Biophysical Society Bulletin | November 2023

November 2023

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President’s Symposium at BPS 2024 Black in Biophysics Sunday, February 11, 10:45 am , USA Eastern

Biophysical Society Names Fellows for 2024 The Biophysical Society is proud to announce that it has named seven distinguished members as its 2024 Class of Fellows. This award is given to Society members who have demonstrated sustained excellence in science and have contributed to the expansion of the field of biophysics. The newest honorees will be recognized during the Biophysical Society’s 68th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 2024 Fellows are: Rommie E. Amaro , Uni At our Annual Meeting, BPS aims to foster inclusion and the momentum inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. This second install ment of the President's Symposium on Black in Biophysics features four stars, including three early career scientists, selected to attract a broad, interdisciplinary audience from across our Society. We invite all attendees to learn about exciting new developments in biophysics and celebrate the diversity of the biophysics community at this special symposium. Christopher Barnes Henry Colecraft Alisha Jones Sharonda LeBlanc We are taking the opportunity to highlight Black biophysicists and honor Black History Month in the United States and elsewhere.

Ivet Bahar , Laufer Center, Stony Brook University, USA, for pioneering novel models and methods in structural and compu tational biology, includ ing the elastic network models for protein dynamics that helped bridge protein structure and function. nia, Berkeley, USA, and Innovative Genomics Institute, USA, for her development of a method for genome editing. Kresten Lindorff-Larsen , University of Copenha gen, Denmark, for his significant contributions to the field of protein biophysics, particularly in integrating computa tional and experimental methods to study the structure, dynamics, folding, and function of proteins. Jennifer A. Doudna , University of Califor

Gary J. Pielak , The Uni versity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA, for his biophysical studies on protein structure and dynamics, both in vitro and inside cells, with a particu lar emphasis on crowding. Eugene Shakhnovich , Harvard University, USA, for his work on statistical physics of proteins that illuminated fundamental aspects of folding, design, evolutionary dynamics, and complex biological phenomena. Michelle D. Wang , Cor nell University, USA, for advancing our under standing of transcription, replication, and chromatin dynamics through the lens of DNA mechanics and topology.

versity of California, San Diego, USA, for her work on developing methods to enable the simulation of biological molecules in situ and their applications to illuminate the role of glycans in biology.

Rommie E. Amaro

Ivet Bahar

Gary J. Pielak

Inside

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Biophysicist in Profile

Eugene Shakhnovich

Public Affairs Publications Member Corner Annual Meeting In Memoriam BPS Conference

Jennifer A. Doudna

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Communities

Important Dates

Kresten Lindorff-Larsen

Michelle D. Wang

Biophysicist in Profile

Chan Cao Area of Research Bioanalytical chemistry, single-molecule biophysics, and nanobiotechnology

Institution University of Geneva

At-a-Glance

Chan Cao , is an Assistant Professor at the University of Geneva School of Chemistry and Biochem istry. Her research centers on advancing analytical methods to characterize biomolecules at the single-molecule level. Today, Cao is an accomplished scientist who is actively engaged in the broader scientific community.

Chan Cao

Chan Cao grew up in Yulin in China’s Shaanxi province. She displayed curiosity about the natural world from a young age, becoming the first in her family to pursue a scientific career. Her enthusiasm for science was especially sparked by her high school teacher, Zengguang Li , who introduced her to the beauty of physics. Throughout her university years, Cao found herself fully immersed in a realm where experimentation and exploration became her life's passion. Pursuing her undergrad uate studies in Applied Chemistry at East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) allowed her to dive headlong into hands-on physical and chemical experiments. This fervor for practical science ultimately charted her course toward a distinguished career in bioanalysis. Cao continued her doctoral studies at ECUST, where she focused on analytical chemistry due to her fascination with the characterization of biomolecules. During her PhD studies, she achieved a breakthrough by using aerolysin as a nanopore sensor for DNA analysis, slowing down DNA translocation by a factor of 1,000 compared to previous methods. This nanopore is now widely adopted in numerous research groups. To delve deeper into the molecular mechanisms of aerolysin nanopores for molecular sensing, Cao then pursued a postdoc toral position at the Laboratory for Biomolecular Modeling, led by Matteo Dal Peraro , at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Laus anne (EPFL) in 2017. This was supported by a Marie Sklodows ka-Curie fellowship. Through a combination of experiments and molecular dynamics simulations, Cao and her colleagues systematically explored DNA interactions with a nanopore and pinpointed two critical sensing regions within the aeroly sin pore lumen. Furthermore, they also characterized a large range of pore mutants, unraveling the intricate relationship between aerolysin’s structure and its sensing capability. Their engineered variants exhibited enhanced resolutions, proving proficient in reading both DNA and, notably, peptides of diverse natures.

“I faced several challenges simultaneously when I started the postdoc at EPFL,” recalls Cao. “First, I needed to acquire programming skills, a significant shift from my wet-lab-based background. Concurrently, I wrote several research proposals to secure funding for my new ideas. This was all done while I was adapting to the Swiss research environment.” Overcoming these differences demanded patience, an open mindset, and steady determination.

Cao gives back to the community through speaking at a conference.

Cao’s pioneering work was recognized, and she was awarded a prestigious Swiss National Science Foundation PRIMA grant, allowing her to establish her independent research group at EPFL in 2020. During this time, Cao further improved the reading accuracy of nanopores and achieved single-nucleobase resolution by eliminating the influence of neighboring bases. Moreover, she explored the potential of engineered aerolysin nanopores in two domains: 1) molecular data storage, demon strating the sequencing of macromolecular analytes with single-bit resolution without motor proteins in a nanopore platform, and 2) biomarker detection, simultaneously distin guishing diverse protein post-translational modifications in alpha-synuclein, which is a disease-associated protein, as potential biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases.

