Biophysical Society Bulletin | January 2026

January 2026

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY Speakers Announced for 2026 New and Notable Symposium at BPS2026

The Annual Meeting Program Chairs are excited to announce the selections for this year’s New and Notable Symposium, which will take place on Wednesday, February 25, 8:15–10:15 AM. From more than 50 exciting nominations, the Co-Chairs have chosen four that illustrate groundbreaking discoveries from across the broad range of molecular and cellular biophysics, which represent new directions in our rapidly evolving field. Co-Chairs Speakers Huanhuan Li , University of California, Berkeley, USA Structure-Guided Correction of Congenital Myasthenia Irina Ritsch , Scripps Institute, USA Hard to Beat - Lessons from Hummingbird Transthyretin about Protein Stability against Shear Stress Ariane Briegel , Institut Pasteur, France Ilya Levental , University of Virginia, USA

Huanhuan Li

Shashank Shekhar

Yun Xing Wang

Irina Ritsch

Shashank Shekhar , Emory University, USA Rewriting Actin Treadmilling: Leiomodin Is a Pointed-End Polymerase Yun Xing Wang , NCI, NIH, USA Rethinking RNA Structure: Visualizing Molecules in Motion Beyond Inferred Flexibility

2027 Society Awards The Biophysical Society Awards Program celebrates individuals whose achievements and contributions exemplify the best in our field and inspire us all. By recognizing excellence in discovery, innovation, education, mentorship, and service, the program honors those who personify integrity within our global community. BPS awardees serve as beacons for our discipline, embodying the curiosity, rigor, and commitment that strengthen the foundation of biophysics worldwide. We are now accepting nominations for the 2027 Biophysical Society awards through May 1, 2026. All awards are described briefly in the following list. We are excited to announce several updates to our awards (including some name changes), and we encourage you to review the new eligibility requirements for each award. Full details, including eligibility information, are listed on the BPS Society Award page (www.biophysics.org/awards-funding/society-awards). We encourage nominations of researchers who represent the Biophysical Society’s broad, global community and who reflect the mis sion of the Awards and Fellows Program. We also continue to welcome self-nominations in all categories except the Doctoral Research Award and Fellow of the Biophysical Society. Continued on Page 9

Inside

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Council Update

Communities Member Corner

Stay Connected with BPS

Biophysicist in Profile

Public Affairs Publications

Career Development

In Memoriam

Awards

Important Dates

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Annual Meeting

Council Update

Strategic Priorities, Meeting Trends, and Program Evolution In early November, Council con

Emergence in the Molecular and Cellular Sciences (NSF-NCEMS) data science workshops, and a “fireside chat” with BPS Lecturer Lewis Kay . Linda Columbus and Henry Colecraft , the 2027 Annual Meeting Program Co-Chairs, shared initial planning themes and approaches to integrating four Subgroups into the main program at the 2027 Annual Meeting. Working out these details will enable us to feature a rotating set of four Subgroups in the main program at each Annual Meeting and will make room on Subgroup Saturday for emerging key areas that seek to form new Subgroups. Council agreed to conduct a data-driven review in February to revisit guidelines for program composition, Subgroup integration, and the balance of scientific areas represented at the Annual Meet ing. This important work will ensure that our centerpiece Annual Meeting continues to evolve to encompass the many opportuni ties in the vibrant field of biophysics. Council reviewed reports on recent small meetings—an im portant component of the Society’s scientific meeting portfolio. Attendance challenges related to travel restrictions and funding constraints were noted. Organizers of recent BPS Conferences expressed interest in continuing these events, and Council provi sionally approved a proposal to relocate a future Proton Reactions meeting to the United Kingdom to improve international accessi bility and participation. Speaker diversity, funding expectations for meeting organizers, and how best to ensure scientific breadth of both BPS Confer ences and Thematic Meetings were also discussed. To support greater rotation among speakers and broaden participation, Council adopted a new policy prohibiting repeated speakers in consecutive events for BPS Conferences. Thorsten Wohland , Chair of the Thematic Meetings Committee, presented three proposals for 2028 meetings—focused on ion channel research, deep learning in molecular modeling, and circadian rhythms—and received provisional approval for all three meetings. BPS Treasurer Samantha Harris presented an overview of BPS’s financial position. While reserves remain strong, the Society faces a tightening environment heading into 2026 due to lower revenue projections for meetings and membership. Council reviewed the proposed 2026 operating budget, which anticipates a deficit year. After discussion, Council approved the budget with the understanding that work to identify cost-saving measures will continue and that resources will remain focused on core member programs.

vened virtually to review progress on key initiatives, assess current and upcoming challenges, and make decisions that will shape member programs. We focused on the strategic direction of BPS meetings, financial stewardship, updates to the awards program, and the evolution of Subgroups.

