Biophysical Society Bulletin | May 2022

Public Affairs

Luyi Cheng

Elmer Zapata-Mercado

BPS Names Two Congressional Fellows for 2022–2023 BPS is pleased to announce that we will be sponsoring two BPS Congressional Fellows for the 2022–2023 policy year. The Public Affairs Committee (PAC), responsible for reviewing the applications and interviewing candidates, had a wide array of outstanding scientists to choose from. Ultimately, the PAC concluded that the only choice was to sponsor two Congressional Fellows for the first time in our program history— Luyi Cheng and Elmer Zapata-Mercado . “This will be the first time that the Biophysical Society has selected two candidates to support in a year-long fellowship pro- gram on Capitol Hill,” said Eric Sundberg , Chair of the PAC. “We are extremely proud to present these two candidates as repre- sentatives of biophysics and the scientific community at large.” Cheng and Zapata-Mercado will spend a year working in a congressional office on legislative and policy areas requiring sci- entific input. They will also participate in the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Science and Technology Fellowship Program, which includes an orientation on congressional and executive branch operations and a year-long seminar series on issues related to science policy. Cheng and Zapata-Mercato will begin their fellowships in September 2022. Read more about the Congressional Fellowship program at https:/www.biophysics.org/policy-advocacy/congressional-fellowship.

An Update from the Nation’s Capital Greetings from the U.S. Capitol! I’m Max Olender , and I’m privileged to serve as the 2021–2022 BPS Congressional Fellow. Along with 26 fellow scientists and engineers sponsored by other professional societies, I’m participating in the Science and Technology Policy

with Senator Casey’s office, my four-member team covers the Senator’s health policy portfolio; I specialize in health innovation, industry, regulation, and research. In this capac- ity, I’ve been closely engaged in authorization and oversight of government agencies within the Committee’s jurisdiction, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. My key responsibilities include supporting the Senator in pur- suing legislative and policy priorities, preparing for hearings and meetings, deliberating upcoming votes, reviewing and crafting public statements, and staying apprised of current events, trends, and constituent sentiment. To keep Senator Casey updated and informed on issues within the purview of the Subcommittee, I contribute to memos and issue briefs, draft new legislation, provide vote recommendations, devel- op and propose questions for hearing witnesses, and attend briefings and hearings. It is also my responsibility to meet with constituents, advocacy groups, and external stakehold- ers on behalf of the Senator. While much of my work goes unseen, it’s always exciting when my efforts result in demonstrable outcomes. I’ve di- rectly contributed to the introduction of bipartisan legislation,

Fellowship Program administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Through this program, I’ve been given the unique opportunity to bring sci- entific expertise and perspective

Max Olender

to Congress while learning about the policy-making process through hands-on experience. Having begun this one-year fellowship in September, I’m excited to provide a glimpse into what I’ve experienced in that time. I work as a member of the majority staff for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions’ Subcommittee on Children and Families, serving under the leadership of Chair Bob Casey (D-PA). Collaborating closely

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