Biophysical Society Bulletin | June 2024

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Around the World UK Adjustments to Visa Salary Thresholds Could Risk STEM Recruitment

instead of a subject-based matrix. At the time of writing, NSF is currently carrying out a pilot study to identify risks. The next phase will be to determine how to mitigate those risks and what the cost would be. Apply Now to Join the Next Cohort of BPS Ambassadors Are you an advocate for biophys

New changes to United Kingdom immigration rules may neg atively impact recruitment efforts for international scientific talent. At the end of April, the minimum salary that interna tional skilled workers must meet to obtain a visa was raised. In addition to the increased salary threshold, visa holders also will pay for access to health care and will face new restric tions on family visas. Previously, workers had to earn at least £26,200 to be eligible for the visa; in December 2023, the government announced this threshold would rise by almost 50% to £38,700—well above what many early-career researchers earn. The backlash that was created within the scientific community resulted in an adjustment in early April for STEM PhDs to set that threshold to £30,960. Many scientists will be able to sidestep the salary thresholds by applying for the relatively new Global Talent Visa. The visa can be granted to anyone—including research assistants and technicians—named on a grant from a long list of recognized funders. Students are also affected by new immigration rules: since January, holders of student visas have been unable to bring family members with them to the United Kingdom unless the visa holder is studying for a postgraduate research degree.

ics education and knowledge sharing? Have you considered applying for the BPS Ambassador Program to put those skills into action? The BPS Ambassador Program was developed to help make biophysics a more dynamic, inclusive, and interdisciplinary

Ambassador Program

community to better serve the needs of our international membership. Currently, BPS works with 12 Ambassadors— four-member cohorts serving three-year terms. For the next class of Ambassadors (2025–2027), we are ac cepting applications from all international members residing in countries outside of India, Japan, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay. An ideal country Ambassador is actively engaged in biophysics research and committed to remaining in the field for the duration of the Ambassadorship, is an active paid member of the Society in good standing, is able to attend the Annual Meeting at the start of their term, has working proficiency in English, and has a demonstrated ability to contribute to organizations or scientific societies outside of their normal job duties. Applications are due July 19. To learn more about the program, Ambassador eligibility, and benefits, please visit www.biophysics.org/outreach/ambassador-program.

The Biophysical Society is grateful to its Industry Partners.

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

June 2024

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