Biophysical Society Bulletin | December 2022

December 2022

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Future of Biophysics BurroughsWellcome Fund SymposiumSpeakers

Huan Bao

Stephen Fried

Lauren Porter

Cristina Puchades

The 2023 Future of Biophysics Burroughs Wellcome Fund speakers will highlight the work of young researchers who are currently conducting cutting-edge research at the interface of the physical and life sciences. The speakers selected for 2023 are Huan Bao , University of Florida, Scripps Biomedical Research, USA; Stephen Fried , Johns Hopkins University, USA; Lauren Porter , NIH, USA; and Cristina Puchades , University of California, San Francisco, USA. The Symposium, in its 14th year, will be held Monday, February 20, 2023. Baron Chanda and Janice Robertson , Program Co-Chairs for the 67th Annual Meeting, will co-chair the symposium. “The Future of Biophysics Burroughs Wellcome Fund Symposium is one of the highlights of the Annual Meeting. This symposium showcases the state-of-the-art research of four outstanding early-career biophysicists selected from a pool of more than 25 nomi nees. The 2023 presenters reflect astonishing creativity and diversity of the next generation of biophysicists.”

— Baron Chanda and Janice Robertson

Mark Your Calendars and Plan to Participate in BiophysicsWeek 2023 Biophysics Week aims to increase public awareness and support for biophysics research. Join the 8th Annual Biophysics Week by planning an Affiliate Event. For details about support and planning your event, please visit www.biophysics.org/outreach/biophysics-week/be-an-affiliate-event-organizer.

Inside

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President’s Message Biophysicist in Profile

Member Corner

Stay Connected with BPS

Grants & Opportunities Career Development

Public Affairs Publications Annual Meeting Communities

Donations

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Important Dates

President’s Message

We Have a Plan! Updates fromFall Council One of the most exciting actions at the BPS Fall Council was the unanimous approval of the motion to accept the new strategic plan. Perhaps you recall previous refer ences to the strategic planning exercise we kicked off last February in San Francisco or the an update on Thematic Meetings and BPS Conferences. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, we had suc cessful Thematic Meetings this year in Hamburg, Germany and Stockholm, Sweden. Plans are in place for a 2023 The matic Meeting in Canterbury, United Kingdom, and are in the works for another in Miri, Malaysia. We held a BPS Confer ence in Tahoe, California, and look forward to a second BPS Conference in Tahoe and a new BPS Conference in Estes Park, Colorado in 2023.

two-day planning meeting in Madison, Wisconsin over the summer? Or perhaps you respond ed to the all-member survey last spring or participated in one of several focus groups that informed the strategic plan development? Creating our new strategic plan was an immense effort involving members, staff, and volunteers, and its approval signals the exciting next phase—implementation! But let’s back up a little first. Part of our strategic planning efforts included strengthening our mission and vision to reflect BPS’s intended purpose more accurately. Our mission: to lead an innovative, global community working at the interface of the physical and life sciences, across all levels of complexity. Our vision: to harness the full potential of biophysics to seek knowledge, improve the human con dition, and preserve the planet for future generations. Our mission and vision are bolstered by our core values: scientific excellence; integrity and transparency; diversity, equity, and inclusion (which are threaded throughout the plan); and com munity building. Our priorities over the next three years are reflected in four strategic goals: • Foster a Diverse & Inclusive Global Community Gail Robertson More details are available at https:/www.biophysics.org/ about-bps/strategy-finance, and we welcome feedback at any time. Our strategic plan is a living document and will be modified over time as needs of members, the scientific com munity, and, indeed, the world change. BPS committees and staff will use the plan to guide their activities, and Council will review progress and priorities on a continual basis. Beyond approving the strategic plan, Fall Council, which occurred virtually from November 2–4, included many updates, a few proposals, and numerous robust discussions. Annual Meeting 2023 co-chairs Baron Chanda and Janice Robertson and 2024 co-chair Ibrahim Cissé joined the first day and provided overviews of their programs. Co-chairs for the 2025 meeting were announced: Sudha Chakrapani and Christo pher Yip . BPS Director of Meetings Dorothy Chaconas provided • Invest in the Future of Biophysics • Enhance the Sharing of Knowledge • Advocate for Biophysics

BPS finances were the main topic on the second day of the Council meeting. Treasurer Samantha Harris and Director of Finance Harris Povich presented the 2022 projections as well as the 2023 budget. As shared in our October column (https:/ biophysics.cld.bz/Biophysical-Society-Bulletin-Octo ber-2022/2/), we project that the 2023 Annual Meeting will nearly break even, instead of providing net positive revenue as it did prior to the pandemic. Treasurer Harris conveyed concerns from the Finance Committee that BPS must be mindful in the short term of sources of revenue and expenses, yet take a long-term view to ensure that programs receiving resources align with our values and strategic priorities. One short-term decision taken by Council was to cancel the (very expensive) dance and reception at the 2023 Annual Meet ing, an act also viewed as a safety measure in the face of an ongoing COVID threat. Several celebratory and networking events are planned throughout the meeting with ample opportunities for smaller group activities, such as the dinner meetups. Council considered proposals for two new programs: a ref ugee support fund and a low-income country travel awards program, both of which align with several strategic goals. Council was generally favorable about the idea of the refugee support fund but asked that a clear process for adminis tering the program be developed before a motion would be made. The low-income country travel awards program was approved and will provide meeting registration and $3,000 in travel support for four attendees from low-income countries beginning with the 2024 Annual Meeting. Kandice Tanner , Council member and Chair of the Nominating Committee, reported on the open call for Council nomina tions and presented the slate for 2023. The open call was a new mechanism for casting a wider net and generating more diversity among individuals considered for the 2023 slate. More details about the call are available in this recent blog post: https:/www.biophysics.org/blog/in-pursuit-of-diver sity-open-calls-for-nominations-in-elections-and-awards. Council approved the presented slate. A lively discussion

