Biophysical Society Bulletin | June 2018

Communities

A Glance at Biophysics in Japan

National Research Council Research Associateship Programs These programs promote excellence in scientific and technological research conducted by the US government through the administration of programs offering grad- uate, postdoctoral, and senior level research opportu- nities at sponsoring federal laboratories and affiliated institutions. Who can apply: Once a host laboratory and Research Adviser are identified, an application is submitted online. Prospective applicants should carefully read the details and eligibility of the program to which they are apply- ing, as some laboratories have citizenship and/or other requirements. Deadline: August 1, 2018 Website: http:/sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/rap/ iPS cell research is the most famous medical science in Japan because Professor Shinya Yamanaka won the Nobel prize in medicine in 2012. Also, it is the most anticipated field in the next generation of medicine. Biophysics has been support- ing this research field by providing the physical basis of cell dynamics to understand the mechanisms of differentiation. Moreover, iPS cells have enabled us to study unsolved cell dy- namics in any cell types by their precise differentiation ability. On the other hand, artificial cell research is still rapidly grow- ing as the innovative way to understand, modify, and rebuild living cell models. This trend has been coming from a part of synthetic biology. The main aim of artificial cell research is to construct “cells” that are metabolizable, splittable, and controllable. To construct artificial cells from defined biomole- cules, biophysics offers innumerable physical fundamentals of self-organization in the phenomena of life. The Biophysical Society of Japan has nearly 4,000 members. Its outreach activities include lectures in elementary, junior high, and high school by famous Japanese biophysics re- searchers to generate enthusiasm for the science in younger students. — Shunshi Kohyama , Keio University

Over the past half century, biophysics has been a significant and important platform in Japan for both biologists and physicists to understand the question, What is life? through physical and

AAAS Mentor Awards The two categories of the AAAS Mentor Awards (Life- time Mentor Award and Mentor Award) both honor individuals who during their careers demonstrate extraordinary leadership to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in science and engineer- ing fields and careers. It is important to indicate in the nomination materials how the nominee’s work resulted in departmental and/or institutional change in terms of the granting of PhDs to underrepresented students, with quantitative data and demonstrated through the student and colleague letters of support. Who can apply: The award is open to all regardless of nationality or citizenship. Nominees must be living at the time of their nomination. Deadline: August 15, 2018 Website: https:/www.aaas.org/page/aaas-mentor- awards Grants & Opportunities Biophysics also offers powerful tools for recently developed life science research fields in Japan. Two notable studies are regenerative medicine using iPS cells and the construction of artificial cells by bottom-up synthetic biology. mathematical considerations. Biophysics has been mainly led and promoted by the Biophysical Society of Japan, and influences a wide range of quantitative considerations about biological subjects, from single-molecule to whole organisms and ecosystems.

June 2018

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