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Biophysicist in Profile

Officers President Taekjip Ha President-Elect Gabriela Popescu Past-President Gail Robertson Secretary Teresa Giraldez Treasurer Samantha Harris Council Patricia Bassereau Margaret Cheung Henry Colecraft Martin Gruebele Kumiko Hayashi Syma Khalid Susan Marqusee Emmanuel Margeat Elizabeth Rhoades

Nominated Assistant Professor at the University of Geneva in 2023, Cao continues to advance her research and explore new possibilities in bioanalytical chemistry and biophysics. Drawing from her experiences and past challenges, she deepens her understanding of the fundamental building blocks of life and strives for transfor mative advances in medicine and engineering through ongoing innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her future involves adapting her nanopore approaches to study biomolecules be yond DNA, such as proteins and glycans, opening up exciting possibilities. Outside of work, Cao immerses herself in nature through regular hiking and swimming in Switzer land's lakes. She also enjoys painting and cook ing, finding fulfillment in these creative pursuits. Cao is both a prolific researcher and a dedicated advocate for science outreach and communi cation. Throughout her career, she has actively engaged with the broader scientific community and the public to share the excitement of bio physics and analytical chemistry. Her contribu tions include organizing conferences, serving on doctoral program committees, and participating in teaching and mentoring, all with the aim of benefiting the next generation of scientists.

Reflecting on her involvement, Cao says, "My membership in the Biophysical Society has been instrumental in supporting my research career." The Society has provided her with a network of fellow scientists, access to conferences, and valuable resources that have enriched her scien tific journey. Her active role in organizing confer ences and chairing meetings within the Society underscores her commitment to advancing the field and nurturing future biophysicists. Cao's advice to young scientists centers on three core principles: happiness, confidence, and unwavering commitment. She suggests maintaining a positive outlook, fostering a daily sense of contentment, irrespective of rewards or challenges, and points out the draining nature of negativity. In terms of confidence, Cao en courages embracing unconventional ideas and engaging in open discussions with peers. They will help shape your ideas and orient you toward the most critical aspects. Finally, she stresses the importance of staying dedicated, from the daily to-do list to long-term research goals. She is now asking the same simple questions she got from her mentors, such as “What are the key questions in this field?” and “Why aren’t you working on it?” Be ahead, by taking the first step.

Kandice Tanner Valeria Vasquez Jing Xu Biophysical Journal Vasanthi Jayaraman Editor-in-Chief The Biophysicist Padmini Rangamani Editor-in-Chief Biophysical Reports

Jörg Enderlein Editor-in-Chief

Society Office Jennifer Pesanelli Executive Officer Newsletter

Executive Editor Jennifer Pesanelli Managing Editor John Long Production Ray Wolfe Meredith Zimmerman Proofreader/Copy Editor The Biophysical Society Newsletter (ISSN 0006-3495) is published eleven times per year, January-December, by the Biophysical Society, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1110, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Distributed to USA members and other countries at no cost. Cana dian GST No. 898477062. Postmaster: Send address changes to Biophysical Society, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1110, Rockville, MD 20852. Copyright © 2023 by the Biophysical Society. Darren Early Laura Phelan

Support Biophysics • Your Donation Makes a Difference To donate, please visit biophysics.org/donate

Use Your Expertise to Make a Difference!

Be an inspiration to your community and help change the lives of those interested in or studying science. Sign up to be a mentor, K-12 classroom visitor, speaker, science fair judge, or student chapter sponsor. The FaB (Find a Biophysicist) Network is free and accessible by members and nonmembers, but only BPS members may join the network. To join FaB, login to your myBPS account and get involved. Help build this network by signing up today. For more information, visit biophysics.org/get-involved.

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Apply Now for the BPS Congressional Fellowship Program

Have you ever considered applying your scientific knowledge and expertise to the process of developing policy? Did you know that BPS sponsors a year-long Congressional Fellowship in which we provide support for you to spend a year working in a Congressional office and focus your science expertise in the arena of policy? BPS is currently accepting applications for the 2024–2025 fellowship year (https:/www.biophysics.org/policy-advocacy/congres sional-fellowship). For details about the program, contact Leann Fox at fellows@biophysics.org or (240) 290-5606. Applications close on December 8, 2023.

Federal Government Shutdown Averted, but Funding Concerns Remain In what may be the most surprising turn of events this year, Congress stunned everyone by averting what appeared to be a certain impending government shutdown on Saturday, Sep tember 30—just hours before fiscal year funding for 2023 was to run out. While providing a 45-day reprieve until an other federal shutdown deadline, it is still a long way off from any semblance of a starting point for negotiations between the House and Senate for Fiscal Year 2024. This leaves any agency funding scientific research able to continue reviewing grant applications and maintaining business as usual, with the notable exception of funding any new projects. Whichever way the leadup to the budget deadline plays out, scientific researchers relying on federal grants will feel a financial pinch, either through direct cuts as proposed by the House of Representatives, which could revert spending back to 2022 levels, or through more moderate means as pro posed by the Senate, which closely resembles 2023 funding with some minor adjustments within agencies. Ultimately, however, as interest rates remain high and costs increase for lab equipment, staff, and other expenses, even maintaining current levels for another year amounts to a cut for research ers as they are asked to make the same dollars go farther.