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President’s Message

Officers President

Gail Robertson President-Elect Taekjip Ha Past-President Frances Separovic Secretary Erin Sheets Treasurer Samantha Harris Council Patricia Bassereau Henry Colecraft Erin C. Dueber Martin Gruebele Gilad Haran Kumiko Hayashi Syma Khalid Francesca Marassi Susan Marqusee Carolyn A. Moores

ensued regarding Council’s need to be more intentional in maintaining industry represen tation on Council. Stay tuned for more on this topic after the next Council meeting. As mentioned in our column from Council in San Francisco (https:/ biophysics.cld.bz/Bio physical-Society-Bulletin-April-2022/2/), we created a Task Force on Awards Nominations to look into reducing barriers to nominations. Task force discussions and recommendations were reported to Council, who approved the recommendation to implement a self-nomina tion process for BPS Society awards beginning with the 2024 awards cycle. This new process is intended to increase the diversity of nom inations and the accessibility of awards to the broader BPS membership. Whether these benchmarks are achieved will be determined after a three-year trial period. Another effort aimed at reducing barriers for nominations includes a workshop hosted by Council and Task Force member Susan Marqusee at BPS 2023 on writing effective award nomination and support letters. Secretary Erin Sheets provided an update on Subgroups and presented the “Subgroup Re port Card,” which was implemented just over a year ago primarily as an objective assess ment aid for Subgroup leadership. Director of Publications John Long presented Biophysical Journal’ s editorial board appointments for 2023 from Editor-in-Chief Vasanthi Jayaraman . President-Elect Taekjip Ha led a discussion about Spring Council 2023, which will be held at the BPS offices in Rockville, Maryland in June. Use Your Expertise to Make a Difference!

Council agreed that an in-person meeting is beneficial not only to the incoming Council members but also for building and maintaining the relationships that allow us to effectively engage and respectfully discuss all issues, challenging or otherwise, in pursuit of our mission. Efforts to foster a diverse and inclusive global community were apparent throughout the Council meeting. Co-chairs expressed chal lenges in supporting speakers with family care responsibilities, especially those with young children, and others facing ongoing travel restrictions or financial limitations. Council re viewed feedback from a speaker demographic and inclusion survey, a starting point in our efforts to ensure a welcoming environment. These themes continued with the presentation of new proposals for a refugee support fund and low-income country travel awards, the discussion of trainee or early career members in leadership, awards nominations, and more. Integrity and transparency figured prominently in discussions of process. Overall, the meeting was a success owing to the commitment of Council members to respectful discussions and meaningful change. As always, we welcome your questions and feedback at any time (garobert@wisc.edu and jpesanelli@biophysics.org) and thank you for being a part of this vibrant organization! — Gail Robertson , President — Jennifer Pesanelli , Executive Officer

Kandice Tanner Valeria Vasquez Biophysical Journal Vasanthi Jayaraman Editor-in-Chief The Biophysicist Sam Safran Editor-in-Chief Biophysical Reports

Jörg Enderlein Editor-in-Chief

Society Office Jennifer Pesanelli Executive Officer Newsletter

Executive Editor Jennifer Pesanelli Managing Editor John Long Production Ray Wolfe Proofreader/Copy Editor The Biophysical Society Newsletter (ISSN 0006-3495) is published eleven times per year, January-December, by the Biophysical Society, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1110, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Distributed to USA members and other countries at no cost. Cana dian GST No. 898477062. Postmaster: Send address changes to Biophysical Society, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1110, Rockville, MD 20852. Copyright © 2022 by the Biophysical Society. Darren Early Laura Phelan

Be an inspiration to your community and help change the lives of those interested in or studying science. Sign up to be a mentor, K-12 classroom visitor, speaker, science fair judge, or student chapter sponsor. The FaB (Find a Biophysicist) Network is free and accessible by members and nonmembers, but only BPS members may join the network. To join FaB, login to your myBPS account and get involved. Help build this network by signing up today. For more information, visit biophysics.org/get-involved.

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Biophysicist in Profile

Harpreet Singh Areas of Research Intracellular ion channels: identity and role in cardiac physiology

Institution The Ohio State University College of Medicine

At-a-Glance

Harpreet Singh , Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, credits his early science teachers with giving him the tools he needed to work through problems. A valuable lesson on its own, this also sparked his interest in research, which he began pursuing as an undergraduate student. The joy of discovery has kept him inspired throughout his career.