Lynmarie K. Thompson

We opened the meeting by revisiting the Society’s mission and the updated strategic plan developed earlier this year. With polit ical uncertainty continuing to affect science funding, international collaboration, and travel, Council emphasized the need for BPS to sustain high-impact programs and double down on our core val ues of scientific excellence, integrity and transparency, universal access and opportunity, broad representation and belonging, and community building. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Annual Meeting—both in near-term planning and long-range program structure. Council previewed the 2026 President’s Symposium, “Communicating the Value of Biophysics in a Changing World,” which will bring together leaders to explore strategies for effectively conveying the importance of scientific research, and discussed opportunities to share this programming more broadly with members. Ariane Briegel , 2026 Annual Meeting Program Co-Chair with Ilya Levental , provided an overview of the scientific program, which includes a full complement of symposia, workshops, platform sessions, and poster sessions. The new abstract category, Biophysics for Sustainability, garnered a small number of submis sions, but Council agreed that this is an emerging area we hope to grow and encouraged ongoing efforts to engage members more broadly on this topic. Early registration and abstract submission metrics for the 2026 Annual Meeting show a decline compared with recent years, mirroring patterns seen across some related scientific societies. Institutional budgets have contracted, and international partici pation has softened. While these trends reflect global challenges facing science, Council expressed the importance of ensuring that the BPS Annual Meeting remains the essential gathering place for biophysicists and discussed opportunities for enhanced scien tific programming, professional development, and networking. These include a new poster session on funding opportunities, two National Science Foundation-National Synthesis Center for

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Council Update

Officers President Lynmarie K. Thompson President-Elect Karen G. Fleming Past-President Gabriela K. Popescu Secretary Teresa Giraldez Treasurer Samantha Harris Council

Council also reviewed cash flow and reserve levels and affirmed that the Society is well positioned to manage short-term fluctuations through existing financial mechanisms if needed. A decision was made to pause the Congressional Fellowship program for one year, with plans to revisit it for the 2027–2028 cycle. Anne Kenworthy , Council member and Chair of the BPS Nominating Committee, presented the slate of nominees for the 2026 BPS election following a report of the process and efforts of the Nominat ing Committee. The 2026 ballot will include two candidates for President-Elect, eight candidates for Council, and one candidate for Secretary. Coun cil approved the slate unanimously. On behalf of the Awards Review Task Force, Gabri ela Popescu shared an extensive set of recommen dations to clarify award criteria, improve transpar ency, streamline nomination requirements, and ensure consistency across the award categories. Council approved recommendations including categorizing awards based on whether they rec ognize career level accomplishments or excellence in a specific area of biophysics research, renaming and reordering awards for clarity, reaffirming the purpose of the Margaret Oakley Dayhoff Award, adjusting monetary award levels to ensure parity, moving two awards to an annual cadence, and establishing a five-year review cycle for all Society awards. These changes are reflected on the updated BPS Awards website, which aims to facilitate future award nominations and to proudly showcase past BPS Awardees and their work.

A new Subgroup on Muscle Dynamics and Struc ture was proposed and tentatively approved by Council in May 2025. The organizers submitted an update, and Council fully approved the leadership roster, description, bylaws, and revised name, Muscle Biology. The opportunity to join the Muscle Biology Subgroup will be available soon, and their inaugural program will be on Subgroup Saturday at BPS2027. Council reviewed updates on an unusually com plex year for science policy, including the gov ernment shutdown and efforts related to fiscal year 2026 appropriations. BPS continues to work closely with partner organizations and federal agencies to advocate for the biophysics commu nity. In publications, Council approved new Editorial Board appointments for Biophysical Journal and The Biophysicist . They also discussed strategies for strengthening topics BPS journals, with ideas including special issues in emerging areas such as sustainability. This meeting underscored Council’s commitment to strengthening the Society’s scientific programs, supporting members during a challenging period for science, and ensuring that BPS remains a vibrant and resilient home for the biophysics community.

Silvia Cavagnero Margaret Cheung Theanne Griffith Taviare Hawkins Ryota Iino Anne Kenworthy

Emmanuel Margeat Elizabeth Rhoades Renae Ryan Tamar Schlick Jing Xu Biophysical Journal Vasanthi Jayaraman Editor-in-Chief The Biophysicist Padmini Rangamani Editor-in-Chief Biophysical Reports

Melanie Cocco Editor-in-Chief

Society Office Jennifer Pesanelli Executive Officer Newsletter

— Lynmarie K. Thompson , President — Jennifer Pesanelli , Executive Officer

Executive Editor Jennifer Pesanelli Managing Editor John Long Production Ray Wolfe Meredith Zimmerman Proofreader/Copy Editor The Biophysical Society Newsletter (ISSN 0006-3495) is published eleven times per year, January-December, by the Biophysical Society, 6903 Rockledge Drive, Suite 540, Bethesda, Maryland 20817. Distributed to USA members and other countries at no cost. Canadian GST No. 898477062. Postmaster: Send address changes to Biophysical Society, 6903 Rockledge Drive, Suite 540, Bethesda, MD 20817. Copyright © 2026 by the Biophysical Society. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Darren Early Laura Phelan

Upcoming Webinar: PUI Networking Event Low Stakes Lightning Talks January 15, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM USA Eastern

Register for Upcoming Webinars and Browse Recorded Webinars at www. biophysics.org/webinars

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Biophysicist in Profile

Sally Pias Area of Research Biophysical mechanisms of transport processes impacting cell survival and cell death

Institution New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

At-a-Glance

Sally Pias ’s path to biophysics—from rural New Mexico science fairs through the Peace Corps in Bangladesh, to her faculty position at New Mexico Tech—reflects the interdisciplinary curiosity that now drives her research.

