Biophysical Society Bulletin | November 2025

APnunbulaicl MAfefeatirinsg

Apply Now for the Biophysical Society’s 2025–2026 Congressional Fellowship Are you interested in applying your scientific expertise to influence science policy? Do you find the idea of spending a year on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, helping to shape policy exciting? The Biophysical Society’s Congressional Fellowship program offers a unique opportunity to be directly involved in the law-making process that affects research funding and regulation. This year-long fellowship allows scientists to use their knowledge to inform public policy, gaining firsthand experience of how Congress operates. Fellows will also participate in the prestigious AAAS Science and Technology Fellows program, which provides ongoing training and networking opportunities throughout and after the fellowship year. For more information, visit our website, or contact Leann Fox at fellows@biophysics.org or (240) 290-5606. The application deadline is December 12, 2025 .

BPS Congressional Fellow Joins Office of Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04)

candidates are unavailable. While critics say it suppresses wages, universities argue it is vital to maintaining US compet itiveness. Elite research institutions employing hundreds of international postdocs and faculty might now reconsider such hires. The American Immigration Lawyers Association condemned the policy as harmful and potentially unconstitutional, noting that only Congress can set visa fees. Immigration attorneys and university officials are urging foreign scholars to avoid travel abroad until details are clarified, including whether the fee applies to current H-1B holders. The rule allows case-by case fee waivers for hires deemed in the national interest, but universities warn that the added costs could sharply limit their ability to recruit international talent. DHS Proposes Major Changes to F-1 Visa Rules, Raising Serious Concerns for International Students The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed major changes to the F-1 student visa, replacing the flexible “duration of status” with a fixed stay of up to four years. Stu dents in longer programs would need to apply for extensions, granted only for limited reasons such as academic necessity, illness, or exceptional circumstances. The rule would also restrict academic flexibility: undergraduates could not change majors in their first year, and graduate students would be barred from changing programs entirely. Travel abroad during a pending extension could be treated as an abandonment of the request, further complicating students’ status. The Biophysical Society submitted comments noting that most PhD programs require five to seven years, and interna tional researchers play a vital role in US scientific progress.

Sarah Smaga , the BPS Congressional Fellow for 2025–2026, accepted a placement in the office of Representative Madeline Dean (D-PA 04). Dean sits on the powerful Appropriations Committee and serves on the Subcommittee for Labor, Health and Human Services, which oversees funding for the National Institutes of

Sarah Smaga

Health. Smaga has a degree in Molecular Biophysics and Bio chemistry from Yale University and spent almost seven years at the National Science Foundation Center for Genetically Encoded Materials at the University of California, Berkeley, most recently as Executive Director, before becoming a BPS Congressional Fellow. When asked what her plans for the Fellowship were, Smaga said “I’m honored to be the 2025–2026 Biophysical Society Congressional Fellow. I believe that now, more than ever, it is crucial that scientists engage in the political process. I am ea ger to gain firsthand experience in policymaking and oversight in the US Congress and to bring what I learn back to the BPS community.” White House Makes Changes to H-1B Visa Fees On September 19, President Donald Trump issued a procla mation requiring US employers to pay $100,000 per interna tional hire—in addition to existing H-1B visa costs. The move, framed as protecting American workers, significantly raises the financial burden on universities and research institutions that rely on global talent. The H-1B program lets employ ers hire foreign scientists and engineers when domestic

November 2025

4

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY