Biophysical Society Bulletin | November 2025

Biophysicist in Profile

Officers President Lynmarie K. Thompson President-Elect Karen G. Fleming Past-President Gabriela K. Popescu Secretary Teresa Giraldez Treasurer Samantha Harris Council

work sits at the intersection of RNA structural biology, biophysical chemistry, and chemical biology—fields that demand both technical precision and creative problem-solving. When asked about the biggest challenge in her career, Jones mentions something many people struggle with: responding to emails in a timely manner. “I am still working on that,” she admits. “If you’ve emailed me and I haven’t responded to you, I promise, it is me, not you. ChatGPT told me that one way to tackle this is to set a specific time in the day to answer the emails. Someone else told me to answer the emails that are super easy right away and save the emails that take time for later. I am still facing this. If you have ideas, let me know. Otherwise, email me again.” What captivates Jones most about biophysics is its foundation in audacious thinking. “I think the approaches we use come from crazy ideas that on paper must work, and we somehow find a way to make it work in the end,” she says. The most rewarding moments in her work come from those spontaneous break throughs: “I really enjoy going into the lab with a ‘4 AM thought,’ expanding on it in my note book, giving it a go, and finding that it works!” Those “4 AM ideas” often draw inspiration from unexpected sources, which is one reason Jones values the Biophysical Society and its Annual Meeting. “It’s sometimes helpful to be in an environment outside the lab to hear about new methods or approaches,” she

reflects. “I like to cast a wide net for inspiration. You never know where your next 4 AM idea will come from.” Looking toward the future, Jones’s plans involve translating ideas and approaches common in protein research and applying them to RNA. Her ultimate goal is to develop a new method that makes it easier to study the conformational dynamics of RNA, regardless of its size. Outside the laboratory, Jones maintains diverse interests that reveal a creative spirit extending beyond science. She’s an avid reader of science fiction and fantasy, enjoys building Lego sets, and likes wandering a city or hiking in nature. She also likes going dancing with friends, cycling long distances, and thrifting for vin tage 90s clothing. If circumstances had led her down a different path, she imagines she might have become an architect or a writer—profes sions that, like science, value both creativity and precision. For young scientists entering the field, Jones offers advice rooted in her own experience. “I think biophysics is driven by creativity,” she says. “That crazy idea that you have—give it a try! Use your colleagues and advisors to help refine your idea. It could be the next big thing.” Bold ideas, persistent curiosity, and collabora tive refinement can transform even the most audacious 4 AM thoughts into meaningful scientific contributions.

Silvia Cavagnero Margaret Cheung Theanne Griffith Taviare Hawkins Ryota Iino Anne Kenworthy

Emmanuel Margeat Elizabeth Rhoades Renae Ryan Tamar Schlick 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, 6903 Rockledge Drive, Suite 540, Bethesda, Maryland 20817. Distributed to USA members and other countries at no cost. Canadian GST No. 898477062. Postmaster: Send address changes to Biophysical Society, 6903 Rockledge Drive, Suite 540, Bethesda, MD 20817. Copyright © 2025 by the Biophysical Society. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Darren Early Laura Phelan

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