Sally Pias

Sally Pias grew up in a rural mountain community in south ern New Mexico that originated as a tuberculosis colony and expanded into a farming and ranching community. She first developed an interest in scientific inquiry through participa tion in science fairs as a child. As a sixth grader, Pias conducted a Mendelian mouse-breeding study, working under the men torship of a PhD scientist who was a friend of her family. “My competitive side led me to aspire to more sophisticated research questions and techniques,” she shares. “I became more and more serious as I aspired to earn the opportunity to participate in the International Science and Engineering Fair and, just as importantly, to travel to various cities for the competition.” By high school, she had advanced to studying the effects of a noxious weed on pregnant rats, working with her father’s mentor, a biochemist and toxicologist. The goal was practical: characterizing and mitigating the weed’s toxicity to grazing cattle. “These mentored projects—and the science fair com petitions and associated community—gave me meaningful research experience, fed my curiosity, and taught me how exciting original research can be,” she recalls. Pias’s route to becoming a biophysicist was anything but linear. Although her educational background might seem like a patchwork of disparate interests—religion, chemistry, Bengali language, and Sanskrit—each thread has contributed to the interdisciplinary scholar she is today. At Emory University, she double majored in religion and chemistry while also studying and tutoring German. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she spent two years in Bangladesh as a Peace Corps volunteer, teaching English language and training teachers. She learned to speak Ben gali during that time and later studied Sanskrit at Emory when she returned for a master’s degree, combining study of religious texts in original languages with ethnographic and historical studies.

Eventually, Pias found her way to doctoral study in chemistry at New Mexico State University, focusing on structural biology of cell signaling molecules involved in cell migration and me tastasis. During her PhD program, she developed a significant interest in molecular dynamics simulation, using computa tional approaches to refine experimentally solved protein structures. She continued this computational focus during her postdoctoral training under Carlos Simmerling at Stony Brook University, working on enhanced sampling methods for studying large-scale conformational changes in proteins, with dynamics around the “wide-open” state of HIV protease as a model system. Since 2012, Pias has been a faculty member in chemistry at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech), where she earned tenure in 2018 and served as department chair during the challenging years of 2020–2023, spanning the COVID-19 pandemic. Her current research focus emerged from a conversation with a senior colleague during her first week as a faculty member. The colleague approached her with both a funding opportu nity and a curiosity question about oxygen effects on oil-wa ter emulsions. “We continued the conversation over several weeks, exchanging papers and ideas that led me to inquire how oxygen moves from its point of release in capillaries to sites of consumption within mitochondria,” she explains. This inquiry led Pias to explore membrane compositional effects on molecular oxygen transport—work that addresses fundamental questions about cell survival and death. Describ ing her specialization, she states, “I work to clarify biophysical mechanisms of critical transport processes that impact cell survival and cell death.” A pivotal moment came when she presented early work at a Bioenergetics Gordon Research Conference, where she met colleagues studying an ATP synthase “leak channel.”

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Biophysicist in Profile

This encounter sparked what would become a primary re search focus: using molecular dynamics simulations to explain and predict the structural and physical basis of charge leakage and gating behavior in this channel. She maintains a second ary interest in oxygen transport, particularly factors affecting diffusion rates through tissue and subcellular oxygen avail ability. Working at a primarily undergraduate institution presents unique challenges. Pias describes “managing the complexity of my job” as one of her biggest career challenges. Faculty at small institutions like New Mexico Tech carry large service loads while teaching and conducting research. “We are en couraged and expected to develop robust, externally funded research programs involving both graduate and undergradu ate students, while also teaching several courses per year and fulfilling significant service and leadership responsibilities,” she notes. Despite these demands, Pias has found profound rewards in her work. “I truly enjoy advising students and watching them grow, both professionally and personally,” she says. Beyond mentorship, she finds fulfillment in “tackling difficult scientific puzzles and persisting with them until the pieces begin to fall into place. The joy of insight and discovery is intoxicating.” Pias has found an intellectual and social home in the Biophys ical Society, which she describes as “an unusually welcoming professional and social environment. I feel appreciated as an individual and as a scientist.” She has become involved in the leadership of the Bioenergetics, Mitochondria, and Metab olism Subgroup as well as the Committee for Professional Opportunities for Women. What draws her to biophysics is its inherently collaborative nature. “I love that biophysics brings together people with distinct and complementary perspectives and areas of train ing,” she explains. “I can engage in dialogue with biologists, physicists, chemists, and others. The strength of the Society is in its range and variety of experience and perspective.”

