Biophysical Society Bulletin | January 2026

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.

January 2026

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