only data needed for anticipated publications and keep their notebooks and other raw data unless there is an NIH audit. The new rules go into effect on March 2, 2024. NIH has de veloped an FAQ on the Grants and Funding webpage (https:/ grants.nih.gov/faqs#/subawards.htm?anchor=4304) to answer additional questions for grantees. USAID Ends DEEP VZN Program In September, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) shuttered the $125 million program aimed at iden tifying viruses in animals that might harm humans, known as Discovery & Exploration of Emerging Pathogens – Viral Zoonoses (DEEP VZN). DEEP VZN was a follow-on to a USAID global surveillance program called “PREDICT” that ran from 2009 to 2020 and grew out of USAID’s efforts to combat avian influenza. A statement from USAID explained that the decision to end DEEP VZN was derived from the agency aligning resources within the National Biodefense Strategy to better utilize global health security resources. Around the World South Korea Calls for Refocused Science Investment and Cuts Basic Research The South Korean government has announced a dramatic change in direction for research spending for 2024. It has proposed to cut research spending by 10.9% and to shift resources into more high-risk research in an effort to build a biotech innovation ecosystem, similar to that in the United States. This new direction is a drastic change to the resourc es and investments that have helped transition South Korea into a global research powerhouse. Government investment combined with strong private support drove South Korean

NIH Reaffirms Requirements for Foreign Lab Partner Notebooks

On September 15, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) finalized a new policy for subaward/consortium written agreements (https:/grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/ NOT-OD-23-182.html) that formalizes the mandate requiring partners abroad to share lab notebooks and access to other raw data with their main grant recipient in the United States on an annual basis. Normally, researchers give collaborators

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investment in research and devlopment from ~3.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) a decade ago to >4.9% in 2022. Only Israel, which spends 5.9% of GDP on research and develop ment, ranked higher, while U.S. spending comes in at 2.6%. A significantly revamped budget was adopted at the end of August by the State Council. It included the equivalent of $19.5 billion for science and engineering—boosting invest ment in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and space launch technologies. However, funding for basic research will be cut by 6.2% and funding for national research institutes, including the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Tech nology and the Institute for Basic Science, will face cuts of 9.4%. In addition, the South Korean Health Ministry announced a new initiative to create a version of the U.S. Advanced Re search Projects Agency for Health, which seeks to fund high risk, high-reward biomedical studies. The plan calls for it to receive the equivalent of $1.3 billion over 10 years, depending on future appropriations. The National Assembly is expected to vote on the budget by December. United Kingdom’s ARIA Names Program Directors The United Kingdom’s recently formed Advanced Research & Invention Agency (ARIA) announced the eight program directors (https:/www.aria.org.uk/our-team/) who will each oversee up to £50 million for “high-risk, high-reward” research. The effort, modeled on the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, has an £800 million budget cov ering a four-year time span. New program directors have not

yet developed concrete programs, according to the agency’s announcement, but “areas of exploration” that they may pur sue at ARIA include noninvasive neuropsychiatric treatment and enhancing plant resilience in the face of climate change. Critics have been skeptical of whether the ARIA, which does not focus on a specific mission, is built in the right way to achieve the outcomes of its counterpart model. United Kingdom Rejoins Horizon Europe An agreement in principle has been reached for the United Kingdom to rejoin the European Union’s (EU’s) €95 billion research-funding program known as Horizon Europe. This agreement would restore scientists’ access to a major source of grants lost during “Brexit” in 2020. Horizon Europe funds individual researchers and cross-border scientific consortia in the EU and “associated” non-EU countries, which pay into the scheme in return for the chance to win grants and join international collaborations. Beginning in January of 2024, the United Kingdom will pay €2.6 billion per year for access to the scheme. Should researchers from the United King dom be awarded significantly less money than the country contributes, they will be able to recoup funding. The deal still requires approval by EU member states.

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Publications

Know the Editor Grace Brannigan Rutgers University

Editor’s Pick

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The Constraint, ρ 2 = x 2 + y 2 + z 2 ,implies that coordinate values are coupled

As x increases, y and z decrease As z increases, x and y decrease As y increases, x and z decrease

z

Associate Editor Biophysical Journal

Grace Brannigan

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Biophysical Reports Model-based trajectory classification of anchored molecular motor-biopolymer interactions John B. Linehan, Gerald Alan Edwards, Vincent Boudreau, Amy Shaub Maddox, Paul S. Maddox “Asymmetric cell division is critical for creating the different cell types that constitute a multicellular organism. To ac complish asymmetric division, molecular machinery within a cell must generate a force differential between the two cell poles. Determining the location and relative strength of force generators is important but difficult to do; the dense packing of force generators, such as dynein, on the surface confounds detection of the force-generating population. To overcome this challenge, the authors developed a method to identify individual molecular units that contribute to force generation in the cell with high spatial and temporal resolution. This new approach will enable the study of the molecular regulation of force generation by anchored motor proteins and biopolymers in diverse cellular contexts.” Free Swivel p-value Avg # of Trajectories 88 58 63 48 0.02 0.17 0.04 0.006 182 111 164 103 Avg # of Trajectories p-value PP Boot Shuffle AA Measured AA Boot Shuffle PA Measured PA Boot Shuffle AP Measured AP Boot Shuffle PP Measured Pole; Mitotic Stage; Data Type 0.0034 0.002 0.0065 0.0005 80 45 56 26 130 64 135 66 Interacting Swivel Control tba-2 (RNAi) Anterior Posterior Control tba-2 (RNAi) E 0 50 100 150 200 250 p = 0.06 p = 0.17 Control tba-2 (RNAi) Anterior Posterior Control tba-2 (RNAi) # of trajectories classified Free Swivel Interacting Swivel Advance Your Career Visit the BPS Career Center to search for open positions, upload your resume to allow employers to find you, and find resources and materials to help you with career development! biophysics-jobs.careerwebsite.com Version of Record Published September 13, 2023 DOI: https:/doi.org/10.1016/j.bpr.2023.100130

