Biophysical Society Bulletin | November 2018

Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting

Theory and Experiment to the Cell and Back

the “Call for Topics” email sent in August. As a general guide- line, 70–80 percent of the symposia are directly related to the research interests of the members as determined from the number of abstract submissions in past years. The remaining 20–30 percent represent emerging topics or areas not usually represented at the Annual Meeting. Workshops are where members learn about new tools and technologies that can transform their research. Workshops differ from symposia in that they are technique oriented, but are similar in that they are given by recognized leaders to an audience of non-specialists. Workshops cover emerging experimental and computational methods to provide partic- ipants with a working knowledge of the new technologies.

Workshops are held on Tuesday evening to avoid overlap with the other scientific sessions — so if you are planning a lab reunion or happy hour — plan to be back at the convention center in time for the workshops at 7:30 PM. Finally, don’t forget to look closely at the program book to learn about the many other events sponsored by the Soci- ety. These include programs focused on career development, funding opportunities, science policy, and more. Saturday Subgroup symposia are a meeting highlight open to all regis- tered meeting attendees, and be sure to attend the reception and dance. You will meet new people, and maybe even see your advisor dance (but be careful, you can’t “un-see” some things). Have fun at the meeting!

Navigating Your Way Through The Annual Meeting! — E. Michael Ostap

Thank you to our sponsors: Asylum Research Alvéole Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Bruker Corporation Carl Zeiss Microscopy LLC Cell Press Chroma Technology Hamamatsu Corporation Journal of Cell Science Journal of General Physiology Leica Microsystems LUMICKS Mad City Labs Molecular Devices Nanion Technologies Photonics Media Physics Today Sophion Bioscience A/S Wyatt Technology Corporation

Platform talks are opportunities for trainees and established scientists to give short oral presentations of highly signif- icant and novel work. Platform talks are not meant to be comprehensive reviews of the field, but rather are highly focused, short research presentations that are directed to those that work in the field. These presentations are given by both trainees and established investigators to audiences that range in numbers of 100 to 500. Abstracts from attendees who have requested to give a talk are distrib- uted to Council and Program Committee members with appropriate expertise, and the committee members make recom- mendations regarding appropriateness for oral presentation based on scientific impact. Efforts are taken to ensure the speakers within each platform session re- flect the diversity of the Society member- ship. If a research area receives very few abstract submissions, it is not eligible for its own platform session. In these cases, the Program Committee works to com- bine related abstract categories to create a platform session that can accommodate these oral presentations. You might be surprised to learn that approximately 30 percent of submitted abstracts are select- ed for an oral presentation. Symposia provide an in-depth exploration of an exciting topic of interest to attend- ees. Symposia talks are given by recog- nized leaders in their field who are given time to provide sufficient background to allow non-specialists to better under- stand their exciting research. Symposia are where meeting attendees can learn and be inspired by a field outside of their own. Many symposia topics are proposed by the Society membership in response to

The Biophysical Soci- ety’s Annual Meeting is an exciting, stimulating, and scientifically diverse forum for scientists at all career levels to meet, inform, and learn from their colleagues — and importantly — to dis- cover new and emerging fields in biophysics.

Career Events From putting potential students in touch with top biophysics programs, to assisting job seekers with resume critiques, to providing networking opportunities for mid-career professionals, this year’s Annual Meeting will feature a wide variety of ca- reer-enriching events for attendees at every career level.

E. Michael Ostap

Career Transitions Education & Career Opportunities Fair Sunday, March 3, 1:00 PM–3:00 PM

Industry Panel Monday, March 4, 1:00 PM–2:30 PM

There are poster sessions, platform talks, symposia, and workshops to attend — with some running concurrently. Because there is so much going on, the Annual Meeting can be overwhelming if one is not prepared! Here is a summary of the major meeting events to help you in your plan- ning. Also included is information about how the topics and speakers are selected. Poster sessions are the beating-heart of the meeting. These highly interactive sessions provide opportunities for all attendees, from the newest trainees to well-seasoned scientists, to present their work and get valuable one-on-one feed- back. Attendees can ask probing ques- tions about the unpublished work being presented and about recently published studies that relate to the poster. Poster sessions are a fantastic opportunity to meet new investigators, chat-up scientific heroes, and catch-up with old friends. Importantly, PIs and trainees also can explore potential mentorship opportuni- ties. Posters are grouped together based on topics of interest. These groupings are determined by historic trends of submit- ted abstracts and evolve over time via input from the Society’s Program Com- mittee. There are more than 700 posters presented each day — so be prepared!

Interested in pursuing a career in industry? Stop by to hear from a panel of experts who work in bio-related industries. Panelists will discuss how to find, select, and apply for in- dustry internships, providing attendees with useful tools and resources. Postdoc to Faculty Q&A: This question-and-answer luncheon is designed for postdocs finishing and actively applying for academic faculty posi- tions. Discussion will be led by a panel of new faculty in basic science and/or medical school departments and experienced faculty who have served as department chairs and/or part of faculty search committees. Topics for discussion include how to prepare the curriculum vitae, the interview process, networking, how to negotiate the job offer, and advice for new faculty as they balance research with their department obligations. To reserve a box lunch, you must pre-register. Attendance is limited to the first 60 participants. Registration is available on the Annual Meeting website. Transitions Forum and Lucheon Tuesday, March 5, 12:00 PM–2:00 PM

Are you looking to learn more about biophysics programs or looking for a career change? If so, then you must visit the Ed- ucation & Career Opportunities Fair. The Fair (formerly known as the Graduate and Postdoc Fair) has been expanded to include participation from institutions, agencies, and compa- nies. You will have the opportunity to visit schools represent- ing their programs, officers at agencies providing information on career opportunities, and companies looking for the right candidate to fill their open positions. Make connections and learn about different biophysics programs or career opportu- nities. This is one event that you won’t want to miss. TheWorld Outside the Lab: ManyWays to Use Your PhD Skills Sunday, March 3, 1:00 PM–2:30 PM Have you ever wondered how you can apply the skills learned while working on your PhD in a career away from the bench? This panel will explore multiple career options that exist in government, industry, and academia. Panelists with science backgrounds, now involved in a wide variety of careers, will share their personal experiences.

The BPS Annual Meeting has so many different opportunities for personal development, as well as career workshops, and networking events, specifically formulated for students to meet peers and discuss issues, ask questions, and make their own mark on the Society. — Vidhya Sivakumaran

biophysics.org/ 2019meeting

November 2018

November 2018

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