Biophysical Society Bulletin | December 2022

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.

December 2022

12

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