Biophysical Society Bulletin | February 2020

Biophysicist in Profile

In 1997 Royer accepted a position with the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) as direc- tor of research in the Center for Structural Biochemistry in Montpellier, France. In 2002 she became associate director of the institute and in 2007, director. She moved to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, in 2013 as a professor of biological sciences and chaired Constellation Professor in Biocomputation and Bioinformatics, posts she still holds. She is currently building a new collaborative effort focused on systematically applying biophysical approaches to molecules and organisms from extreme environments, “particularly the deep biosphere, which is home to more than 90 per- cent of the Earth’s microbial biomass about which very little is known,” she shares. “How the biomolecules from these organisms are adapted to function under extremes of pres- sure and temperature can teach us a lot about genotype to phenotype at the molecular level.” The most challenging aspect of her career has been grappling with the systemic problems within the world of research. “I have always been somewhat of a non-conformist, always questioning authority. So I have a hard time accepting some of what I consider unfair aspects of scientific endeavor,” she explains. “These include various gender-based as well as elitist biases in grant and manuscript review, in promotion and tenure decisions, and generally what I consider to be

unreasonable bean-counting. I don’t just say this for myself or my own experience, as I have to admit I have gotten along pretty well in the system. It is just a situation that annoys me generally — as well as on occasion, personally.” Royer advises early career scientists: “Don’t get too involved in worrying about process — like I said, there are injustices and annoyances associated with that. Just keep focused on doing the best science, even when you feel impacted by the system. And, find someone who you can talk to and who can help you get through rocky spots. Finally, we all suffer set- backs. That is just the way it is. So enjoy it fully when you get a cool result. Celebrate!” As she steps into the role of BPS President, Royer reflects on how her career has been supported by the Society. “I think all of my mentors — official and unofficial — have been active members of BPS. Clearly, many of my most exciting and pro- ductive collaborations have come from meeting people at BPS. Early on, prominent female Society members — Clare Wood- ward and Mary Barkley in particular — really supported me and my work,” she says. “And it is always a pleasure to spend time with old friends discussing science and many other things. I hope that I can give a leg up to young Society members in the same way as was done for me. I try in any case.”

BPS Networking Events The Biophysical Society is excited to announce these upcoming Networking Events. Come out and network with fellow biophysicists if you’re in the area! More information about each event can be found here: www.biophysics.org/upcoming-networking-events Cardiovascular Day 2020

University of Massachusetts Movement Center Student-Organized Research Symposium March 20th, 2020 Lowell, MA, USA Biophysics in Drug Discovery – Not just a Black Box March 27, 2020 Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK Biophysical Triangle of Atlanta 2020 (BTA 2020) March 2020 (date TBD) Atlanta, GA, USA

February 25, 2020 Columbia, MO, USA 3-Minute Elevator Pitch Competition March 1, 2020 Madison, WI, USA Scottish Structural Biology Meeting March 10, 2020 Glasgow, Scotland, UK

February 2020

5

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