What are you currently working on that excites you? I was trained as a physicist, but I get excited by messy, com plicated biological questions. I see the perception of “mess iness” as a signature of intriguing unanswered questions: What are the organizing principles underlying this system? Currently, we are working on several exciting “messes,” in cluding non-ideal binding in multiphase systems (what does binding look like when a ligand has a complicated relation ship with the solvent?) and the intrinsic modularity of long disordered proteins (we may not have helices or sheets—but is there a different sequence hierarchy that makes sense?). As in everyday life, cleaning up each of these messes requires special attention to the sticky, oily regions! What have you read lately that you found really interesting or stimulating (a paper, a book, science or not science)? Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most by members of the Harvard Negotiation Project. Like most professionals, scientists can’t avoid difficult conversations, but this book provides an approach and rationale that I think speaks well to scientists. It’s like having a protocol and trou bleshooting guide! I had just happened upon an excerpt of the new edition in a newspaper and thought to myself, “Wow! I should read this!” Once I finished the book, I was thinking, “All scientists should read this!” D Biophysical Journal Author Wins Nobel Prize The Biophysical Society congratulates Moungi G. Bawendi of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA), who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 in October along with Louis E. Brus and Alexei I. Ekemov “for the discovery and development of quantum dots.” The Society is proud that Bawendi and coauthors published their 2010 work “Diffusion of Particles in the Extracellular Matrix: The Effect of Repulsive Electrostatic Interactions” in our flagship journal, Biophysical Journal.

Pole; Mitotic Stage; Data Type

PP Boot Shuffle AA Measured AA Boot Shuffle PA Measured PA Boot Shuffle AP Measured AP Boot Shuffle PP Measured

100 150 200 250

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# of trajectories classified

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Member Corner

Members in the News

Kandice Tanner , National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, and Society member since 2006, received the Max Planck-Humboldt Medal for developing methods of analyzing the biophysical properties and behavior that dictate the metastatic spread of cancer cells.

Eve Marder , Brandeis University and Society member since 1995, was awarded the Pearl Meister Greengard Prize by The Rockefeller University. (Photo credit: Scott Rudd Events)

Kandice Tanner

Eve Marder

Grants & Opportunities IBSA Foundation Fellowships The IBSA Foundation awards six fellowships of €32,000 in the following research fields: dermatology; endocri nology; fertility/urology; orthopedics/rheumatology/ pain medicine; and, for the 2023 special edition, healthy aging/regenerative medicine. Who can apply: Applicants of any nationality must be under 40 years old on the deadline date and they must have a degree in medicine, biology, pharmacy, biotech nology, or bioengineering. Fellowships are open to PhD students, postdocs, and residents. Those in permanent positions such as professors cannot apply. Deadline: December 31, 2023 Website: https:/ www.ibsafoundation.org/en/fellow ship/call-2023

American Association for Cancer Research Anna D. Barker Basic Cancer Research Fellowships This fellowship opportunity encourages and supports postdoctoral or clinical research fellows to establish a successful career path in cancer research. The fellowship provides $110,000 in funding over two years to support the salary and benefits of the fellow while working on a mentored basic cancer research project. Who can apply: Applicants must hold a mentored research position with the title of postdoctoral fellow, clinical research fellow, or equivalent; must have complet ed their most recent doctoral degree within the past three years; and must work under the auspices of a mentor at an academic, medical, or research institution anywhere in the world. Deadline: January 19, 2024 Website: https:/ www.aacr.org/grants/aacr-anna-d-bark er-basic-cancer-research-fellowship/

Student Spotlight

Kayla Kindig Case Western Reserve University What inspired you to study biophysics?

I have always been interested in the electrical properties of cells and how ion channels work on a molecular level. My current studies using cryogenic electron microscopy allow me to actually visualize protein structural changes that have been conceptualized through functional experiments, which I find really rewarding.

Kayla Kindig

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Annual Meeting

Thank you to our sponsors: Bruker Carl Zeiss Microscopy LLC Chroma Technology Delmic HORIBA Scientific HÜBNER Photonics Leica Microsystems LUMICKS Mad City Labs Inc Nanion Technologies PicoQuant Photonics North America Inc. RCSB Protein Data Bank Sophion Bioscience A/S Sutter Instrument Thermo Fisher Scientific Worthington Biochemical Corp

Career and Networking 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 career-enriching events for attendees at every career level. Postdoctoral Breakfast Sunday, February 11, 7:30 am –8:30 am , USA Eastern Teaching Science Like We Do Science Sunday, February 11, 2:00 pm –4:00 pm , USA Eastern

Life as a postdoc can bring along many chal lenges. This session provides postdocs the opportunity to learn from speakers who will share their journey with open Q&A and time to network with others. Attendees can see a va riety of different perspectives on how to deal with challenges as a postdoc and to learn how to move forward in their careers. The session is limited to the first 100 attendees. Undergraduate Student Pizza "Breakfast” Sunday, February 11, 11:30 am –1:00 pm , USA Eastern This “breakfast” allows undergraduate stu dents valuable networking and social opportu nities with both peers and established bio physicists. You will also have a chance to meet and talk to Biophysical Society committee members and scientists at all career levels to discuss academic goals and questions and to learn how to develop a career path in biophys ics. This event will also feature a panel discus sion from invited speakers who will share their stories and answer questions. Space for this session is limited to the first 100 attendees.

Teaching science has changed over the years. Educators at any level of biophysical science education will benefit from this interactive, hands-on workshop. The focus of the session will be on practice-applicable, easy-to-use strategies and tools that educators can use to assess how their teaching transcribes to their students and if changes to their educa tional methods are necessary. Don’t miss this session! PI to PI Mixer Sunday, February 11, 4:00 pm –6:00 pm , USA Eastern Compare notes with colleagues and discuss one-on-one your unique solutions to issues that arise in the time between getting your job and getting your next promotion, including management of lab staff, getting your work published, and renewing your funding.

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Annual Meeting

Graduate Student Breakfast Monday, February 12, 7:30 am –8:30 am , USA Eastern

Call for New and Notable Symposium Speakers The Biophysical Society is seeking suggestions from Soci ety members for speakers to be featured in the annual New and Notable Symposium in Philadelphia. This symposium is unique in that, through a series of brief talks, attendees hear about late-breaking and exciting science. If you have a colleague who should be considered, visit https:/www. surveymonkey.com/r/ZBBPC83 and complete the required information by December 2, 2023. Education and Career Opportunities Fair Sunday, February 11, 1:00 pm –3:00 pm , USA Eastern This fair will provide opportunities for candidates to meet with representatives from educational institutions as well as industry and government agencies. Students and postdoctor al candidates will be able to meet with representatives from colleges and universities with leading programs in biophysics. Attendees can connect with representatives from industry and agencies who will provide information about employment and funding opportunities at their institutions/companies. Stop by the fair to learn about the variety of opportunities available and to talk one-on-one with representatives from participating organizations. Representatives interested in reserving a table at this fair to display information about their institution’s or company’s biophysics-related opportunities must register online no later than January 12, 2024, and submit the registration fee in advance. All those attending the Annual Meeting are encouraged to attend. Please contact society@biophysics.org with questions.

Looking forward as a Graduate Student is equal parts terrify ing and exhilarating, and sharing the journey with others can be extremely helpful. This breakfast has a panel discussion and Q&A structure, allowing students to receive feedback related to their careers. It also presents an opportunity for graduate student Annual Meeting attendees to meet and discuss the issues they face in their current career stage with their peers. The session is limited to the first 100 attendees. Speed Networking Monday, February 12, 4:30 pm –6:00 pm , USA Eastern Networking is key in science, but there never seems to be enough time! The goal of this event is to allow Student and Early Career Members to network and connect with estab lished biophysicists in a fun, casual way. During this event, each mentor will sit at their own table, while the attendees pick a mentor at random. They will have three to five minutes to connect, exchange information, and ask questions. When time is up, attendees select a new mentor to talk to. By the end of the event, each participant will have had meaningful interactions with more than a half dozen colleagues and the opportunity to meet many more. Registration is required for this event. Sign up at https:/www.biophysics.org/store/ products/product-details?ProductName=speed-network ing-2024-am. Training Undergraduates in the Research Laboratory Tuesday, February 13, 12:00 pm –1:30 pm , USA Eastern Research laboratory training is a formative experience for undergraduate students. Such experience can be gained at a student’s home institution or as a visiting student. A group of panelists from different types of institutions will share their experiences hosting undergraduates, recommend guidelines for successful experiences, and answer your questions. Careers Beyond the Bench: Moving to a World Outside the Lab Tuesday, February 13, 1:00 pm –2:30 pm , USA Eastern Have you started thinking about the next career step? Are you wondering if you can apply your academic skills in industry? Or what skills outside of academia you may bring to the lab? Join us to explore career options in consulting, industry, and academia. Panelists with science backgrounds, now involved in a wide variety of careers, will share their personal experi ences and answer questions from the audience.

Annual Art of Science Contest Now Open Entries are due December 1, 2023

Do you have an eye-catching image that resulted from your research? Show the artistic side of scientific imaging. BPS members attending the 2024 Annual Meeting may enter the annual BPS Image Contest, The Art of Science. Monetary prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place. Submit today at biophysics.org/2024meeting

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Annual Meeting

Subgroup Symposia at the BPS Annual Meeting Saturday February 10, 2024 Subgroup Symposia at the 2024 Annual Meeting are scheduled for morning and afternoon sessions to allow attendees to attend multiple Subgroup Symposia and to accommodate all research areas. Morning Sessions (8:30 am –12:30 pm ) Bioengineering Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Macromolecular Machines and Assemblies Mechanobiology Membrane Structure and Function Membrane Transport Motility and Cytoskeleton Multiscale Genome Organization Single-Molecule Forces, Manipulation, and Visualization Afternoon Sessions (1:30 pm –5:30 pm ) Bioenergetics, Mitochondria, and Metabolism Biological Fluorescence Biopolymers in vivo Channels, Receptors, and Transporters Cryo-EM Membrane Fusion, Fission, and Traffic Nanoscale Approaches to Biology Physical Cell Biology Theory and Computation Bioenergetics, Mitochondria, and Metabolism

Bioengineering Subgroup Chair : Mark Uline , University of South Carolina, USA Speakers: Vadim Backman , Northwestern University, USA Physical Genomics and the Reprogramming of the Cell’s Operating System Shuibing Chen , Cornel University, USA Human Pluripotent Stem Cells, Organoids, and Disease Modeling Gabriele Kockelkoren , University of Cophenhagen, Denmark Nanodomains of GPCRs at the Plasma Membrane: Direct Obser vation, Formation and Function Ravi Radhakrishnan , University of Pennsylvania AI-Enabled Physics Driven Digital Twin Automaton in Cancer and Nanomedicine Michael Schick , University of Washington, USA The Plasma Membrane as an Emulsion: A Rational Basis for "Rafts" and a Different Picture of Them Igal Szleifer , Northwestern University, USA How Is Chromatin Structured and Organized? William Torres , Exponent Consulting, USA The Role of Computational Modeling and Simulation in the Prod uct Development Life Cycle for Medical Devices Juan Vanegas , Oregon State University, USA Tension Mediated Activation of Transmembrane Protein Receptors and Ion Channels

Subgroup Co-Chairs: Nelli Mnatsakanyan , Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, USA, and Ildikò Szabò , Univer sità di Padova, Italy 2023 Program Chair: Alicia Kowaltowski , Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, and Nuno Raimundo , Pennsylvania State Univer sity College of Medicine, USA Symposium Title: Multifaceted Role of Mitochondria in Health and Disease Speakers: Michela Carraro , University of Padova, Italy Disentangling the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Amalia Dolga , University of Groningen, Netherlands The Neuroprotective Role of Mitochondrial Transfer in Ferroptosis Victor Faundez , Emory University, USA Regulation of the Secretome by Mitochondria Alicia Kowaltowski , Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil Mitochondrial Ion Transporters as Sensors and Regulators in Energy Metabolism Polina Lishko , Washington University in St. Louis, USA Sperm Energetics in Fertility and Contraception Nuno Raimundo , Pennsylvania State University, USA Mitochondria-Lysosomes, a World beyond Mitophagy Dhanendra Tomar , Wake Forest University, USA Beyond Calcium Uniporter: MICU1's Impact on Mitochondrial Cristae and Ultrastructure

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Annual Meeting

Biological Fluorescence Subgroup Chair: Hugo Sanabria , University of South Carolina, USA Speakers: Joerg Bewersdorf , Yale University School of Medicine, USA New Fluorescent Probes for Fast Multiplexed DNA-Based Super-Resolution Microscopy Victoria Birkedal , Aarhus University, Denmark Folding and Unfolding of G-Rich DNA Knots Using Single Molecule FRET Katrin Heinze , Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Trans lational Bioimaging, Germany Unraveling Fast G-Protein Coupled Receptor Mobility and Binding Melike Lakadamyali , University of Pennsylvania, USA Visualizing the Inner Life of Cells with Super-Resolution Microscopy Sudipta Maiti , Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, India “QSLIP” Determines the State of Folding of Individual Amyloid Oligomers in a Lipid Membrane Fernando Stefani , University of Buenos Aires, Argentina STED-FRET, MINFLUX, and Other Approaches to Push Fluores cence-Based Bioimaging Resolution below 10 nm Biopolymers in vivo Subgroup Chair: Robert Best , NIH, USA 2023 Program Co-Chairs: Matthias Heyden , Arizona State University, USA, and Thomas Boothby , University of Wyoming, USA Speakers: Steven Boeynaems , Baylor College of Medicine, USA Polycationic Peptides in Health and Disease Emma Carrol , San Jose State University, USA A Screening Platform for Fluorescent Dyes that Recognize Tau Fibrils in Situ Randal Halfmann , Stowers Research Institute, USA Protein Supersaturation Powers Innate Immune Signaling Kristin Koutmou , University of Michigan, USA Impact of RNA Modifications in the Translational Machinery on Protein Synthesis Minjoung Kyoung , University of Maryland Baltimore County, USA Functional Regulation of 4D Metabolic Network of Multienzyme Glucosome Condensates with Mitochondria

Kathrine Morelli , McGill University, Canada The Importance of Nano-condensates in Cellular Processes: The Case of the +TIP Body Davit Potoyan , Iowa State University, USA Uncovering Molecular Rules of Viscoelasticity in Biomolecular FLOE1, a Phase-Separating Intrinsically Disordered Protein, Alters Hydration Kinetics and Water Coordination in Arabidopsis Seeds Channels, Receptors, and Transporters Subgroup Chair: Hiro Furukawa , Pennsylvania State University, USA Speakers : Corey Allard , Harvard University, USA Molecular Mechanisms of Sensory Innovation Philip Biggin , Oxford University, United Kingdom Understanding Transport Processes with Simulation Nancy Carrasco , Vanderbilt University, USA Evolution of Drug Export by the Small Multidrug Resistance Family of Transporters Jean-Ju Chung , Yale University, USA Channel-Transporter Signaling Crosstalk in Sperm Physiology Raimund Dutzler , University of Zurich, Switzerland Regulatory Mechanisms in the TMEM16 Family of Chloride Chan nels and Lipid Scramblases Ana Fernandez-Mariño , NIH, USA Structures of the Kv2.1 Channel and Mechanism of Inactivation through Electromechanical Coupling Andrew Kruse , Harvard University, USA Using Antibody Fragments to Investigate G Protein-Coupled Re ceptor Structure and Function Vanessa Ruta , Rockefeller University, USA Making Sense of Scents: Structural Insights into Odor Detection Cryo-EM Subgroup Chair: Michael Cianfrocco , University of Michigan, USA 2023 Program Co-Chairs: Halil Aydin , University of Colorado, Boulder, USA, Cornelius Gati , University of Southern California, USA, and Jonathan Kim , Columbia University, USA Condensates through Multi-scale Simulations Sue Rhee , Michigan State University, USA

November 2023

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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY

Annual Meeting

Speakers : Christopher Barnes , Stanford University, USA Structure-Guided Approaches to Mitigate Emerging Viral Threats Chi-Min Ho , Columbia University, USA In Situ CryoET Reveals Translation Dynamics in Malaria Parasites Dominik Hrebik , MPI Biochemistry, Germany High-Resolution in Situ Structures of HIV-1 Proteins Shyamal Mosalaganti , University of Michigan, USA In Situ Snapshots of TDP43 Turnover Sarah Nyenhuis , NIH, USA Cryo-EM Snapshots of Dynamin Superfamily Proteins Involved in Membrane Fission and Fusion Martin Obr , Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA Visual Proteomics of C. reinhardtii using High-Throughput Collabo rative in Situ Cryo-ET Scott Stagg , Florida State University, USA Magellon and SPOT-RASTR: New Tools for Cryo-EM Specimen Preparation and Processing Chen Zhao , University of Florida, USA Determining Native-like Membrane Protein Structures from Cell Membrane-derived Vesicles Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Subgroup Chair: Sarah Shammas , University of Oxford, United Kingdom 2023 Program Co-Chairs: John Ditlev , Hospital for Sick Chil dren, Canada, and Wade Zeno , University of Southern Califor nia, USA Speakers: Rebecca Berlow , University of North Carolina, USA Multivalency Enables Complex Cooperative and Competitive Interactions of IDPs Peter Chung , University of Southern California, USA The Transition from Soluble to Membrane-bound IDPs: New Tools and Perspectives Dorothee Dormann , Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany Regulation of RNA-binding Protein Phase Transitions by Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors

Hyun Lee , University of Toronto, Canada Regulation of Condensates by Molecular Chaperones Kevin Solomon , University of Delaware, USA Hydrophobic Biomolecular Condensates to Control Cellular Behavior Macromolecular Machines and Assemblies Subgroup Chair: Eric Galburt , Washington University in St. Louis, USA Speakers: Ying Chen , Shandong University, China Conserved Regulatory Mechanism by RNA Pol II Elongation Factors Katrin Karbstein , The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, USA Quality Control during Ribosome Assembly and Function Rodrigo Reyes Lamothe , McGill University, Canada Coordination of DNA Unwinding and DNA Synthesis at the Bacte rial Replisome Miguel Rosas Salvans , University of California, San Francisco, USA Probing How the Astrin/SKAP Complex Reduces Friction at the Kinetochore-Microtubule Interface Jungsan Sohn , Johns Hopkins University, USA Signaling by Assembly: How Inflammasome Filaments Recognize and Distinguish One Another Robin Stanely , NIH, USA Mechanisms of RNA Recognition and Cleavage by Ribonucleases Anna-Lena Steckelberg , Columbia University, USA Dynamic Viral RNA Structures as Master Manipulators of the Cellular RNA Degradation Machinery Mechanobiology Subgroup Chair: Patricia Bassereau , Institut Curie, France Speakers: Allen Ehrlicher , McGill University, Canada Nuclear Mechanics and Deformation Regulate Cellular Lineage and Senescence via YAP Mechanotransduction Margaret Gardel , University of Chicago, USA How Adherent Cells Process Mechanical Information Shamik Sen , ITT Bombay, India Proteolytic and Non-proteolytic Functions of MMP9 in Cancer Invasion

Monika Fuxreiter , University of Padova, Italy Protein Interactions in Cells: Back to the Future Jerelle Joseph , Princeton University, USA Accurate Simulations of Biomolecuar Condensates

November 2023

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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY

Annual Meeting

Rafael Tapia Rojo , Kings College London, United Kingdom Mechanochemical Regulation of the Talin-Vinculin Interaction Viola Vogel , ETH Zürich, Switzerland Mechanobiology of Extracellular Matrix Fibers: From Blood Clots to Healthy and Diseased Organs Orion Weiner , University of California, San Francisco, USA Membrane Tension as a Long-Range Integrator of Immune Cell Physiology Rebecca Wells , University of Pennsylvania, USA Lipid Droplets with Varied Mechanical Properties as Mechanical Stressors in Steatotic Liver Disease Membrane Fusion, Fission, and Traffic Subgroup Chair: Michelle Knowles , Institut Curie, France Speakers : Nikhil Gandasi , Indian Institute of Science, India Secretion of Multivesicular Bodies Maintains the Pancreatic Islet Environment in Pancreatic ß-Cells—Does Dysregulation Lead to Type 2-Diabetes? Ben Glick , University of Chicago, USA Rethinking the Secretory Pathway Jenny Hinshaw , NIH, USA Sir Bernard Katz Award Recipient: Decades of Dynamins John Jimah , Princeton University, USA CryoEM Structures of Membrane Bound Dynamin Primed for Membrane Fission Alexa Mattheyses , University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA Live Nanoscale Axial Imaging Reveals Flexible Vesicle Formation Dynamics in Clathrin Mediated Endocytosis Mary Munson , University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, USA Control of Exocytosis by the Exocyst Complex Membrane Structure and Function Subgroup Chair: Elizabeth Kelley , National Institute of Stan dards and Technology, USA Speakers: Linda Colombus , University of Virginia, USA Impact of Lipids on Membrane Protein Structure, Function, and Dynamics Giacomo Fiorin , NIH, USA Computing Free Energies of Membrane Deformation to Quantify the Role of Lipid Composition and Applied Tension in Membrane Morphology

