Biophysical Society Bulletin | February 2021

Communities

Subgroups Join a New Theory and Computation Subgroup of BPS

NIH - Small Business Transition Grant for Early Career Scientists Through this opportunity, the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute intend to support early career academic scientists in- terested in transitioning to entrepreneurship while also supporting the transfer of technology from academic laboratories into small businesses. Who can apply: Projects must pertain to one of the participating Organizations/Institutes, and propose the development of a technology that fits into at least one of the following categories: (1) Therapeutics and Preven- tative Agents; (2) Imaging Technologies, Interventional Devices, and In Vivo Diagnostics; or (3) In Vitro and Ex Vivo Diagnostics and Prognostics. Deadline: March 10, 2021 Website: https:/grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/ RFA-CA-21-001.html aspects of biophysical systems, to provide a scientific forum for mini-symposia before BPSmeetings, to elevate the visibility and importance of theory and simulation within BPS overall, and to attract newmembers to BPS in this area. We welcome all theo- retical and computational approaches to the study of biophysical systems, including (but not limited to) analytical theory and those computational methods mentioned above—all with a strong connection to experimental biophysical research to the extent possible. In turn, we expect to attract leading theoretical and computational researchers to our Subgroup symposia and to the Society overall as members and BPSmeeting attendees. We encourage all interested BPSmembers to join the Theory and Computation Subgroup! — Gregory A. Voth (University of Chicago), Subgroup Chair — Rommie E. Amaro (University of California at San Diego), Subgroup Chair-Elect — Edward R. Lyman (University of Delaware), Subgroup Secretary-Treasurer

Grants & Opportunities Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Research Grants support innovative basic research into fundamental bio- logical problems with emphasis placed on novel and inter- disciplinary approaches that involve scientific exchanges across national and disciplinary boundaries. Participation of scientists in disciplines such as biophysics, chemistry, computational biology, computer science, engineering, mathematics, nanoscience, or physics is recommended because such collaborations open up new approaches for understanding the complex structures and regulatory networks that characterize living organisms, their evolu- tion and interactions. Who can apply: All team members are expected to direct a research group and must have a doctoral degree. See website for more requirements. Deadline: Letter of Intent must be initiated by March 18 and submitted by March 30. Website: https:/www.hfsp.org/funding/hfsp-funding/ research-grants The role of theory and computation in biophysical research has grown enormously over the past 50 years. Some or much of this growth has occurred in the area of all-atommolecular dynam- ics (MD) simulations, for which (mostly) the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded. Likewise, the role of physics-based analytical theory continues to be central to our understanding of biophysical systems. Moreover, in recent years there has been dramatic growth in related and new computational areas, such as free energy sampling, coarse-graining, QM/MM, ligand docking, multiscale modeling, knowledge- and data-driven computational biology, andmost recently in the explosive growth of machine learning methods that may well fundamentally influence signifi- cant segments of biophysical science. As such, a newBPS Theory and Computation Subgroup has been approved with the goal to better highlight and network biophysicists who are interested in theoretical and computational Human Frontier Science Program - Early Career Research Grants

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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