Biophysical Society Bulletin | January 2026

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

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January 2026

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