Aurelia Honerkamp-Smith , Lehigh University, USA Membrane Protein Patterning by Flow: Tiny Forces Organize Lipid-Anchored Proteins Chia-Lung Hsieh , Academica Sinica, Taiwan Nanoscale Membrane Dynamics Revealed by Ultrafast Sin gle-Molecule Tracking Erdinc Sezgin , Karlinska Institutet, Sweden Developing High-Throughput Methodologies for Measuring Bio physical Properties of Biomembranes Membrane Transport Subgroup Chair: Wei Lu , Van Andel Research Institute, USA Speakers: Fatemeh Khalili-Araghi , University of Illinois, Chicago, USA Paracellular Ion Transport across Tight Junctions Chia-Hsueh Lee , St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA Structure and Mechanism of Human Sphingolipid S1P Transporter Spns2 Emily Liman , University of Southern California, USA OTOP Proton Channels: Discovery, Structure, and Function Benoit Roux , University of Chicago, USA Multiscale Kinetic Modeling of the Sodium Potassium Pump Ming Zhou , Baylor College of Medicine, USA Anion Recognition and Transport in Pendrin (SLC26A4) Motility and Cytoskeleton Subgroup Co-Chairs: Stuart Campbell , Yale University, USA, and Sarah Heissler , Ohio State University, USA Speakers: Shiladitya Banerjee , Carnegie Mellon University, USA Shaping Cells by Actomyosin Pulses Kenneth Campbell , University of Kentucky, USA Multiscale Simulations that Predict Cardiac Growth in Response to Clinically Relevant Conditions including Altered Myofilament Function Claire Friel , University of Nottingham, United Kingdom Ultra-Rapid Microtubule Depolymerization by the Ancestor of the Kinesin-13 Family Erika Holzbaur , University of Pennsylvania, USA An Interphase Actin Wave Promotes Mitochondrial Content Mixing and Organelle Homeostasis Thomas Kampourakis , King's College London, United Kingdom Discovery of a Novel Cardiac-Specific Myosin Modulator using AI Based Virtual Screening

November 2023

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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY

Annual Meeting

Binyam Mogessie , Yale University, USA Emerging Mechanisms of Chromosome Segregation in Mammalian Eggs Julien Robert-Paganin , Institut Curie and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France Dissecting the Plasmodium Actomyosin System, a New Perspec tive against Malaria Antonina Roll-Mecak , NIH, USA Readout of the Tubulin Code Multiscale Genome Organization Subgroup Co-Chairs: Catherine Musselman , University of Colo rado, Anschutz, USA, and Jeff Wereszczynski , Illinois Institute of Technology, USA 2023 Program Chair: Thomas Bishop , Louisiana Tech University, USA Speakers: Emma Morrison , Medical College of Wisconsin, USA Deciphering the Dynamic Language of the Histone H3 Tail Sofia Quinodoz , Princeton University, USA New Technologies for Probing Nuclear Organization and Function Remo Rohs , University of Southern California, USA Biophysical Mechanisms of Protein-DNA Binding Revealed through Deep Learning Approaches Alexey Shaytan , Moscow State University, Russia Interactions of Nucleosomes with Acidic Patch Binding Peptides: Combining Structural Analysis, MD Simulations, and Experiments Alexandra Zidovska , New York University, USA Interphase Chromatin Undergoes a Local Sol-Gel Transition upon Cell Differentiation Nanoscale Approaches to Biology Subgroup Chair: Meni Wanunu , Northeastern University, USA Speakers: Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz , Janelia Research Campus, USA Mapping the Structural and Diffusional Landscape of Organelle Contact Sites from the Microscale to the Nanoscale Giovanni Maglia , University of Groningen, Netherlands Nanopore Approaches to Single-Molecule Enzymology: Unraveling the Role of Conformers and Allosteric Regulation Bernd Rieger , Delft University, Netherlands Estimation of Field Dependent Aberrations Directly from Single Molecule Emitters Mario Halic , St. Jude Research Hospital, USA Binding of Transcription Factors to Nucleosomes

Sonja Schmid , Wageningen University, Netherlands New Ways to Study Life at the Nanoscale: The NEOtrap, DyeCycling and More Allison Squires , University of Chicago, USA Capturing Biomolecular Interactions at the Single-Molecule Level with ABEL Trap Fluorescence Spectroscopy Physical Cell Biology Subgroup Chair: Stefanie Redemann , University of Virginia, USA 2023 Program Chair: Jianhua Xing , University of Pittsburgh, USA Speakers: Fabrisia Ambrosio , Harvard University, USA Quantum Mechanics Meets Stem Cell Biology: Photon Emission, Magnetic Fields, and Radical Pairs Timothy Elston , University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA Spatiotemporal Models of Cell Signaling: From Single Molecules to Macrostructures Ming Guo , Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA Collective Curvature Sensing in Three-Dimensional Multicellular Systems Ao Ma , University of Illinois, Chicago, USA Mechano-Chemical Model for Microtubule Assembly: Integrating Conformational Dynamics of Tubulins Arpita Upadhyaya , University of Maryland, USA Transcription Factor Dynamics in Gene Expression: The Long and Short of It Single-Molecule Forces, Manipulation, and Visualization Subgroup Co-Chairs: Nils Walter , University of Michigan, USA, and Neva Caliskan , Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research, Germany Speakers: Keynote Speaker: Carlos Bustamante , University of California, Berkeley, USA FACT Promotes Efficient Pol II Transcription by Modulating the Topographic Features of the Nucleosomal Barrier Jinyi Fei , University of Chicago, USA Context-Dependent RNA Location to Nuclear Speckles Dina Grohman , University of Regensburg, Denmark DNA Origami-Based Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy Advances the Molecular Understanding of Transcription Initiation Yuri Lyubchenko , University of Nebraska, USA Imaging of the Amyloid Self-Assembly at Physiologically Relevant Conditions Change

November 2023

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