Harpreet Singh

Harpreet Singh was born in a village called Odhra, near Dasuya, Punjab, India. His father served in the Indian army, so the family moved around India in Singh’s early years. At 11 years of age, he entered a military boarding school in Chail, Shimla. It was there that he first became interested in science. “The majority of my schooling was done in the Military School, India,” he shares. “My science teachers in the school were the best ones as they encouraged us to think beyond textbooks and challenged us with problems that encouraged us to think.” Singh attended St. Joseph’s College in Bangalore, India for his undergraduate studies. “During my college years, I got an opportunity to work with my zoology professors to carry out small research projects, which earned me publications on butterflies as well as human genetics. Eventually, I was a summer intern in M. K. Mathew ’s lab at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, where I was introduced to ion channels. The group was working on potassium channels, and it was amazing to observe currents being recorded from Xenopus oocytes,” he explains. “That is where my interest in ion channels developed. I was fascinated by electrophysiology and the idea of currents being measured from living cells. I continued my journey into ion channel biophysics at Edin burgh University Medical School where I did my PhD under the mentorship of Drs. Richard Ashley and Michael Cousin .” As he was completing his PhD, Singh began looking for an opportunity to visualize functional ion channels at nanoscales. He undertook a postdoctoral position with Ligia Toro and En rico Stefani at the University of California, Los Angeles. “With Drs. Toro and Stefani, I established the molecular identity of a mitochondrial BK channel and visualized it with a ‘homemade’ [stimulated emission depletion] microscope,” Singh says. “We also discovered that activation of the BK channel can protect the heart from ischemia-reperfusion injury.”

“There was a time when I almost gave up my postdoctoral training, but thanks to Profs. Toro and Stefani who encour aged and supported me, I was able to give myself a second chance. My PhD mentors, Profs. Ashley and Cousin from Edin burgh, kept my morale high, and Prof. Robert Chow from [the University of Southern California] went out of his way to offer me help and guidance. I have had a strong and exceptional mentorship team that believes in my science,” he reveals. “I still remember Prof. Jianmin Cui from Washington University walking up to my poster at the Biophysical Society meeting and encouraging me to apply for faculty positions within the USA, and that was the time I really believed I had a chance at being faculty.” Singh is now an associate professor in the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. “Our group focuses on newly discovered intracellular K and Cl channels in cellular organelles such as exosomes and mitochondrial membranes. We also study their role in heart failure and heart function,” he explains. “We explore the basic biophysical properties of intracellular ion channels using a combination of planar bilayers, patch clamp, near-field electrophysiology, and multi-electrode arrays. We interpret the distribution of proteins by high- and super-reso lution microscopy, and for physiology, we use optical coher ence tomography, echocardiography, and cell-based assays.” “I am extremely fascinated by ion channels and how they function. It is exciting to see how these channels maintain selectivity and open and close under different circumstances, especially in disease scenarios. I always tell my undergradu ate physiology students that ion channels are faster than you think,” says Singh. He finds the challenge of the work and the joy of discovery to be deeply rewarding aspects of his career. “Every single day

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Biophysicist in Profile

is a new challenge, and it ends with new knowledge. The ex citement associated with every single trace obtained from ion channels embedded in organellar membranes is just amusing enough to keep me awake at night,” he goes on. “Traveling around the globe to present and meet new and old friends is also highly rewarding. Recently, a mother of an 11-year-old child contacted me as her son had a mutation in one of the proteins I had worked on. That was a moment that made me feel everything I do is worth it, and we can make a difference.” “My future plans revolve around the characterization of novel ion channels we have discovered and the push towards drug discovery. We have identified patients with mutations in these channels, and the real challenge is to find therapeutic interventions for the novel ion channels we are working on,” he explains. Singh has attended the BPS Annual Meeting since graduate school and has felt the support of the biophysics community during critical moments of his career. “I was encouraged to get a faculty position when I was not even thinking about applying. I have met scientists who went beyond their obli gations to guide and mentor me,” he says. “There were times when I was in low spirits at a critical point of my career. I met biophysicists who believed in me and my science and helped me to immediately bounce back.”

To give back to the community that has supported him, Singh serves on the Society’s Early Careers Committee, which is responsible for organizing the Career Development Center at the Annual Meeting and career development webinars throughout the year as well as writing the BPS Bulletin’s Mol ly Cule advice column, among other activities. “I am delighted that I get a chance to make significant contributions to the biophysics community,” he declares. “I appreciate the hard work done by every single member of the committee and the support from the Society. The transparency and collegiality keep attracting new members and it is fun to work and plan with everyone.” When asked what advice he would give to people just start ing their careers in biophysics, Singh replied: “Biophysics is both exciting and challenging. The biophysics group across the globe is extremely friendly and collaborative. You should never be shy about reaching out, asking questions, seeking advice, and networking. The annual conference is one of the best platforms to meet lifelong friends and colleagues. Usually, you will hear that you should pick the right thing for your career. You have already picked biophysics, which is the right thing; now, just follow your passion. There are several opportunities in the field of biophysics, and the skills you gain in biophysics are transferable.”

Numbers By the

BPS has an active social media presence with more than 16,000 followers on Facebook, more than 10,000 followers on Twitter, and almost 3,500 connections on LinkedIn.

