right to your message. Be courteous Congressional staff don’t usually have PhDs, but should be treated with the same respect afforded to any professional colleague. Unprofessional behavior like down-talking, miss- ing handshakes, eye-rolling, or saying “you look very young” doesn’t help an advocate’s case. Bring brief, clear materials A one-page document outlining your main messages and any legislation you’re discussing at your meeting can be helpful. The best business cards are simple, standard size, and are made of material that can be written on by the recipient. Do some research Before going into a meeting with or contacting the staff of a member of Congress, find relevant information like the position that the member has previously taken on the topic you want to discuss, what institutions or organizations in the member’s district may be affected, or the status of the bills or appropriations you’re hoping to discuss. Common mistakes include asking the member to sign on to a letter that has already been sent, co-sponsor a bill that has been passed, or make an appropriations request after the Appropriations Committee deadlines.

GET INVOLVED! The fourth annual Biophysics Week will take place March 25–29, 2019. We invite you to participate in this highly successful event which has grown each year as the field of biophysics expands and awareness of bio- physics increases. Join this global celebration by planning an affiliate event. The Biophysical Society is committed to helping you celebrate by providing resources such as lesson plans, flyers, brochures, and profiles of biophysicists. Register your activity by January 15, 2019 , and you will receive a customized e-poster to help you advertise your event. Visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/5WBN26Z.

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T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E B I O P H Y S I C A L S O C I E T Y

T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E B I O P H Y S I C A L S O C I E T Y