Biophysical Society Bulletin | December 2021

Cheers for Volunteers

Michaela Jansen Committee for Professional Opportunities for Women (CPOW)

Michaela Jansen

Is this your first volunteer position for BPS? If not, what other positions have you held? I have been a member of Committee for Professional Oppor- tunities for Women (CPOW) since 2018. Just prior to that I served as Chair for a Subgroup Name Change Committee for the Permeation and Transport Subgroup. This was a short and maybe successful stint, since the Subgroup is now called BPS’s CPOW is a group with tremendously committed and talented individuals. Previous and current members have in- spired me to join this committee. “CPOW was charged by BPS to promote a culture of excellence, fairness, inclusion, and diversity; to highlight contributions by women biophysicists; to educate girls and women; and to assist the advancement and retention of women biophysicists.” ( Is CPOW Still Relevant? by Gabriela Popescu , www.biophysics.org/blog/is-cpow-still- relevant). I volunteer because this mission is so important, and even more crucial in light of the COVID-19 impact on the (academic) workforce. What has been a highlight from your volunteer experience? During the BPS Annual Meeting in 2019 in Baltimore, I attended the Travel Award Reception. Interacting with the junior colleagues, mostly graduate students from different “Membrane Transport.” Why do you volunteer?

graduate schools all over the country and the world, was very energizing. For many it was their first BPS meeting and also their first international meeting. Their excitement about being at this meeting is exactly what I feel each time I pack up to go. It is always a highlight to look the future in the eye! Do you have advice for others who might be thinking about volunteering? I find it important to give back to our local, regional, and (inter)national groups of professional societies and groups in general. When thinking about volunteering, the best oppor- tunities are those that are close to our heart and that interest us. Investing time in a topic of interest is a process that gives more energy back than it takes. When not volunteering for BPS, what do you work on? My lab studies pentameric ligand-gated ion channels with a focus on the intracellular domain’s contributions to struc- ture, assembly, and function, and additionally on the mo- lecular mechanisms of drugs binding to these receptors. We also work on different solute transporters for vitamins and nucleosides. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family of four humans, two dogs, and five chickens. Favorite family activities include hiking in Caprock Canyon or Palo Duro Canyon. I also like running and to a lesser extent the other triathlon disciplines of swimming and biking.

Mark Your Calendars and Plan to Participate in the 7th Annual BiophysicsWeek

Celebrate and promote biophysics by planning an event. Biophysics Week is a global campaign to increase public awareness and support for biophysics research. Every year, the Biophysical Society, along with Biophysics Week Part- ners and Affiliate Event Organizers, hosts events and activities in communities around the world all week long. We are looking forward to celebrating Biophysics Week 2022 with you!

December 2021

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