Biophysical Society Bulletin | October 2022

Public Affairs

OSTP Issues Guidance on Federally Funded Research On August 25, the White House Office of Science and Tech nology Policy (OSTP) interim Director Alondra Nelson delivered guidance for agencies to update their public access policies as soon as possible to make publications and supporting data funded by taxpayers publicly accessible, without an embargo or cost. All agencies will fully implement updated policies, including ending the option to make publications freely available after an embargo of up to 12 months, no later than December 31, 2025. The new public access guidance, which builds on a previous memo from OSTP in 2013, was developed with the input of multiple federal agencies over the course of this year to enable progress on a number of Biden Administration priorities. BPS will actively monitor the devel opment of this guidance as it applies to each funding agency to anticipate how it might impact biophysics researchers and BPS publications.

may include—embedded within a larger piece of legislation implementing overwhelmingly popular policies—some provision that a group finds unacceptable or may even violate certain rules, but the subsequent headlines accuse the out maneuvered group of opposing the feature policy. Analogous to the maxim that things seeming too good to be true usually are, decisions in Congress that seem too preposterous to believe often are as well. A healthy dose of skepticism, and an assumption of basic goodwill and positive intent, is frequently well founded. As two new biophysicists begin their tenures as BPS Congres sional Fellows, I’m excited by the unique opportunities that lie ahead of them, and for all they will learn, experience, and ac complish. I’m also excited for my own next step, which brings me to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). There, I will be working on Small business Education and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) as a Policy Fellow and Health Scientist within the Office of the Director. The SEED Office’s mission is “to accelerate the conversion of scientific discoveries into healthcare solutions,” and as a Fellow I’ll get to collaborate across institutes and federal agencies to enhance or establish programs that help to advance NIH-funded research from lab to market and bench to bedside. I’m excited to apply the lessons and skills acquired over the past year in this new role and future positions as I pursue my interests in advancing innovative translational work in the medical technology field to improve health and wellbeing at a global scale. — Max Olender , BPS Congressional Fellow 2021–2022

Give the Gift of Membership Looking for the perfect gift for a colleague or aspiring biophysicist? Now is a great time to give the gift of BPS membership, as the recipient will gain immediate access to valuable member benefits and a network of dedicated scientists committed to promoting and advancing biophysics research. To give the gift of BPS membership, visit biophysics.org/giftmembership.

among other issues important to biophysics. Numbers By the

BPS has supported almost 50 letters to the U.S. Congress and President’s Administration this year in support of appropriations for federal research funding, new programs and opportunities for scientific research, and advocating for pandemic preparedness,

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