This appreciation for interdisciplinarity stems naturally from her own cross-disciplinary training. She shares that the Soci ety “has helped shape my identity as a biophysicist—in ad dition to being a chemist/biochemist. The broader and more cross-cutting orientation of biophysics suits my perspective as a scholar trained across several fields.” For young scientists entering the field, Pias emphasizes the importance of community and intellectual humility. She rec ommends attending Biophysical Society meetings regularly and finding connections within Subgroups or affinity groups. “The social connections are just as important as the scientific ones, and in fact they can go hand in hand,” she advises. Her guidance reflects hard-won wisdom about interdisci plinary work. She advises, “Don’t be afraid to be wrong, but be aware and open about this possibility. (Be vulnerable and also humble.) Acknowledge that people with different train ing will have different, and also valid, interpretations and assumptions.” She notes that these diverse perspectives “do not negate or necessarily contradict your own perspective but may require effort to understand—and to recognize in what sense they are valid and where the gaps are.” Looking to the future, Pias sees biophysics moving toward bridging the scale gap between organ-level physiology and molecular-level structure and function. Her own work con tinues to focus on molecular processes modulating cell death and survival, and she intends to persist “until the field breaks through barriers of explanation, prediction, and imagination.” When she’s not working, Pias spends time with her two children—one just starting college, the other beginning high school—and enjoys reading historical fiction, listening to podcasts, studying languages, and learning martial arts. If she weren’t a biophysicist, she thinks she would be a professor of comparative religion or a psychologist, reflecting her enduring fascination with “historical perspectives on human behavior” and “contemporary study of motivations and causes underly ing human emotions and behavior.”

The Biophysical Society is grateful to its Industry Partners.

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

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Public Affairs

Around the World: Meet the Seventh Cohort of BPS Ambassadors The Biophysical Society officially launched the Ambassador Program as an initiative created to both enhance Society con tent for the global biophysical community and provide new pathways into biophysics in home countries. The first cohort of Ambassadors began in January 2020 for a three-year term of service, joined in subsequent years by additional cohorts for a total of 12 BPS Ambassadors representing international biophysics within the Society. These Ambassadors, each rep resenting a different country, work in conjunction with com mittees and staff to offer increased content and programming and a voice for the international biophysical community. The Society would like to thank our outgoing third cohort, Neelangana Sengupta of India, Miguel Castanho of Portugal, Ana-Nicoleta Bondar of Romania, and Jesus Perez-Gil of Spain, for their dedication and service to the international biophysi cal community. Trushar Patel Canada What do you do professionally? the university, my curiosity-driven research has deepened our understanding of how viral nucleic acids interact with human proteins and offered insights into the features of long non-cod ing RNAs. My interdisciplinary approach blends various fields of life sciences, guided by a philosophy of following questions and using the most suitable tools to answer them. Throughout this journey, I have been fortunate to both mentor and learn from the next generation of researchers. What led you to apply for the BPS Ambassador Program? The BPS Ambassador Program is a unique initiative that brings together researchers from around the world to promote the research and outreach activities of scientific communities, while fostering global collaboration. I have been inspired by the outstanding work of previous Ambassadors, whose efforts have strengthened scientific connections and visibility across regions. I am eager to contribute to this mission and highlight the vibrant Canadian research ecosystem within the commu nity. What are your Ambassador Program goals? I aim to improve science communication and dissemination training for early-career researchers and boost engagement Trushar Patel Currently, my main responsibilities include research, administrative duties, and teaching at the University of Lethbridge. Since joining

with students in remote and rural areas, starting at the high school level, to nurture their interest in science and research. Tell us something about your life outside the lab I enjoy traveling and talking to people. Chen Song China What do you do professionally? I obtained a PhD in physics and have since been working in the field of computational biophysics. My research primarily focuses on the dynamic functional mechanisms of membrane proteins, as well as the development of computational meth ods to facilitate these studies. Recently, I have developed an interest in the computational design of membrane proteins and peptides. What led you to apply for the BPS Ambassador Program? The Biophysical Society has been a significant community in my career, providing substantial support and valuable opportu nities. Having established my research group and recognizing the importance of international collaboration, I am eager to contribute to the Society’s development and support both domestic and international fellow biophysicists by serving as a BPS Ambassador. What are your Ambassador Program goals? I aim to strengthen the ties between the Biophysical Soci ety and the scientific community in China. I intend to foster cross-border collaboration and support early-career research ers. I particularly hope to establish new platforms for interdisci plinary exchange at the interface of biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics, thereby contributing to the development of a more integrated, inclusive, and innovative global community in biophysics and quantitative biology. Ragothaman Yennamalli India What do you do professionally? I am currently working as an assistant professor at SASTRA Deemed to be Univer sity in Thanjavur, India. My specialization is in bioinformatics/ computational biology. I did my PhD in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. I primarily teach undergraduates and master’s students in the bioinformatics program. At the same time, I do research on car bohydrate-active enzymes and their structural properties and structural dynamics by using fine-grained and coarse-grained methods. Chen Song Ragothaman Yennamalli I am an associate professor at the Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University.

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Public Affairs

What led you to apply for the BPS Ambassador Program? BPS has helped me professionally since 2011. I have actively served on the Public Affairs and Early Careers Committees, and I currently serve on the Education Committee. All these experiences have enriched me in multiple ways, and I want ed to share the same with other biophysicists in India. Since 2017, I have been attending meetings of the Indian Biophysical Society. Thus, what I learned attending BPS meetings will allow me to improve my ability to translate local needs into BPS initiatives and to convey BPS resources back to Indian stu dents and researchers, especially first-generation and women researchers. What are your Ambassador Program goals? My long-term goal is to establish a structural bioinformatics hub that links Indian researchers with international collabora tors, supports students from diverse backgrounds (especially high school students from underrepresented groups), and informs local policy with robust data. I plan regional workshops in which students learn modeling on laptops, virtual exchanges that pair Indian coders with experimental groups abroad, and outreach visits to rural colleges where access to biophysics remains limited. Tell us something about your life outside the lab I do research on Indian classical dance history in my free time. A highlight was when we identified the dancers in an obscure video at New York Public Library, and they updated the catalog (www.nypl.org/research/research-catalog/bib/b12171771) with the sentence “Additional date and credit information given to Dance Division by dance researchers.” Christian Kaiser The Netherlands What do you do professionally? interested in the folding and dynamics of biological macromol ecules. Before moving to The Netherlands in 2023, I was an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University. My group has a longstanding interest in understanding co-translational pro tein folding and chaperone action. To better understand these processes, we are using single-molecule manipulation with optical tweezers and single-molecule fluorescence detection, complemented by cellular reporter assays. What led you to apply for the BPS Ambassador Program? Ever since I became a BPS member during my postdoctoral work in the United States, the Biophysical Society has been instrumental to my career in science, and I have rarely missed an Annual Meeting. The Ambassador Program is a great oppor tunity to contribute to the Society’s mission of leading a global biophysics community. Christian Kaiser I am a professor in the Bijvoet Centre of Biomolecular Research at Utrecht Univer sity, leading a research group that is mainly

What are your Ambassador Program goals? As an ambassador, I am looking forward to serving as a bridge between the Biophysical Society and the vibrant biophysics community in The Netherlands, with a focus on fostering exchange and getting the next generation of scientists excited about biophysics. Tell us something about your life outside the lab I am a fourth degree academic descendant of Peter Debye , who had been a Professor at Utrecht University (although I did not realize that before moving here).

A Look Ahead: What’s in Store for the 2026 Biophysical Society Thematic Meetings

Where will we see you in 2026? Get ready for a dynamic year of scientific exchange! Each of our 2026 Thematic Meetings offers a unique opportunity to dive deep into emerging topics, con nect with leading experts, and spark collaborations that push the boundaries of biophysics.

Biophysics of Membrane Reactions in the Brain May 11–14, 2026 — Bucharest, Romania

Mechanobiology of Infection June 7–11, 2026 — Ascona, Switzerland

Active and Responsive Biological Matter: How Cells Sense and Respond to Their Physical Environment July 20–24, 2026 — Riga, Latvia

Single-Molecule FRET: The Next 30 Years September 21–25, 2026 — Tutzing, Germany

Explore a Meeting Today: biophysics.org/thematic-meetings

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Publications

Know the Editor Siewert-Jan Marrink University of Groningen

Supplementary Information material of our Nature Methods paper on the Martini force field: https:/static-content.spring er.com/esm/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41592-021-01098-3/Me diaObjects/41592_2021_1098_MOESM1_ESM.pdf).

Editor, Membranes Biophysical Journal

Editor’s Pick

Medulla

Siewert-Jan Marrink

Cortex

What are you currently working on that excites you? When I was a PhD student in the early nineties, molecular dynamics simulations of lipid membranes represented an up coming area of research. We struggled getting our force fields to the point that a bilayer configuration was actually stable. And once we achieved this, we could simulate a small patch of only 64 lipids over a very limited (100 ps) time period. Nowadays, we are pushing simulations of entire cells (admit tedly, one of the smallest cells known, JCVI-syn3A), compris ing millions of lipids together with thousands of membrane proteins and a crowded cytoplasm inside, totaling close to a billion particles. Remarkably, those early day simulations took months to complete on the most powerful computers of that era (Cyber 205), and once completed, analysis of the resulting data took only a few afternoons. On the contrary, nowadays we generate terabytes of data overnight even on our local desktop machines, but analysis of these huge multicompo nent systems requires months of work. This ongoing increase in the time and length scales that we can simulate, together with the associated challenges of how to deal with complex data, excites me and pushes me to continue exploring the frontiers of computational modeling. At a cocktail party of non-scientists, how would you explain what you do? I would start pouring them a martini, my favorite cocktail and the name-giver of the force field we have developed in my group (together with many others). Then, I would explain how we, like making a cocktail, mix different ingredients togeth er to allow us to simulate what happens inside a cell. Most likely they would already be lost at this point, so I would pour them another martini. In fact, I would mix them our special prize-winning liquid-liquid phase-separated martini, giving me the opportunity to explain how liquid-liquid phase separa tion is of fundamental importance for providing the final an swer to everything. They might want to know what the actual question is, so I would simply refer to Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy . After shaking another round of martinis, I would reit erate that working in science is fun, because you get to mix a lot of martinis, and you can even publish the recipes in re spected scientific journals (true! have a look at the end of the

