Biophysical Society Bulletin | March 2021

Communities

Subgroups Multiscale Genome Organization The Biophysical Society Council has approved the formation of the Multiscale Genome Organization Subgroup. If you are interested in the field of genome structure, dynamics, and function, please join our Subgroup when you renew your membership. With your membership, you can join one group for free and add any others for only $10 each. We are particularly excited about bringing together experimen- talists and theoreticians andmodelers and emphasizing the interplay between techniques and ideas concerning the complex multiscale features and properties of genomes, frombases to chromosomes. Suchmultiscale models and experimental strate- gies onmany spatial and temporal scales are needed to address

all components of the chromosome folding problem and the epigenomic regulation of gene expression. Last month at the BPS Annual Meeting, we held our Subgroup’s first mini symposium. Please visit the Society website at www.biophysics.org/subgroups/multiscale-genome-organiza- tion to see a list of the presentations and learnmore about the exciting talks on the latest genome discoveries. We are searching for volunteers to serve as future Chairs and Secretaries for the Subgroup. Please contact us if you are inter- ested, and please send ideas for future events and speakers, and

how to advance our field. — Tamar Schlick , Co-chair — Tom Connor Bishop , Co-chair

Grants & Opportunities The Sontag Foundation Distinguished Scientist Award This award seeks to provide career research support to early career scientists who demonstrate outstanding promise for making scientific and medical breakthroughs in the field of brain cancer research. Who can apply: Applicants must hold a doctoral degree and must have received their first independent faculty appointment no earlier than March 1, 2016, and no later than January 1, 2021, at a tax-exempt academic, re- search, or medical institution within the United States or an equivalent institution in Canada. Deadline: March 17 Website: http:/www.sontagfoundation.org/all-grants/ brain-cancer/dsa-application-info-requirements/

NIH – Better Defining Growth Medium to Improve Reproducibility of Cell Culture (SBIR) Fetal bovine serum is the most widely used growth sup- plement for cell culture because it cost-effectively sup- ports the survival and growth of many cell lines. Although serum is an effective growth promotor, it is highly variable in its composition, activity, and physiological effects on cells. This funding opportunity supports SBIR projects to develop novel, reliable, and cost-effective tools that will make it easier to standardize or replace serum in cell culture. Who can apply: United States small business concerns (SBCs) are eligible to submit applications for this opportu- nity. Deadline: April 5 Website: https:/grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/pa- 18-815.html

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