Biophysical Society Bulletin | July/August 2019

Obituary

Obituary

sedimentation equilibrium data, first using moment analysis in Biospin and later, nonlinear curve fitting in Nonlin. Descen- dants of these programs have found their way into a variety of scientific and medical fields, including stop flow kinetics and ligand binding analysis. Later still, he and his students automated data collection from the analytical ultracentrifuge interference optical system employing laser optics and auto- mation cameras, approaches that are still used in the current Beckman instruments. His development of short-column and multichannel external loading centerpieces had an enormous impact on the precision and efficiency of equilibrium methods. He was committed to academic research and headed teaching and research labs at the Rockefeller Institute, SUNY Buffa- lo, and the University of Connecticut. His research laid the groundwork for important discoveries in genetics, pharmacol- ogy, biotherapeutics, and immunology. He and his wife were welcoming and generous with their time and their home. For many summers, he taught and conducted research at the Marine Biological Labs in Woods Hole, when he became good friends with Ken Van Holde . In 2001, David retired and moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, after 33 years at UConn. He was a visiting professor at the University of Crete from 1986 until 2008. David was an original, innovative, and driven investigator, whose teaching and enthusiasm has been extremely in- fluential in the success and accomplishments of his many students and colleagues. As mentioned in the 2004 article that celebrated his career (Biophys Chem 108 [2004]23–42), David often would say, “We can do better.” He was a kind and generous man whose quiet sparkle and passion for justice made him beloved by all who knew him. — Robley Williams , Michael Johnson , Walt Stafford , Tom Laue , Jack Correia , David Rhodes , Jim Cole

David Yphantis David Andrew Yphantis passed away on April 13, 2019. David was born in Boston, Massa- chusetts, on July 14, 1930. His parents were American Christian missionaries and the family lived in Greece from 1935 until 1942, when David was part of the last diplomatic personnel exchange with German-occupied Greece. At 17, he graduated with honors from Boston Latin School, and

won the National Science Talent Search and a Westinghouse Science Scholarship. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with an AB in physics in 1952 and received his PhD in biophysics in 1955 from MIT under the mentorship of David Waugh . In 1954 he married Lorna Nickerson , who predeceased him by just over two months; they had five children, ten grandchil- dren, and seven great-grandchildren. David joined the Biophysical Society in 1959, served on the Biophysical Journal Editorial Board 1963–1968, was a member of the Society’s Executive Board 1975–1978 and received the Founders Award in 1995. David was renowned as a pioneer in the development of research instruments and methods, particularly for the analytical ultracentrifuge in the characterization of revers- ible associations. He was an early adopter of computers; he and his students developed software for the analysis of

From the Blog biophysics.org/blog

Genie: a new gender equality initiative in Sweden In a pioneering initiative that is long-term, well-funded, and led by faculty, Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden aims towards a more equal gender balance within the faculty as a strategy to make Chalmers more successful. To obtain lasting change, commitment to gender equality from all formal and informal leaders is key. https:/www.biophysics.org/blog/genie-a-new-gender-equality-initiative-in-sweden

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