Cuticula

The Biophysicist A Homebuilt Experiment to Quantify the Mechanical Proper ties of Hair Fabian Bennati Weis, Tizian Schmidt, Kilian Kuhlbrodt, Ruth Meyer, Charlotta Lorenz, and Sarah Köster “Gaining research experience early on is instrumental for undergraduate students, motivating them and improving their comprehension of science. This paper presents an experi mental setup that does not require access to state-of-the-art research laboratories and that provides hands-on conceptual and experimental insights into biophysical research. Due to time constraints, such research-oriented hands-on skills are commonly less in focus during undergraduate studies. With this experiment, students can simultaneously record force–strain curves and measure the diameter of microm eter-diameter fibers (such as hair) to examine elongation, stiffness, dissipated energy, and the Poisson ratio. To study these properties, the students familiarize themselves with different data analysis tools, including image processing and data fitting, and compare the results to those in the literature. The data analysis includes challenges typical for biophysics, such as sample-to-sample variations, signal fluctuations, and a limited number of available samples. The students accompany the entire process of experimental development, analysis, interpretation, and discussion of data. Teachers provide instructions and code for automating the experiment. This experiment thus narrows the gap between didactic aims and current practice in undergraduate experimental courses in biophysics.” Version of Record Published April 11, 2025 DOI: https:/doi.org/10.35459/tbp.2024.000280

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Awards

Continued from Page 1

Awards to be bestowed this cycle include: BPS Awards Recognizing Career Accomplishments The Fellow of the Biophysical Society for sustained scientific excellence and contributions in the field of biophysics. The Founders Award for outstanding contributions to the field of biophysics. The Carolyn Cohen Innovation Award for innovative advances in the understanding of biological systems. The Rosalba Kampman Distinguished Service Award for exceptional service in the field of biophysics. The Emily M. Gray Distinguished Educator Award for signifi cant contributions to biophysics education and mentoring. The Excellence in Undergraduate Education Award for excel lence in research and mentoring at a primarily undergraduate institution. The Michael and Kate Bárány Award for exceptional contri butions by a person who has not yet achieved the rank of full professor or equivalent. The Early Career Award for noteworthy contributions to research and service in the first six years of their independent position. The Margaret Oakley Dayhoff Award for a woman achiev ing prominence in scholarship and/or leadership at an early career stage. The Doctoral Research Award for excellence in research, writing, and service during doctoral training.

BPS Awards Recognizing Excellence in Specific Areas of Biophysics Research The Agnes Pockels Award in Lipids and Membrane Biophysics for outstanding contributions that advanced the field of lipids and membrane biophysics. The Award in Membrane Protein Biophysics for outstanding contributions that advanced the field of membrane protein biophysics. The Ignacio Tinoco Award in Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules for outstanding contributions that advanced the field of physical chemistry of macromolecules. The Kazuhiko Kinosita Award in Single-Molecule Biophysics for outstanding contributions that advanced the field of single-molecule biophysics. The Award in the Biophysics of Health and Disease for outstanding contributions using biophysics to advance understanding of health and disease. The Klaus Schulten and Zaida Luthey-Schulten Award in Computational Biophysics for outstanding contributions that advance the field of computational biophysics. Awards will be presented at the 2027 Biophysical Society Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For informa tion and to submit a nomination, visit www.biophysics.org/ awards-funding/society-awards. If you have any questions, please contact awards@biophysics.org.

Get Involved.

Your voice matters at BPS. Getting involved is a great way to connect with colleagues, build leadership skills, and contribute to the biophysics community. For more information about how to get involved, visit www.biophysics.org/get-involved.

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Annual Meeting

First Timers and New Members

Thank you to our sponsors: Allen Institute American Physical Society Avanti Research Bruker Calibre Scientific Cell Press Chroma Technology Journal of General Physiology (JGP) Leica Microsystems Nanion Technologies Next Gen Nicoya Lifesciences Nuclera Refeyn Sophion Bioscience Sutter Thermo Fisher Scientific Did You Submit a Late Abstract by the January 6, 2026, Deadline? Look to receive your programming notice the week of January 18. Please contact the Society Office if you do not receive your notification.

First-Time Attendee Networking Saturday, February 21, 2026, 5:00 pm –6:00 pm

Is this your first time attending a Biophysical Society Annual Meeting? Wondering what to do first and how to get the most out of your time? Drop by the First-Time Attendee Networking event on Saturday evening during the Opening Mixer to meet other first-time attendees and learn how to navigate the meeting. Society staff and committee members will be on hand to answer your questions about the meeting and help you gain the most from your time at the BPS2026 Annual Meeting. View our guide to learn to navigate the meeting before you arrive at www.biophysics.org/2026meeting/general-info/navigating-the-meeting.

New Member Welcome Coffee Monday, February 23, 2026, 10:15 am –11:15 am

All new Biophysical Society members are invited to participate in an informal gathering to meet members of the Society’s Council and Committees, find out about the Society’s activities, get acquainted with other new members, and enjoy refreshments. Dinner Meet-Ups Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, 6:00 pm Interested in making new acquaintances and experiencing the cuisine of San Francisco? Meet at the Society Booth each evening Sunday through Tuesday at 6:00 PM, where a BPS member will coordinate dinner at a local restaurant. In addition to the general Dinner Meet-Up groups, there will be specific meet-ups for different groups and focus topics: • Sunday, February 22 – General, Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) • Monday, February 23 – General, Black in Biophysics • Tuesday, February 24 – General, Networking for Nerds Additional groups may be added, and dates may be subject to change. Attendees are responsi ble for covering their individual expenses.