Give the Gift of Membership Looking for the perfect gift for a colleague or aspiring biophysicist?

Now is a great time to give the gift of BPS membership, as the recipient will gain immediate access to valuable member benefits and a network of dedicated scientists committed to promoting and advancing biophysics research. To give the gift of BPS membership, visit biophysics.org/giftmembership.

December 2022

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Public Affairs

Why Science Advocacy Is Imperative While we may still be fresh from the 2022 mid-term elections and the upcoming change in power in one chamber of Congress, the one constant is constituent advocacy. Out of the 535 members of Congress, only a mere handful hold STEM (science, tech nology, engineering, and mathematics) degrees. Members of Congress are reliant on their staff to be knowledgeable on a wide variety of issues to keep pace with the breadth of policies under each committee’s jurisdiction. In turn, staff look to organiza tions such as BPS and its member experts—you—to provide real-world expertise on the policies they are considering. Advocacy in Washington, DC, can be a complex art, where both sides can be “right” and truthful at the same time; delivering a compelling message is everything. Truthfully, the efficacy of advocacy efforts depends on a number of factors, at least two of which you cannot control—the elected official you are trying to influence and the quality of the opponent and their message. However, we cannot win if we don’t engage with our best resources, our members. BPS has all the tools and resources available to help you reach out to your members of Congress through the BPS Take Action tool (https:/www.biophysics.org/policy-advocacy/take-action). With BPS advocacy tools, you can track the science issues moving through Congress, send letters to your elected officials with just a few keystrokes, and request BPS help in coordinat ing in-district meetings. It is imperative that science advocates on behalf of itself. If we don’t, who will?

NSF Survey of Earned Doctorates Shows Historic Drop in STEMPhD Graduates In October, the National Science Foundation (NSF) released data from the latest annual Survey of Earned Doctorates, showing that the 2020–2021 academic year saw 1,721 fewer STEM PhDs awarded by US universities compared with the preceding year. This change amounts to the largest annual drop in science, technology, engineering, and math PhDs in at least 40 years. Although the NSF was unable to directly attribute the drop to the effects of COVID-19, in the survey of more than 7,000 US-based PhD students, more than 60% of respondents stated that an “inability to conduct research” was the most common reason for delays in graduation. Another suggestion that the pandemic contributed to the overall drop in gradu ates comes from the differences among disciplines.

The physical and life sciences—fields that largely require in-person work—saw the largest drops in PhD graduates compared with pre-pandemic levels (12% and 7%, respective ly). Math and the computer sciences, on the other hand, saw increases. The dip in graduation numbers does not appear to have disproportionately affected historically underrepresented groups, which is surprising given the pandemic’s impact on people of color and women in academia. Underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities made up 15% of US citizens and permanent residents who graduated with STEM PhDs during the 2020–2021 academic year—a statistic that has steadi ly creeped upward over the past decade, from 12% in 2012. Women made up 43% of graduates in the 2020–2021 class, which aligns with the average over the past decade of 42%. The NSF’s preliminary data for the 2021–2022 academic year indicate that the drop in graduation numbers may be short lived, possibly because the 2021–2022 numbers include students who had originally planned to graduate during the

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Public Affairs

2020–21 academic year. However, it remains to be seen whether those numbers will bear out. In December, the NSF will release additional information that includes additional data sets on the impact of COVID-19 on research, graduation timelines, and postgraduation plans. NSF to End Cost-SharingMandate for Some Grants to Level the Playing Field The new CHIPS and Science Act aimed at improving US competitiveness with China was signed into law in August and also contains a directive for the NSF to eliminate the cost-sharing requirement in two of the five agency programs that currently require the measure and to then evaluate what happens after the change. For the next five years, the NSF will no longer require universities and other organizations to cover 30% of an award from its major research instrumentation (MRI) program, which funds new equipment. It is also ending the 50% match required by two of the four funding tracks in the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, which trains math and science teachers.

Several US government research programs require financial buy-in from institutions when applying for a grant or new instrument to stretch federal dollars and guarantee that every grantee has a stake in the project. But many institutions, including those serving rural areas and students from groups underrepresented in science, cannot raise enough money to even compete for the grant. Opponents are concerned that requiring the NSF to foot the entire cost of MRI and Noyce awards will mean fewer or smaller grants unless Congress increases each program’s budget. A more level playing field is also likely to generate more applications, making for even fiercer competition. MRI’s $75 million budget now supports some 150 awards annually, and Noyce makes about 60 to 70 grants a year from its $67 million budget. MRI awards range from $100,000 to $4 million, and Noyce grants can be as large as $3 million over six years. The new law orders the NSF to report back in five years on how the waiver for MRI and Noyce has affected participation and the quality of the research, as well as whether it should become permanent. It also requires the NSF to assess its impact on the demographics of the applicant pool.

Get Involved.

The Biophysical Society provides many opportunities for members to get involved and give back to the biophysics community. To learn more about the different opportunities, please visit www.biophysics.org/get-involved.

The Biophysical Society is grateful to its Industry Partners.

For Industry Partner Membership information, contact alevine@biophysics.org. SILVER GOLD

PLATINUM

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Publications

Know the Editor Oliver Beckstein Arizona State University Associate Editor Biophysical Reports

Oliver Beckstein

What are you currently working on that excites you? All cells must move matter across the cell membrane; oth erwise, the cell starves or dies because of accumulation of waste products. More generally, cells must maintain their content at just the right levels to function correctly. In my re search group, we want to know how some of the membrane proteins work that act as transporters for ions and small molecules and thus keep cells functioning. “Knowing how something works” means for us to use computer simula tions to first identify the parts of the protein that move their “cargo” and describe the large functional protein movements and then to quantify these processes. We then use statistical mechanics theory to build a quantitative model of the whole transport process. I am very excited about our ongoing work because it represents a bottom-up approach to deriving dynamic function (such as the number of molecule transport ers per second as a function of membrane potential, pH, and concentrations) from static protein structures, something I always wanted to do since I first learned about molecular dy namics simulations at the beginning of my graduate studies. Who would you like to sit next to at a dinner party (scientist or not)? I’d love to sit next to Emmy Noether —she was one of the greatest mathematicians of the early 20th century. I would probably not understand much of the work that she’s fa mous for (such as abstract algebra), but as a physicist, I know Noether’s theorem, which connects symmetries to conserved quantities and is one of the most beautiful applications of mathematics to physics. And she comes from my hometown of Erlangen in Bavaria, Germany. I even went to the school that bears her name, although at the time I knew embarrass ingly little about our namesake. I’d want to know how she managed to do all her fantastic work against the stiff opposi tion of a society that never treated her with the same respect as her male colleagues (although she seemed to have many allies amongst the mathematicians with whom she worked). I hope she’d be happy to hear that her work is admired, even by computational biophysicists.

Editor’s Pick Biophysical Reports Electrically stimulated droplet injector for reduced sample consumption in serial crystallography Mukul Sonker, Diandra Doppler, Ana Egatz-Gomez, Sahba Zaare, Mohammad T. Rabbani, Abhik Manna, Jorvani Cruz Villarreal, Garrett Nelson, Gihan K. Ketawala, Konstantinos Karpos, Roberto C. Alvarez, Reza Nazari, Darren Thifault, Rebecca Jernigan, Dominik Oberthür, Huijong Han, Raymond Sierra, Mark S. Hunter, Alexander Batyuk, Christopher J. Kupitz, Robert E. Sublett, Frederic Poitevin, Stella Lisova, Valerio Mariani, Alexandra Tolstikova, Sebastien Boutet, Marc Messerschmidt, J. Domingo Meza-Aguilar, Raimund Fromme, Jose M. Martin-Garcia, Sabine Botha, Petra Fromme, Thomas D. Grant, Richard A. Kirian, Alexandra Ros “Serial crystallography of proteins with powerful X-ray lasers is an emerging field in structure determination but is ham pered by the large amount of protein sample needed for rel evant protein structure determination, making this approach cumbersome and cost intensive. To overcome these serious limitations, the authors developed a novel injector delivering protein crystal sample to the path of the X-ray laser. They encapsulated the protein crystals in droplets intersected by an immiscible oil and show that the droplet release can be electrically triggered in a tailored microfluidic droplet detector. The authors demonstrate this novel injection principle at the Macromolecular Femtosecond Crystallography instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source and characterize the droplet generation quality as well as diffraction of injected protein crystals.”

Version of Record Published September 29, 2022 DOI: https:/doi.org/10.1016/j.bpr.2022.100081

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Upcoming 2023 BPSMeetings

Towards aMore Perfect Union: MultiscaleModels of Muscle and Their Experimental Validation Canterbury, England, July 17–20, 2023 Abstract Deadline: March 20, 2023 | Early Registration Deadline: April 10, 2023 THEMATIC MEETING

Short talks will be selected fromamong submitted abstracts.

An emerging generation of computational models and modeling approaches that cross multiple temporal and spatial scales is enabling new understanding of the mechanisms that regulate striated muscle contraction. These models and their technical underpinnings rely on new, higher-order information about protein and sarcomere structural dynamics, and this is supported by the current resolution-revolution in structural biology. Coupling experimental and computational approaches provides a powerful approach to describe the functional properties and interactions of sarcomere proteins both at rest and during con traction. This understanding then offers new insights into mechanisms that regulate cardiac and skeletal muscle contractile function and its dysfunction in diseases. Moreover, such approaches support the identification of small molecule targets for therapeutic interventions and can predict their mechanism of action. The thematic meeting will provide a forum for colleagues from academia and industry to connect between disciplines and discuss their own advances and prospects for applying new computational and experimental tools. The aim is for a new generation of muscle researchers to forge close collaboration amongst themselves and bridge the gap between modelers and experimentalists.

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Silvia Blemker , University of Virginia, USA Mike Geeves , University of Kent, United Kingdom William Lehman , Boston University, USA Andrew McCulloch , University of California, San Diego, USA

Michael Regnier , University of Washington, USA Jill Tardiff , University of Arizona, USA Jolanda van der Veldon , Amsterdam University Medical Center, The Netherlands

BPS CONFERENCE

Proton Reactions: From a Basic Science to Biomedical Applications Tahoe, California, USA, August 20–24, 2023 Abstract Deadline: May 8, 2023 | Early Registration Deadline: May 31, 2023

Short talks will be selected fromamong submitted abstracts.

