Biophysical Society Bulletin | October 2025

October 2025

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY

BPS Honors Sixteen Outstanding Biophysicists The Biophysical Society is pleased to announce the 2026 Society Award recipients. These members will be honored during the 70th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society in February 2026.

Jorge Alegre-Cebollada Nuria Assa-Munt

Charles L. Brooks III

Ashley R. Carter

Yifan Cheng

Wonhwa Cho

Cornelis (Cees) Dekker

Ken A. Dill

Elizabeth Hinde

Yiechang Lin

Erdinc Sezgin

Kai Sheng

Hawa Racine Thiam Sarah Veatch

A. Joshua Wand

Jie Xiao

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Black in Biophysics Symposium at BPS2026 At our Annual Meeting, BPS aims to foster an inclusive diversity of science and scientists, with the goal of enhancing the qual ity and impact of research by leveraging the full spectrum of expertise and perspectives. As part of this goal, we are taking the opportunity to honor Black History Month by highlighting the many important contributions of Black biophysicists. The Black in Biophysics Symposium features four rising stars selected across disciplines and career stages to attract a broad, interdisci plinary 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. The speakers selected for 2026 are Alex Gorfe , University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; Heather Pinkett , North western University; Hawa Racine Thiam , Stanford University; and Blanton Tolbert , University of Pennsylvania. The Symposium will be co-chaired by Breann Brown , Vanderbilt University, and Wade Zeno , University of Southern California.

Inside President’s Message

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President’s Message

A Strategic Path Forward: BPS Strategic Plan 2025–2028

As we look ahead to the Biophys ical Society’s 70th anniversary in 2026, we are reminded that our strength lies not only in scientific discovery and community, but also in our ability to adapt to a chang ing world. Every few years, BPS Council reviews and refreshes our Strategic Plan, a process which helps ensure that the work of the Society remains aligned with our

living document. We welcome your input and encourage you to share your perspectives with us at any time. MISSION: To lead an innovative global community working at the interface of the physical and life sciences, across all levels and types of complexity VISION: To harness the full potential of biophysics to seek knowledge, improve the human condition, and preserve the planet for future generations CORE VALUES: Scientific Excellence • Integrity and Transparency • Universal Access and Opportunity • Broad Representation and Belonging • Community Building I. CHAMPION BIOPHYSICS IN A CHANGING WORLD The Biophysical Society will be a leading voice for the value, impact, and future of biophysics, especially in the face of challenges to scientific progress. A. Strengthen and Elevate the Biophysics Identity Clarify and promote the distinct contributions of biophysics across disciplines to increase visibility among funders, policy makers, and the public. B. Advocate for Robust and Sustainable Investment in Science Actively support policies, coalitions, and funding initiatives that defend and expand support for scientific research and innovation. C. Mobilize the Scientific and Broader Communities to Champion Biophysics Engage members, partner organizations, and advocates to amplify the societal value of biophysics and to build public trust in science. D. Showcase the Impact of Biophysics on Global Challenges and Everyday Life Highlight how biophysics contributes to solving critical issues—such as health and disease, energy, and climate— and underscore its relevance to current and future needs. The Biophysical Society will expand opportunities to exchange ideas, share discoveries, and build collaborative networks that drive innovation and scientific progress. A. Promote Discovery and Innovation Across the Scientific Ecosystem Elevate breakthrough research and foster an environment where curiosity, creativity, and scientific rigor thrive. II. ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE THROUGH CONNECTION AND COLLABORATION

Lynmarie K. Thompson

mission and responsive to the needs of our members. At our May 2025 Council meeting, we reviewed our 2022–2025 Strategic Plan and refined our priorities for the next few years. This exercise was especially important given the rapidly shifting environment in which we all operate. From global political uncer tainties and federal actions that directly affect members, to policy and technological transformations reshaping how we conduct, share, and publish research, the landscape for science and for professional societies is evolving quickly. The Council discussion began with revisiting the foundation of who we are, which we define through the core values of BPS: scientific excellence, integrity and transparency, universal access and opportunity, broad representation and belonging, and com munity building. We affirmed our commitment to these guiding principles, which continue to shape the Society’s decisions and programs. At the same time, we recognized the challenges posed by actions of the current US administration, including restricting initiatives that use certain terms. BPS is a global organization, but many of our programs and members are based in the United States and thus could be directly impacted by these developments. Council therefore took care to ensure that the updated Strategic Plan avoids terms that recently have been politicized or “weaponized” that could create unnecessary risk for the Society or our mem bers, while still strongly affirming our commitment to fairness, opportunity, and representation for all. The result is the BPS Strategic Plan for 2025–2028. We are pleased to share this updated plan with you in full in this column. It outlines the current priorities of the Society, while providing greater detail than the prior version to ensure clarity in both intent and action. Behind each of the goals and objectives are concrete tactics and initiatives, many of which are already underway through the work of BPS committees, boards, and staff. Impor tantly, the plan reflects input from across the Society. The draft was reviewed by the Committee on Inclusion and Diversity and the Committee for Professional Opportunities for Women, and the plan has been shared more broadly with other committees and now with you, all of our members. Circumstances will contin ue to change, and BPS must remain nimble, so we view this as a

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President’s Message

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

B. Navigate a Rapidly Evolving Publishing Landscape Set the standards of quality and excellence in scientific publishing while addressing critical challenges related to research funding, open access, peer review integrity, and the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. C. Catalyze Collaboration Across Disciplines, Institutions, and Borders Encourage interdisciplinary partnerships and global cooperation to accelerate scientific discovery and broaden the reach and impact of biophysics. The Biophysical Society will be recognized as a welcoming global organization where all biophysi cists feel a sense of belonging and opportunity. A. Broaden Participation and Deepen Engagement Encourage inclusive participation and in crease opportunities for involvement across geographic regions, career stages, and pro fessional interests. B. Embrace Innovation Through a Range of Perspectives and Leadership Promote a culture that cultivates leadership and values different viewpoints from across the global biophysics community. C. Expand Representation and Access Across Communities Actively remove barriers to participation and ensure that underrepresented groups and their individual members have meaningful access to Society programs, leadership, and resources. IV. INVEST IN THE PEOPLE AND FUTURE OF BIOPHYSICS The Biophysical Society will cultivate talent, sup port career development, and position biophysi cists to lead in solving complex global challenges. A. Inspire and Equip the Next Generation of Scientific Leaders Strengthen training and career develop ment for biophysicists from all backgrounds through high-quality resources, mentorship, and inclusive learning opportunities. B. Support Career Growth Across the Scientific Journey Provide targeted resources, recognition, and III. FOSTER AN INCLUSIVE AND REPRESENTATIVE GLOBAL COMMUNITY

professional development for biophysicists at every career stage—from students to senior leaders. C. Accelerate Innovation in Emerging Areas of Biophysics Promote interdisciplinary exploration and invest in frontier research to keep the field at the cutting edge of science. D. Position Biophysics to Address Global Scientific and Societal Challenges Empower biophysicists to solve urgent issues in health and disease, sustainability, and technological advancement through collabo rative and solution-driven science. Taken together, these priorities reflect both con tinuity and renewal. Many of the themes—sup porting science, advancing discovery, and fos tering community—will be familiar, but the new plan provides more specificity about how we will accomplish them. Our commitment to inclusion is articulated in terms that emphasize participation, representation, and belonging. And our invest ment in the future highlights not only training and career development but also emerging frontiers of science and the role of biophysics in tackling global challenges. We hope this plan serves not just as a roadmap for Council and committees, but also as an invi tation to you, our members. The strength of BPS comes from the active participation of our global community, and your ideas, energy, and engage ment are vital. Whether you serve on a commit tee, attend a meeting, mentor a student, publish in BPS journals, or advocate for science in your home country, you are advancing the goals of this plan. As we embark on this next phase, we do so with optimism and confidence. Biophysics is a field uniquely positioned to illuminate the complex ities of life and to contribute solutions to the most pressing issues of our time. The Biophysical Society, guided by this plan and powered by its members, will continue to champion this mission. We invite you to read, reflect, and share your feedback. You can reach Lynmarie K. Thompson , BPS President, at thompson@chem.umass.edu, or Jennifer L. Pesanelli , the Executive Officer, at jpesanelli@biophysics.org. Together, we will ensure that BPS not only adapts to a changing world but also leads with vision, integrity, and purpose. — Lynmarie K. Thompson , President — Jennifer L. Pesanelli , Executive Officer

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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Society Awards

BPS Honors Sixteen Outstanding Biophysicists

Continued from Page 1

Jorge Alegre-Cebollada , Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Car diovasculares (CNIC), Spain, will receive the Michael and Kate Bárány Award for pioneering the study of protein mechanics in living systems, revealing how mechanical forces govern protein function and contribute to human disease. Nuria Assa-Munt , Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, USA, will receive the Rosalba Kamp man Distinguished Service Award for her tireless efforts and exemplary leadership in setting the highest standards for NIH reviews, advancing biophysics research, and training the next generation of scientists. Charles L. Brooks III , University of Michigan, USA, will receive the Klaus Schulten and Zaida Luthey-Schulten Computational Biophysics Lecture Award for his pioneering work in protein folding, free energy methods, and service to the field of bio physics. Ashley R. Carter , Amherst College, USA, will receive the PUI Faculty Award for her remarkable contributions to biophysics research, mentoring of undergraduate students, and leader ship in guiding the next generation of scientists to advance the field of biophysics. Yifan Cheng , University of California San Francisco, USA and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA, will receive the Ana trace Membrane Protein Award for broad and impactful con tributions to the field of membrane protein structural biology, and for structural work delineating the gating mechanisms of TRP channels. Wonhwa Cho , University of Illinois Chicago, USA, will receive the BPS Award in the Biophysics of Health and Disease for mechanistic elucidation of lipid-protein interactions founda tional to lipid-targeted drug discovery. Cornelis (Cees) Dekker , Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, will receive the Kazuhiko Kinosita Award in Sin gle-Molecule Biophysics for groundbreaking contributions to the field of nanobiology and single-molecule biophysics, from nanopores to SMC molecular motors. Ken A. Dill , Stony Brook University, USA, will receive the Founders Award for his work on the protein folding problem and the development of statistical mechanical theories and foundational principles in biophysics.

Elizabeth Hinde , School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Australia, will receive the Michael and Kate Bárány Award for the creative application of physical principles to biological systems, particularly in the development of spatiotemporal correlation spectroscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging techniques to investigate chromatin dynamics. Yiechang Lin , The Australian National University, Australia, will receive the Outstanding Doctoral Research in Biophysics Award for advancing our understanding of how lipid-protein interactions affect function. Erdinc Sezgin , SciLifeLab, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, will receive the Early Independent Career Award for combining chemistry, physics, biology, and computer science to gain fun damental and translational insights into how the biophysics of cells affect health and disease. Kai Sheng , Scripps Research, USA, will receive the Outstanding Doctoral Research in Biophysics Award for pioneering new approaches to elucidate the mechanism of bacterial ribosome assembly and for constructing a comprehensive structural map for the large subunit assembly. Hawa Racine Thiam , Stanford University, USA, will receive the Margaret Oakley Dayhoff Award for being a trailblazer of subcellular biophysics and unveiling new paradigms of bio physical immunology through her dynamic measurements of physical forces on organelles in real time. Sarah Veatch , University of Michigan, USA, will receive the Agnes Pockels Award in Lipids and Membrane Biophysics for foundational scientific research understanding the miscibility phase transition and associated critical phenomena in mem branes and for the rigorous application of these biophysical concepts to cellular processes. A. Joshua Wand , Texas A&M University, USA, will receive the Ignacio Tinoco Award of the Biophysical Society for pioneering contributions to understanding the structural and mechanistic bases of biomolecular function. Jie Xiao , Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA, will receive the Carolyn Cohen Innovation Award for her pioneering work in developing single-molecule imaging and analysis approach es to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of bacterial cell division and transcription.

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MCeom bme ru nC oi t ri ense r

Grants & Opportunities The James Corones Award in Leadership, Community Building, and Communication This award was established to recognize the impact of mid-career scientists and engineers in their chosen fields. The recipient will be someone who encourages and men tors young people to be active in the science community, to communicate their work effectively, and to make a difference in their scientific area. Who can apply: Mid-career is defined as those having earned a PhD in the past 10–20 years. Deadline: December 1, 2025 Website: www.krellinst.org/about-krell/corones-award

National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Alliance Grants These grants encourage university researchers to col laborate with partner organizations, which can be from the private, public, or not-for-profit sectors. These grants support research projects led by strong, complementary, collaborative teams that will generate new knowledge and accelerate the application of research to create bene fits for Canada. Who can apply: Applicants must hold or have a firm offer of an appointment at an eligible Canadian institution. Deadline: No deadline Website: www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Innovate-Innover/alli ance-alliance/index_eng.asp

Student Spotlight

David Obe University of Nebraska, Lincoln What inspired you to study biophysics?

I’ve been fascinated by how molecular structures dictate biological function ever since I was introduced to Lehninger’s Principles of Biochemistry textbook. Biophysics gave me the opportunity to explore this intersection by using both experimental and computational tools, and my passion deepened as I realized that understanding these mechanisms at the atomic level can help address real-world challenges in medicine and agriculture.

David Obe

Participate by Hosting an Affiliate Event - Start Your Planning Now! We’re celebrating 11 years of global connections, collaborations, and discoveries—March 23–27, 2026—and we want YOU to be part of it. Now’s the time to start planning your Affiliate Event—whether it’s a seminar, outreach activity, panel discussion, or virtual lab tour. Every event helps promote the field and inspire the next generation. Start your planning now and register your Affiliate Event to receive marketing support. www.biophysics.org/outreach/biophysics-week/be-an-affiliate-event-organizer

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Biophysicist in Profile

Vilmantas Pupkis Area of Research Plant electrical signaling and photosynthesis

Institution Vilnius University

At-a-Glance

In the countryside of Lithuania during his childhood holidays, Vilmantas Pupkis first explored the bio logical world that would shape his career. Today, he serves as an assistant professor and researcher at the Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University, where he investigates how plants use electrical signals to regulate photosynthesis.

Vilmantas Pupkis

Born and raised in Vilnius during Lithuania’s post-independence era, Vilmantas Pupkis witnessed his country’s transformation as it joined the European Union and NATO. “I am very fortunate that I did not have to experience the Soviet occupation, like my parents and grandparents had to,” he reflects. “I grew up witnessing the development of the free and independent Lithuania.” Pupkis was exposed to academic thinking from an early age. Both his parents are linguists specializing in the Lithuanian language, and earlier generations included teachers as well. “Although my leap to biophysics does not seem to be ‘pre-programmed,’ I was definitely exposed to academia and educational matters from a very young age,” he notes. In high school, passionate teachers in both biology and physics sparked his interest in these subjects. When it came time for university, the choice seemed natural. “I found that Vilnius Univer sity offered an undergraduate program in biophysics. I chose it without much contemplation because combining two subjects that I liked seemed like a smart choice. As it turns out, I was lucky that it was the right decision,” he remarks. Pupkis’s academic journey unfolded entirely at Vilnius University, where he earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees—all in biophysics, with his doctorate completed in 2024. The univer sity’s Life Sciences Center became his intellectual home. “Here, with its new laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment, I felt at home so much that I had no desire to move elsewhere,” he explains. The choice of research focus came through a process of elimina tion rather than grand design. When selecting a laboratory for his undergraduate thesis, Pupkis knew what he wanted to avoid. “I ruled out working with animal model systems due to the poten tial for causing them harm. I imagined myself too introverted for human research, and the idea of working with minuscule volumes and expensive substances in molecular biology seemed too stressful.” This led him to approach Vilma Kisnierienė and join the Group of Plant Cell Biophysics. “I decided to approach my eventual super

visor...and work on plants because it seemed unconventional and did not trigger any of my concerns. As it turns out, the field has been intriguing enough to keep me in it.” Under Kisnierienė’s guidance, Pupkis discovered that plants are far more dynamic than commonly perceived. “They face many of the same challenges that animals do every day—what to eat, how to eat, how to avoid being eaten, how to combat illness, and how to survive long enough to reproduce,” he observes. “Despite their limited ability to move, plants successfully solve each of these problems and do so in surprisingly creative ways.” His current research focuses on how plants use electrical signal ing—the same biophysical mechanisms that animals employ for complex cognitive processes—to transmit information about environmental stressors throughout their bodies. “While animals employ electrical signals for various purposes, including complex cognitive processes,” Pupkis explains, “plants harness the same biophysical mechanisms of transient transmembrane ion cur rents to transmit information about external stressors from the affected area to distal parts of the body.” His work has evolved from classical electrophysiology toward spectroscopic techniques that reveal details about photosynthesis itself. “We are trying to decipher how fluctuations in a plant’s local environment can induce or modulate electrical signals, which in turn affect pho tosynthetic activity. The complexity of these signal transduction pathways will likely keep us busy for years,” he speculates. Like many early career scientists, Pupkis has grappled with the unknowns of scientific research. “The first major cognitive hurdle I encountered at the very beginning was realizing that science operates on the frontier of knowledge,” he explains. “When one encounters a problem, sometimes an experienced colleague may offer some advice, but ultimately, no one can provide a definitive answer—because no one knows it yet.” This understanding brings both excitement and responsibility. “Becoming an expert in a certain niche can be frightening because of the responsibility to produce true top-tier science that other researchers can refer to.” He adds, “With these thoughts, the imposter syndrome is never far away.”

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Biophysicist in Profile

Currently, he faces a quintessential challenge of scientific inde pendence, learning “how to formulate a scientific problem that is complex enough to be interesting, relevant enough to acquire funding, but also simple enough to be solved using available scientific equipment and other means.” Despite these challenges, Pupkis finds deep satisfaction in his work, particularly in teaching. His responsibilities include introduc ing undergraduate students to differential equations and plant physiology, and he participates in educational projects aimed at improving university pedagogy. “However, nothing can overshad ow working with students as a teacher,” he emphasizes. “It is extremely satisfying to inspire these ‘lightbulb’ moments when students suddenly understand a complex concept.” The Lithuanian system encourages early research involvement, with students often becoming co-authors on scientific publi cations. Pupkis takes pride in events like The Coins, an annual conference organized entirely by students at the Life Sciences Center, and which regularly attracts notable attendees, including Nobel Prize winners. “One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is experiencing those ‘aha’ moments after thinking extensively about a particular problem,” he shares. “These moments can occur while reading, walking around, or preparing lunch—it feels amazing when it becomes clear that everything can be solved by a particular experiment.” Pupkis values the collaborative nature of biophysics, crediting the supportiveness of his research community for his career progress. He maintains collaborations with groups in Poland and Hungary and serves as a council member of the Lithuanian Biophysical Society, organizing conferences and educational events.

His involvement with the Biophysical Society has been particu larly meaningful. A BPS-EBSA Student Poster Award in 2023 led to participation in the Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, where he received a Travel Award and delivered a platform presentation. “As a scientist, I have never received a greater honor,” he notes. Looking ahead, Pupkis sees biophysics as uniquely positioned to address global challenges. “Biophysicists come in many differ ent ‘flavors,’ as there are many ways to become one,” he ob serves. The field’s interdisciplinary nature makes its practitioners well-suited for science communication and evidence-based policy making. His personal research goals remain focused on “deciphering how various stressors regulate plant photosynthetic activity, which particular signaling molecules bridge vastly different physiological processes, and how.” He has a positive outlook on the future: “I am optimistic that there will always be students interested in plants, in biophysics, and in making our world a better place.” For young scientists entering the field, Pupkis offers measured but encouraging advice: “Young people should not be afraid to ask questions and find a supportive community that encourages that.” He acknowledges that scientific problems often lack clear solutions, but emphasizes that “with humility of not knowing and a persistent curiosity, the power of the human mind is almost unlimited.” When not immersed in research or teaching, Pupkis returns to those formative influences of his childhood—working from his family’s country house, cycling through the countryside, and read ing with a cup of tea. These moments of reflection, away from laboratory equipment and lecture halls, continue to inform his understanding of the natural world he has dedicated his career to exploring.

Upcoming Webinar: What Can You Do with a PhD? A Lot More Than You Might Think October 9, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM USA Eastern PhDs follow many different career paths, but what shapes those choices? In this webinar, Dr. Rick McGee will share findings from his long-term research tracking hundreds of biomed ical PhD students as they move into diverse careers. He’ll discuss the factors that influence decision-making, how you can explore options, and what distinguishes those who ultimately pursue each significant pathway. This expert-led discussion is designed to give attendees a chance to reflect on and ask questions about their own career planning.

Register for Upcoming Webinars and Browse Recorded Webinars at www. biophysics.org/webinars

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Applications Are Open for the Biophysical Society 2025–2026 Congressional Fellowship Interested in using your science skills to inform science policy? Does spending a year working on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, helping develop policy sound exciting? The Biophysical Society’s Congressional Fellowship program (www.biophysics. org/policy-advocacy/congressional-fellowship) is your opportunity to participate directly in the process of law-making that affects how research is funded and regulated. This year-long opportunity provides Fellows a chance to use their science knowledge to inform the public policy process. Fellows will gain firsthand knowledge and experience on how Congress works and participate in the esteemed AAAS Science and Technology Fellows program that provides ongoing training and networking opportunities during the fellowship year and beyond. Visit www.biophysics.org/policy-advocacy/congressio nal-fellowship for more details about the program or contact Leann Fox at fellows@biophysics.org or (240) 290-5606. The application deadline is December 12, 2025.

Trump Signs Executive Order to Reform Federal Grant System On August 7, the White House issued a new Executive Order (EO) focused on Oversight of Federal Grantmaking, sparking alarm across the scientific and medical research communities. The order introduces several significant changes, including the insertion of a new category of political appointees into key roles responsible for awarding scientific research grants, the establishment of a mechanism for the “termination of grants for convenience,” and a directive that prioritizes academic institutions with the lowest indirect cost rates. Experts warn that these provisions could have a catastrophic and cascading impact on federally funded research, under mining the long-standing principles of transparency and scientific merit that have governed grantmaking. The risk of politicizing research decisions threatens to disrupt the progress of critical scientific and medical advancements that depend on objective evaluation and consistent funding. In response, BPS is spearheading a coalition of scientific and medical organizations to challenge the sweeping changes introduced by the EO. The coalition is urging Congress to intervene to preserve the integrity of federal research funding and to prevent the politicization of grant decisions. As the debate unfolds, researchers and institutions across the coun try are watching closely, concerned that these new oversight measures could threaten the future of American science and innovation.

NIH Sets New Research Priorities, Orders Review That Could Halt Non-Compliant Grants National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jayanta “Jay” Bhat tacharya has released a list of 12 research priorities for the agency, while also ordering a sweeping internal review of all NIH-funded research projects. The move has raised concerns among NIH staff and scientists, who worry it could delay grant disbursements and intensify political scrutiny already imposed under the Trump administration. The newly outlined priorities include a focus on scientific training (emphasizing merit over diversity programs), improv ing reproducibility, artificial intelligence, childhood obesity, and building a national data platform. The NIH will continue research into health disparities, but only when supported by measurable factors like redlining—not broad claims such as systemic racism. Transgender health research will be limited to studies identifying harms of therapies, and HIV research will focus on improving access to treatments. Effective immediately, all active and pending grants must be reviewed for alignment with these priorities. Projects not meeting the criteria could be paused or canceled. Critics, including former NIH official Jeremy Berg , have condemned the lack of input from scientists and the abruptness of the policy changes, warning that they could harm critical research and erode public trust in the agency.

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Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration to Withhold $783 Million in NIH Grants In a significant setback for scientific researchers, the US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to allow the Trump administration to withhold $783 million in National Institutes of Health grants, many of which were previously ordered to be reinstated by a lower court. The grants in question supported research on politically sensitive topics such as COVID-19; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and transgender health. Earlier this year, a federal District Court in Massachusetts ruled that the Trump administration’s termination of more than 2,300 grants was unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act and discriminatory against marginalized groups. However, the Supreme Court’s majority argued that the District Court lacked jurisdiction and that the case should be heard in the Court of Federal Claims—a venue that cannot reinstate grants, only award monetary damages. Legal ex perts believe that this shift effectively prevents researchers from regaining their funding, no matter the merits of their claims. Around the World Europe’s Shift toward Dual-Use Research Researchers at a new marine research center in France are developing autonomous floating robots to form underwater antennas, illustrating the growing overlap between civilian and military research in Europe. Traditionally, European Union science funding through programs like Horizon Europe has strictly supported civilian projects, avoiding military or “dual-use” research. However, with geopolitical shifts—

especially the war in Ukraine and declining trust in trans-At lantic alliances—the European Commission is proposing to open the entire Horizon Europe program, with a €175 billion budget starting in 2028, to research with both civilian and military applications. This marks a significant departure from decades of clear sep aration between military and civilian research funding. While some parts of Horizon Europe, like the European Innovation Council, have begun funding dual-use projects, the new proposal would allow this across all Horizon Europe grants, including those for fundamental science. While the proposal awaits parliamentary approval, it signals the end of the long standing “steel walls” separating military and civilian research in Europe. As scientists and policymakers navigate this gray area, balancing security concerns with academic freedom remains a key challenge. Canadians Facing a 15% Budget Cut Researchers in Canada are pushing back against a 15% budget cut that Prime Minister Mark Carney plans to impose on most government departments. They argue that reducing spending on scientific research would go against Carney’s own empha sis on investing in the country’s future. Carney launched the spending review shortly after his election in April to deal with economic shocks from tariffs imposed by the United States and to ramp up military spending. He has asked each govern ment department to identify potential savings to be included in this year’s federal budget, expected in the fall, which will detail spending plans covering several years into the future. The budget normally comes out in the spring but was delayed this year by federal elections and economic uncertainty about tariffs. Canada’s three federal research councils noted that they had been asked to identify savings of up to 15% over three years by targeting “programs and activities that are un derperforming, not core to the federal mandate, duplicative, or misaligned with government priorities.” These proposals are still being developed, and no decisions have been made.

The Biophysical Society is grateful to its Industry Partners.

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For Industry Partner Membership information, contact alevine@biophysics.org. SILVER

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Publications

Know the Editor Syma Khalid University of Oxford

Editor’s Pick

Editor, Computational Biophysics Biophysical Journal

Syma Khalid

What are you currently working on that excites you? I am really excited about our collaborative work on trying to answer the question of what does the surface of Gram-nega tive bacteria look like. Bacteria are far simpler organisms than humans, but despite many decades of study, it turns out that we still do not know how the surface of bacteria is orga nized. It is important that we do so, from both a fundamental microbiology/biophysics perspective and the perspective of facilitating the rational development of new antibiotics—the latter because antibiotics have to either disrupt the bacterial surface or penetrate it to move into the cell to disrupt some intracellular process, but in either case, interaction with the surface must occur. My group uses molecular modeling and simulation to predict how biological molecules interact with each other. Generally, models used to study molecular interactions are very simpli fied. However, combining data from our experimental collab orators with some new lipid computational models developed by my team, we now have a computer model of the Esche richia coli outer surface that is realistic in composition and large enough to visualize the impact of antibiotics. It is really exciting to see the molecules moving about finding their ideal positions as they interact with each other in the simulations that we perform on high-performance computing resources— what we are discovering is that the complexity of biology should be neither underestimated nor neglected. Who would you like to sit next to at a dinner party? I am going to pick a non-scientist, because it would be almost impossible to pick just one scientist. Assuming I can have someone who is no longer with us, I would like to sit next to the writer Hunter S. Thompson . It would certainly be an enter taining dinner. His contempt for authority, complete submer gence in counterculture, and the establishment of “gonzo journalism” would provide him with plenty of material to keep the conversation flowing. Just to be clear, I do not personally advocate all his lifestyle choices; I just like his writing (and I think a part of me still wants to be a journalist).

The Biophysicist Exploring Viscoelasticity: An Outreach Workshop for Middle and High School Students Tatiana Kardashina, Jessica A. Pallarez, Marat R. Talipov, Elba E. Serrano, and Borys Drach “Engaging students in hands-on activities and providing out of-school experiences have been shown to improve academic performance and spark interest in science. This workshop was for middle school and high school students as part of a summer program at a Hispanic-serving institution in south ern New Mexico. The goal was to foster interest and readi ness for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers and college entry. The workshop introduced students to viscoelasticity, a key concept in biophysics that describes the mechanical behavior of biological tissues, which is vital for understanding their structural and functional properties under various physical forces and conditions. The curriculum included a presentation, a discussion linking mechanical prop erties with biology, and hands-on experiments that demon strated viscoelastic principles. Analysis revealed that students could relate the concepts to their daily lives, gained a basic understanding of mechanical properties, and found at least one experiment enjoyable and interesting.”

Version of Record Published February 11, 2025 DOI: https:/doi.org/10.35459/tbp.2024.000278

October 2025

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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY

Call for Applications: Editor-in-Chief of Biophysical Journal

The Biophysical Society is seeking the next Editor-in-Chief of the Society’s flagship publication, Biophysical Journal . This appointment will begin January 1, 2027, for one five-year term. The mission of Biophysical Journal (BJ) is to publish the highest-quality original research that elucidates important biological, chemical, or physical mechanisms and provides quantitative insight into fundamental problems at the molecular, cellular, and systems and whole-organism levels. Articles published in the Journal should be of general interest to quantitative biologists, regardless of their research specialty. The Editor-in-Chief is the steward of the scientific content of the Journal and must have a broad understanding of biophysics as an evolving discipline. The Editor-in-Chief must have scientific stature and be committed to the Mission and Strategic Plan of the Biophysical Society, especially to advance knowledge through connection and collaboration by navigating a rapidly evolving publishing landscape. As the principal ambassador for and public face of the Journal, the ideal Editor-in-Chief will have broad interests in biophysics; project and/or people management skills; strong organizational skills; strong written and oral communication skills; and inter est in engaging with the scientific community, including through a social media presence. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for carrying out the editorial policies established by the Society, and thus this position requires a commitment of 20–30% time and effort. The Editor-in-Chief is tasked to:

• Establish and maintain the scientific standards of the Journal; ensure uniformity of scientific and Journal stan dards across all Journal content. • Recruit Associate Editors and Editorial Board Members and submit nominations to the Publications Committee. • Lead and mentor BJ’s Editorial Board, and develop pro cesses to increase the efficiency, quality, and uniformity of the editorial processes.

• Actively promote the Journal and encourage the submis sion of manuscripts; recruit manuscripts at conferences; commission Special Issues and Guest Editors. • Identify emerging areas of importance and shape the future editorial direction of the Journal. • Write editorials that discuss issues pertinent to BJ and its constituents. • Work with the Society Office staff and publishing partner, Cell Press, on the day-to-day editorial management of BJ.

The Mission Statement of the Biophysical Society is to lead an innovative global community working at the interface of the physical and life sciences, across all levels and types of complexity. Its values are: Scientific Excellence; Integrity and Transpar ency; Universal Access and Opportunity; Broad Representation and Belonging; and Community Building. The Publications Committee welcomes applications from candidates who support and are dedicated to the Society’s values. There are no restrictions on scientific interests, background, gender, or geography. To apply, please submit a CV and a cover letter outlining the motivations for your interest.We will also accept nominations. We will consider applications until March 1, 2026. Confidential applications and nominations should be made to the Publications Committee through the Society Office (jlong@biophysics.org).

BPS Physical Cell Biology Subgroup Virtual Symposium 2025 November 4, 11:00 PM – 3:00 PM USA Eastern The Physical Cell Biology Subgroup is hosting a virtual

experimental approaches in order to advance the field. The talks are based on abstracts submitted for the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting in February 2025 that were not cho sen for oral presentation but that carry the promise of cre ativity and vigor in applying physical principles to gain deeper mechanistic insights into cell biology. This event is part of the Physical Cell Biology Subgroup’s initiative to promote visibility, breadth, and networking opportunities for young researchers in this field. Register at https:/tinyurl.com/6xbpmzaz.

mini-symposium aimed at connecting early career research ers who apply physical principles to gain a deeper mechanistic understanding of cell biology at different spatiotemporal scales. This symposium will showcase presentations by young researchers who are utilizing theory, computation, and experiments to investigate the structure, dynamics, and in teractions of cells in physiological contexts. The objective is to encourage collaborative interactions between theoretical and

October 2025

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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY

Annual Meeting

Thank you to our sponsors:

Students, the Future of Biophysics Starts with You–See What’s Ahead at BPS2026! Several sessions are scheduled throughout the meeting to give undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to connect with faculty and peers from around the world while also exploring a wide range of career paths after graduation. Undergraduate Poster Award Competition (UPAC) Saturday, February 21, 3:00 pm –5:00 pm , USA Pacific Undergraduate Student “Pizza Breakfast” Sunday, February 22, 11:30 am –1:00 pm , USA Pacific Undergraduate students should plan to attend

Avanti Polar Lipids Bruker

Chroma Technology Leica Microsystems Nanion Technologies Sophion Bioscience A/S

UPAC gives undergraduate students a chance to present their research, get recognition for the increasingly high quality of undergraduate research, and encourage further participation of undergraduates in the Biophysical Soci ety and at the Annual Meeting. The Society awards and recognizes up to 10 outstanding students who give the best overall poster presentations during the competition. Students are judged on the quality and scien tific merit of their research, knowledge of the research problem, contribution to the project, and overall presentation of the poster. Judges look for students to present a clearly stated question, hypothesis, results, and conclusions. The registration deadline is January 6, 2026. To learn more, go online at www.biophysics. org/2026meeting/awards-competitions/ poster-competitions.

this session. It’s your chance to meet oth er students and network—not to mention pizza will be served! During this session, BPS Committee members and invited speakers will have a panel discussion with Q&A on career paths in biophysics from academia to industry. This session is limited to the first 100 attend ees. Education and Career Opportunities Fair Sunday, February 22, 1:00 pm –3:00 pm , USA Pacific Starting to look for a postdoc position? Or maybe you’re an undergraduate thinking about grad school? Check out the Education and Career Opportunities Fair. Student attendees are invited to meet with representatives from educational institutions as well as industry and government agencies. Find out about open postdoc positions and laboratories seeking graduate students at universities with leading programs in biophysics. Stop by the fair to learn about the variety of op portunities available and to talk one-on-one with representatives from participating institutions.

Don’t Forget... There’s still time to submit a late-breaking abstract for poster presentation. Late abstract submissions will be accepted beginning October 7.

October 2025

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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY

Annual Meeting

Graduate Student Breakfast Monday, February 23, 7:30 am –8:30 AM, USA Pacific Start your day off right! Graduate students should attend this breakfast for a chance to meet other students, discuss issues they face in their current career stage, and learn from others’ experiences. A group of experienced panelists will lead the discussion and answer questions from the attendees. Limited to the first 100 attendees. Annual Meeting of the Student Chapters Monday, February 23, 11:00 am –12:30 pm , USA Pacific Students and meeting attendees are invited to join BPS Student Chapters from around the world. Chapter officers and represen tatives will share information about their groups, highlight their accomplishments, and learn from one another. The session is a chance to build connections, strengthen communication between Chapters, and explore opportunities to get involved. If you’d like to learn more about a Chapter near you—or simply hear what other students are doing—please plan to attend. JUST-B Poster Session Monday, February 23, 3:00 pm –5:00 pm , USA Pacific The JUST-B Poster Session celebrates the research achievements of students, postdocs, and early career researchers in the field of biophysics. A goal of this program is to remove barriers to partic ipation and ensure that all students and trainees, including those from communities underrepresented in biophysics, have equal access to advancement opportunities and community support. All are welcome to attend. To learn more and to sign up to partici pate, please visit www.biophysics.org/education-careers/just-b poster-session. All members are invited to participate in the One-on-One with a Mentor program. Pairs of mentors and mentees are matched on the basis of scientific interests from their membership profiles, as well as the answers to a short questionnaire. This program is first come first served and is dependent on the number of mentors that sign up. We will do our best to match as many mentees as we can. New this year: we’ve added additional matching options to en hance the program and provide more personalized connections, as well as a peer-to-peer mentoring option. Membership and meeting registration are required for participation. You can sign up on the Annual Meeting website. Registration closes on January 6, 2026. One-on-One with a Mentor

Undergraduate Student Lounge Saturday, February 21 – Wednesday, February 25 Need to catch up on coursework? Or do you want to meet other undergraduate attendees? Stop by the Undergraduate Student Lounge throughout the meeting. Wi-Fi will be avail able. Student Housing Deadline: December 5, 2025 Affordable student housing is available for undergraduate and graduate student meeting attendees who are current Society members. To secure student housing, visit the Annual Meeting website. Student Volunteers Undergraduates and graduate students can volunteer their time at the Annual Meeting in exchange for complimentary meeting registration. Volunteers must be Society members with fully paid registration and must be willing to volunteer for six hours during the meeting. To apply, please send an email to meetings@biophysics.org by January 9, 2026, with the following information: full name, email address, cell phone number, and complete list of dates/times available. For those selected, registration will be refunded after the meeting upon completion of the required hours. Call for Future of Biophysics Symposium Speakers Do you know a young researcher doing cutting-edge research at the interface of the physical and life sciences? BPS is seeking suggestions from you for speakers to be featured in the special Future of Biophysics Burroughs Wellcome Fund Symposium in San Francisco. If you have a colleague who may be suitable for a nomina tion, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/RPMGSTL and com plete the required information fields by October 14, 2025. Guess What? Student members can take advantage of significantly reduced meeting registration and membership rates. Have your students submit an abstract and join the Biophysical Society today!

biophysics.org/ 2026meeting

October 2025

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