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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY

Annual Meeting

Poster Printing Tired of traveling with your poster? Want to have it printed and delivered directly to the Convention Center in San Francisco for onsite pickup? Once again, we have partnered with Tray Printing to simplify your printing for pickup on site. Visit the Annual Meeting website and click on “Abstracts” and then “Poster Guidelines” for more information. Orders will be ac cepted beginning January 12, 2026. Career Development Center & Job Board Do you have a position to fill in your lab or company? Are you looking for that next job opportunity in the field of biophys ics? If you answered yes, then you need to post your position by February 13 on the BPS Job Board and stop by the Career Development Center during the Annual Meeting to view the latest job openings! Annual Meeting Special for Employers and Job Seekers Here are the advantages to posting your job or resume on the Society Job Board between now and February 13: For Employers • Take advantage of special job posting discount specifically for the Annual Meeting • Copies of your job posting for participants to view onsite if your job is live during the time of the Annual Meeting • Space to conduct interviews onsite at the meeting (as avail able, first-come, first-serve) • Time saved at the Annual Meeting For Job Seekers • Connect with employers searching to fill vacant positions now and meet up at the Annual Meeting • Grab vacant job descriptions and identify those employers that are on site at the Annual Meeting • Ability to be interviewed onsite at the meeting • Time saved at the Annual Meeting Resume posting is FREE for all attendees. Job posting is avail able at a highly discounted special rate. For more information, please visit www.biophysics.org/2026meeting and click the Career Development Center tab.

Plan, Sync, Connect with the Mobile App and Desktop Publisher Visit biophysics.org/2026meeting for more information on the Biophysical Society Events Desktop Planner and Events App. Available mid-January. Search keyword “BPS Events” in the app stores below:

Exhibitor Presentations* Exhibitor presentations will be held throughout the week of the Annual Meeting by companies that have exciting products, tools, and technologies to showcase. All meeting attendees are welcome at these presentations. Sunday, February 22 9:30 am –1:00 am Bruker 10:30 am –12:00 pm Refeyn 1:30 pm –3:00 pm Allen Institute Monday, February 23 8:30 am –10:00 am Bruker 9:30 am –11:00 am Bruker 10:30 am –12:00 pm Nanion Technologies 11:30 am –1:00 pm Leica Microsystems 1:30 pm –3:00 pm Avanti Research 2:30 pm –4:00 pm Thermo Fisher Scientific 3:30 pm –5:00 pm Nuclera Tuesday, February 24 11:30 am –1:00 pm Sophion Bioscience 1:30 pm –3:00 pm Nicoya Lifesciences *Presentation list as of November 30, 2025. To learn more about these Exhibitor Presentations, visit www. biophysics.org/2026meeting/program/Scientific-Sessions/ Exhibitor-Presentations. If you are interested in hosting an Ex hibitor Presentation, contact Exhibit Management at exhibits@ biophysics.org.

Don’t wait—reserve your hotel today! Deadline: January 30, 2026

biophysics.org/ 2026meeting

January 2026

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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY

Communities

Michael Greenberg Publications Committee

Michael Greenberg

What has been a highlight from your volunteer experience? One highlight for me has been planning new initiatives to reach out to the community during the Annual Meeting. Do you have advice for others who might be thinking about volunteering? Just do it. Communities don’t exist in a vacuum, and they need people to step up and play active roles in shaping the pres ent and future of the field. Volunteering allows you to have a broader impact on science that extends beyond the bench. When not volunteering for BPS, what do you work on? My lab studies molecular motors both in health and in dis ease. Outside the lab, I like spending time with my family, hiking, going to concerts, learning about weather and history, and playing guitar.

Is this your first volunteer position for BPS? If not, what other positions have you held? In addition to being a member of the Publications Committee, I have been a member of the editorial board for Biophysical Journal . I have also volunteered as a judge for the Student Research Achievement Awards (SRAA) at the Annual Meeting. Why do you volunteer? The Biophysical Society has been a scientific home for me since I began my training. My first paper was published in Biophysical Journal , and the first conference I ever attended was the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting. The rewarding connections and collaborations that have grown out of my interactions with the Society continue to be central factors in shaping my scientific journey. I am happy to be able to give back to the Society and to ensure that it can serve as a scien tific home for our community, both today and in the future.

70th Anniversary Special: Exclusive Job Board Posting Offer for the 2026 Annual Meeting Post your job early and save! In celebration of the Society’s 70th Annual Meeting, BPS is offering you a 60-day job posting for a significantly reduced price. Job posting must be purchased by February 13, 2026. Package includes: • Viewable job posting on the Society Job Board for 60 days • On site job posting at the Annual Meeting Career Development Center • Unlimited access to resumes on the online job board • Access to interview space in the Career Development Center as available • Inclusion in the Society’s Job Flash email, which goes out to more than 6,500 biophysics professionals Cost: $399 members/$499 non-members Take advantage of this exclusive offer, available only from January 1 to February 13, 2026. https:/ biophysics-jobs.careerwebsite.com/

Numbers By the

The Biophysical Society currently reaches an audience of 48,242 followers across all social media platforms.