We are pleased to announce that the Biophysical Society Conference on Proton Reactions: From Basic Science to Biomedical Applications originally planned for 2021 is now taking place in August 2023. A vast number of biologically important enzymes, transporters, and other molecules require the participation or transport of protons. Because the proton is unique in many re spects, its properties and reactions are often quite distinct from those of other ions. The invited speakers include chemists, structural biologists, and physiologists whose expertise encompasses a wide range of topics that are all related to the proton. We hope to encourage new understandings on levels from basic science to biomedical applications.

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Ana-Nicoleta Bondar , University of Bucharest, Romania Thomas DeCoursey , Rush University Medical Center, USA

ADVISORY COMMITTEE Bertrand Garcia-Moreno , Johns Hopkins University, USA Marilyn Gunner , City College of New York, USA

Jessica Swanson , University of Utah, USA Greg Voth , University of Chicago, USA

For more information, visit www.biophysics.org/meetings

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Annual Meeting

Make an Impact with Your Late Breaking Research! Late Abstract Deadline: January 5, 2023 Did youmiss the early abstracts deadline and have research findings you are ready to share? Submit your late abstract to receive valuable feedback and to be included along with the abstracts submitted by the October 1 deadline.

Thank you to our sponsors: AIP Publishing axiVEND - iRiS Kinetics Bruker Burroughs Wellcome Fund Carl Zeiss Microscopy LLC Chroma Technology Delmic Elements srl Fluxion Biosciences HORIBA Scientific Journal of General Physiology (JGP) Leica Microsystems LUMICKS Mad City Labs Inc Nanion Techologies Nanosurf Oxford Instruments PicoQuant Photonics North America Inc Physics Today RWD Life Science Sophion Bioscience A/S Sutter Instrument

Did You Receive Your Programming Notice? Programming notices were sent the week of November 21 to those who submitted abstracts by the October 1 deadline. Check your email and contact the Society office if you did not receive notification.

Abstracts Programmed Once again, we held the programming meeting virtually rather than in person. Prior to the meeting, Program Committee members along with Council, reviewed and sorted submitted abstracts which were programmed into 62 platforms, 2 member-organized sessions, and 104 poster sessions. Over 500 posters will be presented each day of the meeting. BPS members finalized the programming of platform and poster sessions for the 2023 Annual Meeting. Members and staff participating in this virtual meeting:

Left to right starting with top row: Janice Robertson, Umi Zhou, Jennifer Pesanelli, Bill Kobertz, Baron Chanda, Francesca Marassi, James Sellers, Dorothy Chaconas, Arthur Palmer, III, and Maija Ibanez.

The Society would like to thank the Program Committee, Council, and members who participated in the planning, reviewing, sorting, and programming this year. Their work ensures that the final program reflects the breadth of research areas in biophysics with as few programming conflicts as possible. The 2023 Program Committee members are Baron Chanda , Janice Robertson , Michelle Digman , Gilad Haran , Joseph Mindell , Anna Moroni , and Jennifer Ross .

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Annual Meeting

Be a BPS Guest Blogger: Share Your Experience of the Annual Meeting Deadline to apply: January 15

Student Volunteers Deadline to apply: January 5

Are you an undergraduate or graduate student looking for ways to reduce your registration fees? Volunteer your time at the Annual Meeting in exchange for complimentary meet ing registration. You must be a member of the Society with registration fully paid and must be willing to volunteer six hours during the meeting. To apply, please send an email to meetings@biophysics.org by January 5, 2023. For more information visit: https:/www.biophysics.org/2023meeting/ general-info/student-volunteers.

Interested in sharing your opinions on the scientific sessions, career development workshops, hot spots in San Diego, or anything else Annual Meeting-related? Apply to serve as a guest blogger for BPS! You can add to the experience of your fellow attendees by sharing your perspective, while also adding blogging to your list of accomplishments! Apply at https:/www.surveymonkey.com/r/T63RDNR. Public Affairs Sessions All About ARPA-H: Exploring Opportunities at the NewAgency Sunday, February 19, 2:30 pm –4:00 pm , USA Pacific The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) will be entering its first full year of operation in 2023. Join the Public Affairs Committee as we learn more about the fledgling high-risk, high-reward research agency, how the structure will continue to form, exploring what opportunities exist and how that fits into the larger research funding sources avail able to biophysicists. Envisioning the Future of Biophysical Postdoctoral Training Monday, February 20, 1:00 pm –2:30 pm , USA Pacific Postdoctoral researchers represent a major portion of the academic research work force. While the position was origi nally intended as a few years of post-graduate training prior to becoming an independent investigator, it has since evolved into an often-long-term position with uncertain outcomes. Not only has this been detrimental to postdocs themselves, but this has led to the development of a host of other sys temic issues throughout academic research. Join the Public Affairs Committee as we host a discussion to help determine the future of a keystone position in biophysics research.

Don’t Wait, Reserve Your Hotel RoomToday! Deadline: January 26, 2023 www.bpshotels.com

biophysics.org/ 2023meeting

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Communities

Padmini Rangamani Committee for Professional Opportunities for Women (CPOW)

Padmini Rangamani

Is this your first volunteer position for BPS? If not, what other positions have you held? This is not my first volunteer position at BPS. I am also an Editorial Board Member for Biophysical Journal . Why do you volunteer? I volunteer because of many reasons, all of which converge to how much I enjoy engaging with members of the Biophysical Society. This is my professional community and I volunteer because someone who did it before me made it a welcoming place for me and so I should pay it forward. What has been a highlight from your volunteer experience? People—the incredible people of BPS. One of the most surprising emails I received from an author expressed grat itude for the thoughtful reviews of a paper even though the outcome was not favorable. Imagine that! In a world where sound bites and vitriol are seemingly becoming the norm, the acknowledgement that the reviewers and the editor were thoughtful and volunteered their time and expertise, even when the outcome was unfavorable, was a much needed breath of fresh air.

Do you have advice for others who might be thinking about volunteering? I would start small, pick something that is dear to you, and engage with people. I believe in the saying “Be the change you want to see,” but it is also important to know how much you can do and how much time you have. I will state that it is one of the most rewarding experiences to make a difference, big or small, for your community. When not volunteering for BPS, what do you work on? My day job! I run a large research program at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) on theoretical and compu tational biophysics (https:/sites.google.com/eng.ucsd.edu/ prangamani), I teach classes at UCSD, and I I serve on various committees. And when I am not working, I am with my family. My hobbies include knitting, running, and learning to play the piano—with an emphasis on learning. The first two above, I’m pretty good at, but the last one? I feel bad for my music teacher.

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Annual Meeting Member Corner

Members in the News

FollowBPS Journals on Twitter @BiophysJ @BiophysReports @BiophysicistJ

Shixin Liu , The Rockefeller University and Society member since 2005, won a Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science.

Shixin Liu (Credit: Vilcek Foundation/ Peter Hurley Photography)

Grants & Opportunities National Institutes of Health Grant: Development of Highly Innovative Tools and Technology for Analysis of Single Cells (Small Business Innovation Research; R34/ R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) This grant seeks to develop and validate next-generation single cell analysis technologies and tools to foster com mercialization of innovative technologies for their broad use in biomedical research. The novel single cell analysis technologies will aid in obtaining a fine-grained and dy namic view of heterogeneous cellular states and inter cellular interactions, thereby providing new mechanistic insight into biological processes in health and disease. Deadline: January 5, 2023 Website: https:/grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA 20-047.html

National Institutes of Health Grant: Program to Assess the Rigor and Reproducibility of Extracellular Vesi cle-Derived Analytes for Cancer Detection (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) This grant seeks research projects that focus on inno vative research in the isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their cargo for discovery of predictive biomarkers for risk assessment, detection, diagnosis, and prognosis of early cancer. This grant will promote rigor and reproducibility research in both the isolation of EVs as well as the computational analysis of the cargo carried in these vesicles. Deadline: February 5, 2023 Website: https:/grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/ PAR-20-053.html

Student Spotlight

Kate Huffer National Institutes of Health (NIH)-Johns Hopkins Graduate Partnerships Program National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology and Biophysics Program, Johns Hopkins University What skill have you learned in your studies that you find useful in other aspects of your life? I’ve learned to get curious instead of being frustrated when confronted with evidence that reality doesn’t work the way I thought it would. Inmany cases, holding onto previous ideas would be easier, but it would also prevent me from iden tifying which questions to ask next in order to explore the full picture. I’ve found that in both science and in life, digging into the unexpected yields richness and nuance and is ultimately more satisfying than pre-assumed conclusions.

Kate Huffer

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Career Development

HowtoApply toGraduateSchool Biophysics is an interdisciplinary field, so applying to graduate school to do biophysics work can be confusing. Admissions committees can be for de partmental programs, such as a physics or chemistry program, or for interdis ciplinary umbrella programs, such as a molecular and cellular biology graduate program. The name of the program will not be enough to figure out if that will be the best place for you! You will need to dig deeper to find the biophysicists in these programs. Different graduate programs often also review and accept students in very different ways. Some accept students solely on the basis of their application. Others interview candidates before making a decision. Some require and rely heavily on the results of the general and subject GRE exams. Others (more and more now!) do not require any GREs at all. Despite these differences, all graduate programs are looking for the same thing: excellent students who will perform well in the first year of courses, be able to pass their respective qualifying exams, and ultimately be able to conduct new research and write papers for publication. There are many items that need to be included in the appli cation packet, and each is weighted differently in the decision to accept or reject. Some hints to guide you in the application process are provided here. What does the admissions committee want to know? When crafting your application packet, it is best to keep in mind what the committee is looking for, so that you can give them the information they want. Committees want to know whether a candidate will perform well in their graduate courses, will pass the qualifying exam, will find a research group, will be able to conduct independent research, and will complete a PhD. What is in the packet? The packet consists of the following: grades in academic classes, scores on GREs (general and possibly subject), letters of recommendation, and personal essay. I will explain a bit more about why each is important. Grades. The grades in your science classes are an important indicator of how you will do in your classes during your first year of graduate school. All graduate programs have required classes to make sure you have a certain basis of knowledge

before you go forward into research. All graduate programs have a minimum grade average or grade in each course that is required to stay in the program. Your previous grades are used as an indicator of how successful you will be in your graduate classes. The admissions committee wants to see As. However, by the time you are applying, most of your grades are already set in stone. Maybe you overloaded your schedule one semester and did poorly. Maybe there is a specific course with which you really struggled. Any deficiencies in your grades should be explained (not excused) in your personal statement. If you started poorly, but improved, consider plotting your scores over time to show your trajectory—this shows your increase in GPA and demonstrates your ability to work with and plot data. Think creatively about how to discuss your academic record, so that the admissions committee is not guessing or making up their own explanations for you. GRE scores. There are two types of GREs: the GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test (because of the pandemic, many schools have removed the requirement for GRE scores of any type). The GRE General Test is like the SAT and is required by many graduate programs. Science majors should have good scores on the math portion. If you are an international student, the verbal scores could be used to determine your reading and writing abilities. Even if you have strong math and verbal skills, you should consult a book on the GRE General Test to become familiar with the test. Don’t go into the test cold. The GRE Subject Tests are required by some programs. For graduate programs that have a written exam for their qual ifying exam, they often use the GRE Subject Test as a test run for the qualifying exam. These admissions committees typically have a minimum number they prefer. That score is not a hard line, but merely a suggested set-point. If you have to take a GRE Subject Test, you will need to study. I suggest using the summer before the fall semester of your senior year to study for the exam and complete some practice exams. One issue with the GRE Subject Tests is that it is hard to en compass all the skills you need for scientific problem solving in a multiple-choice exam. Letters of recommendation. You typically will need three letters of recommendation from professors who know you and your work in undergraduate school. The professors at your school are colleagues of the people serving on the admissions committee. These letters are an opportunity for your professors to talk directly to the admissions committee about you. Because your undergraduate professors have also gone through the rigors of getting a PhD, possibly doing a

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Career Development

postdoc, and getting a job as a professor, their values and judgments about students are trusted by the admissions committee. For these reasons, the letters of recommen dation will be given a lot of weight. If you did research in a big laboratory and you mostly worked with a graduate student, postdoc, or technical staff member, that wouldn’t be the person from whom to obtain a letter of recom mendation. The admissions committee wants to hear from professors. Make sure that you have the person you worked with closely give the information on your work to the professor who runs the laboratory so that the profes sor can speak about your work. The best letters are from professors with whom you worked closely in research. These letters can tell the committee about your aptitude in research, which is your ultimate job in graduate school. Good letters are from professors with whom you worked closely in class. This isn’t as good as from those with whom you conducted research, because many professors have hundreds of students each semester. Even if you have a small class, you will usually be compared to the other students in the class, and there aren’t as many ways to prove your abilities in a class as there are in the laboratory. it is less useful to obtain a letter from professors with whom you had very little interaction, even if you did well in that pro fessor’s class. When requesting letters of recommendation, be sure to allow enough time for the recommenders to prepare them. Give them at least two weeks and provide them with a complete list of all the places you are applying with a link to all necessary information and the date the recommendations are due. Also, when you request a letter, make an appointment to meet in person. Bring your CV and a one-page document on your current or past research (or your personal statement) and have a talk about your goals, so that your recommender can speak intelligently about you. Think of this as coaching your recommender so that he or she can write the best letter possible. Friendly reminders via e-mail are appropriate, but remember that professors are busy! Finally, follow up to let your recommender know whether you were accept ed. They want you to do well and will appreciate knowing the outcome. Personal statement. This is your time to shine. It is your time to explain. So, where to begin? First, start with your career goal. What do you want to do? Next, explain why you need an advanced degree to have that career.

Then, explain why the field in which you want to do research is the right one to get you where you want to go in your career. Avoid personal stories about your childhood. The admissions committee cannot and should not make judgements based on the fact that Bill Nye the Science Guy or Mr. Wizard was your inspiration to study science. Also, quoting a poem or talking about looking at the stars will not be especially useful. For the admissions committee, your research is the most important aspect of this essay. The research you have done and the classes you took should be the main moti vator for your decision to go further for that advanced de gree. Include what you have done in research with enough detail that the professors reviewing it will know that you actually did it. Include examples of when you solved a problem on your own. You should have a letter of recom mendation from your research advisor to corroborate your statements. Don’t forget: summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) advisors can write letters— not just your home professors! This is where coaching is important, because you want to make sure that you and your professor are on the same page about what you did. If you don’t have research experience, try to bring up ex amples from your classes of when you solved a problem or overcame a difficulty. Perseverance is the top indicator of success in graduate school—much more than GRE scores. If you know with whom you want to work, you should include the names of those specific professors.. Make sure that you list more than one professor in case any of them do not have openings in their laboratories. Include subjects/topics on which you would like to do research. They should be subjects that are researched at the school to which you are applying! You should briefly explain any deficiencies in your applica tion, including any disappointing grades. Don’t make ex cuses and don’t dwell on any negative aspects, but make sure that the admissions committee understands why you received a poor grade or otherwise have a weak spot in your application. Finally, proofread your statement and make sure it is free from typographical errors. it is a good idea to have someone else read your statement—prefer ably your advisor, who can make sure that the science is correctly described. I hope that these suggestions are helpful to you. Good luck! You can do this! — Molly Cule

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