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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY

Member Corner

Members in the News

Frances Separovic , University of Melbourne and Society member since 1985, was highly commended in the 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.

Frances Separovic

Grants & Opportunities

The L’Oreal USA For Women in Science Foundation The foundation is seeking five exceptional female scien tists looking to advance their research and serve as role models for the next generation of girls in Science, Tech nology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Who can apply: Candidates must have completed their PhD and have started in their postdoctoral research posi tion by January 31, 2026. Candidates must be US citizens or permanent residents. Deadline: February 13, 2026 Website: https:/ www.loreal.com/en/usa/pages/group/ fwis/

Leukemia Research Foundation New Investigator Research Grant Program This program supports early-career investigators who propose highly innovative research projects with the potential to affect broad, essential areas of leukemia research. Grants of up to $150,000 are awarded over a two-year period to researchers within seven years of their first independent faculty-level position. Who can apply: Applicants must be independent inves tigators affiliated with a non-profit academic institution at the time funding commences through the duration of the award. Applicants are not required to be US citizens, and research projects from outside the United States are eligible. Deadline: Letter of intent deadline is February 6, 2026; full applications upon invitation only. Website: https:/ leukemiarf.org/research/grant-pro grams/guidelines-application/

Student Spotlight César Amaya University of Valparaíso

What do you hope to accomplish in your career? I hope to establish or contribute to the first ion channel biophysics laboratory in my country, Panamá. I aim to create a space that fosters local human development and shows that first-world-class science can be done anywhere with curiosity, passion, and collaboration.

César Amaya

January 2026

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Career Development

Making the Most of the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting The Biophysical Society Annual Meeting is one of the most anticipated events on the scientific calendar, bringing together researchers from around the world to share new discoveries, learn emerging In today’s ever-evolving research landscape, it’s increasingly important to demonstrate strong communication skills and leverage your network to discover opportunities for career ad vancement and employment. Mastering how you present your work, navigating diverse career pathways, and staying engaged with publishing, academic, and industry trends are critical for researchers at all career stages to thrive amid shifting funding landscapes and competitive job markets.

techniques, and forge collaborations that cross traditional boundaries be tween disciplines and sectors. Whether you’re presenting a poster, attending your first meeting, exploring career op

Take full advantage of the Society’s robust professional devel opment programming to broaden your network, explore gradu ate and postdoctoral pathways, and gain valuable insights into the publishing process and scientific career paths—both within and beyond academia. Participate in networking events, panel discussions, and opportunity fairs that provide safe, supportive spaces to ask questions, share experiences, and connect with peers. Whether you’re actively job hunting or simply building your re search community, these events offer meaningful engagement with scientists at all career stages across academia, industry, and government. If you are exploring graduate or postdoc pro grams, or are currently on the job market, be sure to bring your CV or resume—this is a rare opportunity to have candid, infor mal conversations with prospective employers and mentors. Make a Plan, Then Stay Flexible With so much happening at the meeting, it is easy to feel over whelmed. A few simple strategies can help you to stay focused and make the most of your time: • Block off time for key sessions you don’t want to miss, • Leave space in your schedule for spontaneous networking or just to recharge, • Prepare a quick “elevator pitch” to describe your work and interests, and • Say yes to meetups, dinner invites, and hallway conversa tions—these often lead to the most meaningful connec tions. The Annual Meeting is more than a conference. It is a vibrant gathering of scientists, students, mentors, and innovators from around the world. Although its size can feel overwhelming at first, with the right mix of planning and curiosity, you’ll leave with new knowledge, potential career opportunities, and con nections that could last a lifetime. — Molly Cule

portunities, or simply soaking in cutting-edge science, here are some tips to help you make the most of your time and take full advantage of everything the meeting has to offer to thrive as a scientist in today’s dynamic, interconnected research ecosys tem. Dive into the Science: Symposia and Workshops The scientific program is the heart of the meeting, offering a dynamic lineup of topics spanning the full spectrum of biophys ics research. Symposia delve into exciting developments across the field and provide an ideal setting to immerse yourself in groundbreaking data and ideas. Beyond the symposia, the pro gram features platform presentations selected from submitted abstracts, highlighting innovative work by researchers at all career stages. Hands-on workshops led by experts in emerg ing methods and technologies offer participants the chance to build practical skills and stay at the forefront of the field. Posters with Purpose: Engage, Explore, and Connect The posters in the exhibit hall are a dynamic hub of discov ery and conversation. With thousands of posters presented throughout the meeting, you’ll have direct access to pioneering research and the scientists behind it. If you’re presenting a poster, you have a prime opportunity to showcase your work and gain valuable feedback, fresh insights, and new ideas from experts across the field. Prepare a concise three- to five-min ute overview of your research and be ready to engage in deeper discussions. As an attendee, browse the program in advance to plan your route and prioritize the posters you want to explore each day. Engaging with presenters is a great way to spark meaningful conversations, build new connections, and potentially open doors to future collaborations or job opportunities. Connect, Learn, and Grow: Networking and Professional Development The Annual Meeting is more than just a scientific conference: it’s a launchpad for career growth and meaningful connections.

January 2026

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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY