Biophysical Society Bulletin | September 2018

September 2018

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2018 Election Results The Biophysical Society members elected Catherine A. Royer , Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, to the office of Presi- dent-Elect in this year’s elections. She will assume that office at the Business Meeting that will be held at the 2019 Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, March 2-6, 2019, in Baltimore, Maryland. She will begin her term as President in February 2020. Erin Sheets , University of Minnesota Duluth was elected Secretary. Her four-year term will begin July 1, 2019. Members elected to Council are Michelle Digman , University of California, Irvine; Marta Filizola , Icahn School of Medi- cine at Mount Sinai; Joseph A. Mindell , National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH; and Anna Moroni , University of Milan, Italy. Each will serve a three-year term, beginning on March 5, 2019.

Catherine D. Royer

Erin D. Sheets

Inside Biophysicist in Profile

Michelle Digman

Marta Filizola

Joseph A. Mindell

Anna Moroni

The Society is indebted to all the excellent candidates who agreed to run for these positions. Thank you to all members who participated in the election by voting.

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Publications Public Affairs Annual Meeting Communities

BPS Executive Officer, Ro Kampman Announces Her Retirement Ro Kampman , the Executive Officer of the Biophysical Society since 1998, has an- nounced her retirement effective December 31, 2018. A search committee evaluated three competitive proposals from executive search firms and has selected Sterling Martin Associates to identify suitable candidates for the position. Kampman began her tenure as Executive Director on January 1, 1998. She came to the Society from the American Society of Cell Biology where she was the Director of Operations and Publications. At the time she was hired, then president Ken Dill referred to it as “…the beginning of a new era.” He wrote in the newsletter “…our administration and finances are being modernized. …In the short time she has been with us Ro has already made terrific progress in upgrading our computer system and databases, and in upgrading our financial management.” Indeed, that trend continued during her 21 years with the Society. Under her guidance and leadership, the Society has developed into the largest biophys- ical society in the world. In 1998, when she came to BPS, the Society had just over 4,200 members, compared with the over 8,000 today. Further, the Annual Meeting in 1998 boasted 2,353 abstracts and 3,204 attendees; whereas in 2018 the meeting hosted 3,918 abstracts and 5,300 attendees. Continued on page 5.

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Career Development 13 Member Corner & Important Dates 15 Upcoming Events 16

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Biophysicist in Profile

KhaledMachaca Areas of Research Role and regulation of cellular signaling in physiology and pathology

Institution Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar

At-a-Glance

Khaled Machaca took a somewhat unconventional path to his current career as a biophysicist, starting out studying agricultural engineering and poultry science before falling in love with research: “The rest is history, as they say.” After completing his PhD and beginning as a professor in the American south, he moved to Qatar and has been instrumental in establishing a biomedical research enterprise in the country.

Khaled Machaca

Khaled Machaca , professor of physiology and biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine and associate dean of research at Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar, grew up in Beirut, Lebanon, with a successful homemaker mother and a father who was the director of commercial traffic at the Port of Beirut. Growing up, he did not have a particular passion for science or any real idea of what career he planned to pursue, but he always enjoyed the sciences in school more than writing, and he liked tinkering and fixing things in his spare time. He earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture engineering from the American University of Beirut. “I had no intentions then to be involved in research as I was not familiar with what that would entail. Nonetheless, I was interested in pursu- ing graduate school out of a pure sense of seeking a better understanding of the science underlying approaches in the agriculture industry,” Machaca shares. “I chose to pursue an MS degree in Poultry Science [at the University of Georgia in Athens] with the thinking that this was a robust industry in Lebanon to pursue a career in.” Looking to make some money with a graduate assistantship, he was offered a research assistant position where he worked on biochemical mechanisms governing cell death. “The rest is history, as they say. I quickly developed a passion for research as a career path. So, after the completion of my MS studies I pursued a PhD in cell and developmental biology at Emory University,” he says. “At Emory I chose to work on the genet- ic mechanisms controlling C. elegans spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis. However, I realized quickly that although ge- netic approaches are extremely powerful, especially in model organisms like C. elegans , they were too slow for my taste as I needed more immediate feedback.” He combined the genetic approach with electrophysiological recordings on C. elegans sperm using the patch clamp technique, in the first patching experiments on sperm. “That was my first exposure to bio- physics. The ability to tweak and control experiments in real time was very appealing and made me switch my focus to the regulation of ionic currents in cellular physiology,” he shares.

Following completion of his PhD, Machaca pursued his post- doctoral work in the lab of Criss Hartzell at Emory, focusing on the role and regulation of Ca 2+ -activated Cl channels in the frog oocyte using Xenopus laevis as a model system. He then established his own lab as an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. “I’ve had a long-standing interest in animal reproduction and gamete biology as early as my undergraduate days. Having done my PhD studies on the amoeboid worm sperm, I later focused on oocyte maturation, and in particular the regulation of Ca 2+ signaling pathways during this cellular differentiation pathway,” he explains. “When I started my own lab I was fas- cinated by the fact that Ca 2+ has been conserved throughout phylogeny as the signal that initiates egg activation and as such triggers organismal development through the egg-to- embryo transition. Hence, a Ca 2+ rise at fertilization provides the spark of life to initiate development. Nonetheless, the fully grown oocyte in the ovary is unable to respond properly to sperm or trigger egg activation. It requires a differentiation period know as oocyte maturation during which many signal- ing and morphological processes remodel in preparation for fertilization and embryonic development.” Machaca is now professor of physiology and biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine and associate dean of research at Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar. When he moved to Qatar nearly a decade ago, there was very little scientific research estab- lished in the country. “We truly started that effort from the ground up. Contrary to the current situation, the research enterprise nationally in Qatar was practically non-existent at the time,” he shares. “The leadership in Qatar had an excep- tional vision driven by the Qatar Foundation to establish a research enterprise nationally, with the goal of transitioning away from an economy built solely on fossil fuels towards a knowledge-based economy.”

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Biophysicist in Profile

Officers President Angela Gronenborn President-Elect David Piston Past-President Lukas Tamm Secretary Frances Separovic Treasurer Kalina Hristova Council

in the Xenopus oocyte,” he explains. “After this we started studying IP3 signaling and chloride channels in the oocyte. It led us to focus our interest on how cells deliver intracellular calci- um coming from the extracellular space to dis- tant or isolated effectors. We are still working on it and are now expending our approach of calcium signaling to the context of non-com- municable disease such as diabetes.” Despite Machaca’s many responsibilities in his dual role, Courjaret notes that he always man- ages to find time to discuss ongoing projects, help solve issues that arise in the lab, and provide guidance on research focus. “He is an enthusiastic researcher and we were allowed to investigate numerous ideas we had in the lab even when they meant going a little bit ‘off road,’” he says. “But he is also able to tell us when a project is going nowhere and needs to be stopped or refocused. It probably connects with the fact that we are starting a research community here [in Qatar] nearly from scratch and that we need to explore a lot during this development.” Like most researchers who take on additional administrative roles, Machaca sees less of the bench, and takes advantage of any time he finds to perform experiments. “One evening, while the entire lab was gathering for a dinner, he started getting very nice signals from Xeno- pus oocytes expressing a channel of interest,” Courjaret shares. “The ionic currents were huge, with the promise of an exciting research project. We waited for him for a very long time and he skipped a large part of the dinner. The day after, we realized he spent his evening recording cells expressing the wrong channel. Nobody got fired.” When he is not working, he fills his time with exercise, fishing, and quality time with his family. He also enjoys experimenting with different cuisines. Machaca’s career advice for young biophys- icists? Have fun. “Science is demanding and challenging and if you don’t particularly enjoy it there is little reason to pursue a career in science,” he says. “Focus on quality rather than quantity in your science, in the long term it always pays off. Rigor in your science is a priority especially with the variety of advanced techniques and plethora of publishing venues these days.”

Zev Bryant Jane Clarke Linda Columbus Bertrand Garcia-Moreno Teresa Giraldez Ruben Gonzalez, Jr. Arthur Palmer Marina Ramirez-Alvarado Jennifer Ross David Stokes Joanna Swain Pernilla Wittung-Stafeshede Biophysical Journal Jane Dyson Editor-in-Chief Society Office Ro Kampman Executive Officer Newsletter Executive Editor Rosalba Kampman Managing Editor Beth Staehle Contributing Writers and Proofreaders Dorothy Chaconas Laura Phelan

Machaca with wife Randa and daughters Seema and Raya.

Currently, his lab is focused on four broad areas: (1) Non-genomic signaling downstream of the membrane progesterone receptor, (2) regulation of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) during the cellular differentiation, (3) role of Ca 2+ signaling in cancer metastasis, and (4) Ca 2+ tunneling. He hopes to continue with discoveries in the lab that would advance un- derstanding of cellular signaling in general and Ca 2+ signaling in particular. In a broader sense, and through both his own lab and his role as an administrator, Machaca hopes to “make an impact on the national and institutional research efforts, particularly in terms of trans- lating discoveries in the lab toward clinically actionable efforts targeted at improving the health of individuals,” he shares. “Balancing a dual role as an academic ad- ministrator in my role as associate dean for research while maintaining an active lab was initially quite challenging,” he shares. “We are trained as scientists and yet success in that arena is rewarded by administrative roles where the approach and expertise needed are often diametrically opposed to what one needs in science. Furthermore, administrative roles are often coupled to significant time demands, which takes away from the lab. Sci- ence is a competitive undertaking, so balanc- ing the two demands can be challenging.” He has dealt with this challenge by restruc- turing his lab to include senior colleagues who can both manage the research independent- ly and help the more junior lab members in terms of both day-to-day support and techni- cal training. Raphael Courjaret joined Machaca’s lab in 2010 as a postdoc. “He needed an electrophysi- ologist on a project aimed at identifying the interactions between different TRP subunits

Caitlin Simpson Elizabeth Vuong Sean Winkler Production

Ray Wolfe Catie Curry

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. Canadian GST No. 898477062. Postmaster: Send address changes to Biophysical Society, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1110, Rockville, MD 20852. Copyright © 2018 by the Biophysical Society. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved.

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Publications

Know the Editor Karin Musier-Forsyth The Ohio State University

This tRNA is specifically packaged into new viral particles and, in a separate project, we have recently made progress in understanding how another human factor, lysyl-tRNA syn- thetase, is diverted from its normal function in the cell to help recruit the tRNA primer into virus particles. At a cocktail party of non-scientists, how would you explain what you do? I am working on understanding how HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS, replicates, with the goal of developing new anti-viral agents. All viruses are made up of a nucleic acid genome (like our DNA genome), but HIV-1 contains an RNA genome. The RNA needs to be converted to DNA before it can be integrated into the human genome and replicate. In addition, viruses do not encode enough information in their genomes to produce all the proteins and nucleic acids they need to function. Thus, the process of viral replication uses a very large number of host factors. One major goal of my research is to understand host-virus interactions in order to develop new therapeutics that disrupt the function of the vi- rus without disrupting the normal function of the human cell.

Editor, Nucleic Acids and Genome Biophysics

Karen Musier-Forsyth

What are you currently working on that excites you? I am involved in an exciting collaboration with James Munro (Tufts). We are using fluorescence methods (both single molecule and ensemble FRET) to monitor the conformational changes in the HIV-1 RNA genome 5’-untranslated region. We are probing the dynamics and conformational chang- es that occur as a result of both host cell factor and HIV-1 protein binding. This work has important implications for regulation of genomic RNA packaging. One of the host factors we are interested in is human tRNALys, the primer for reverse transcription of the viral RNA into DNA.

BPS nowAccepting Suggestions and Proposals for Biophysics eBooks Have you thought about writing a book but find the idea daunting? Have you wanted to pick up a succinct well-written book on a biophysics topic but realized it didn’t exist? We want to hear from you. For those interested in writing a book, the BPS-IOP ebooks program offers numerous resources as well as personal help and guidance to assist you. If you are interested in being part of this unique program, please submit your suggestion or a summary of your proposal, detailing the topic, concept, competition, and potential audience to Jessica.Fricchione@iop.org, including a current biography and contact details. Want to know more? Visit http:/ ioppublishing.org/biophysical-society-ebooks/. To discuss your idea for an ebook, contact Jessica Fricchione at 215/627-0880 or Jessica.Fricchione@iop.org.

Peer Review Week 2018 will run September 10–15, 2018. There will be events, publications, and online discussions on issues ranging from peer review of and by early career researchers to the latest research on bias in peer review. The week will include a series of blog posts on the topic at the Scholarly Kitchen (https:/scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org). These will include a peer-review-themed Ask the Chefs; Peer Review 101: a roundup of the most popular posts on peer review; a guest post on Practical Learnings for Managing and Technical Editors from the 8th International Congress on Peer Review and Scientific Publication; a literature review of recent studies of bias in peer review including a summary of recommendations for addressing it; and a big picture piece on the environmen-

tal requirements for healthy, transparent, diverse peer review. Follow on Twitter @PeerRevWeek #PeerReviewWeek18.

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Society News

Continued from page 1.

Changes have been many and have impacted Society leaders and students alike. The Society leadership bodies were reor- ganized into the current Council structure to more efficiently and effectively conduct business and the Society has its first strategic plan. To reflect the growth and changes within biophysics, the number of subgroups has grown from 7 to 15. In addition, student chapters are forming and the now 15 committees are stronger than ever. In fact, one of the most significant challenges Kampman faced when she came to the Society was financial. Society Presi- dent Angela Gronenborn says of that time “The Society was in crisis. The finances were not looking good and we could have easily gone bankrupt. The Journal had been losing money, the culture among the membership was one of complacency and Annual Meeting attendance was fairly stagnant. Fortunate- ly, between 1998 and 2008, Ro was instrumental in turning things around. By 2008, net assets had grown to $4.2 million by judiciously placing 50 percent of net profits into reserves each year.” Those reserves can be used to support programs and good works by the Society. In addition, says Gronenborn, “the Society entered into a partnership with Cell Press to publish Biophysical Journal , a partnership that has been an important source of operating revenue for the Society. Out- reach programs, a public policy program that advocates for increased scientific funding, as well as a summer course for underrepresented students were initiated.” The meetings program now includes Thematic Meetings around the globe and recurring meetings are on the horizon. In 1998 the Society newsletter was published once a year; it is now published 11 times annually. The Society has a new eBooks program and is starting a new education-focused journal.

There are many other examples of how programs developed and grew under Kampman’s tutelage: The Fellows program, the new and improved web and social media presence, the growth in travel and other awards, the Congressional Fel- lowship, and others too numerous to list here. To support this programmatic growth of the Society, the staff has grown from 7 to 18 during Kampman’s administration. Ed Egelman has worked with Kampman over the years in many leadership roles. “Although we have thousands of wonderful members, for me, Ro has been the Biophysical Society. It has been the greatest honor and pleasure to have worked closely with Ro while I was on Council, as Editor of Biophysical Journal , as Chair of the Public Affairs Committee, as the organizer of two Thematic Meetings, and as President of the Society. In every one of these areas, whether it involved organizing a meeting in Singapore or running BJ , I always believed that Ro knew more than I did and that I could count on her for advice and guidance. We have tried to think of why the Society has flourished in so many ways over the past 20 years, and have discussed the centrality of biophysics to many areas of biomedical research, the increasing importance of biophysical techniques in many areas of cell and molec- ular, etc., but perhaps the main reason has simply been the enormous role that Ro has played during this time in quietly guiding the Society. We will sorely miss her!” “Ro leaves the Society in excellent shape,” noted Gronenborn, “and we are extremely grateful for what she has achieved. We embrace the notion that we have to continuously evolve — change is good — and we are confident that we will find a strong, visionary, and dynamic new executive officer to help the Society to move boldly into the future. We wish Ro the best of luck in all her future endeavors.” Renew Your BPS Dues Online Members can now renew their membership for 2019. Don’t wait: renew today to keep your member benefits. www.biophysics.org/ RENEW

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Public Affairs

Senate Appropriators Tee-Up Research Funding Boost In late June, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced funding bills for the Department of Defense (DOD), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and others out of com- mittee, marking the fastest timeframe the committee has completed its appropriations work since 1988. According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), proposed research funding for fiscal year 2019 could top $85 billion, the highest point for research spending in America’s history.

NSF 2026 IdeaMachine: Help Identify the next Big Idea

In 2016, the National Science Foundation (NSF) unveiled its first ten “Big Ideas.” The ideas are meant to define a set of cutting-edge research agendas and processes that NSF is uniquely positioned to lead, given its large portfolio of multi-disciplinary research initiatives and already established partnerships with the private sector, academia, and other federal agencies. Examples of these broad research ideas include: The Future of Work, Harnessing the Data Revolution, and The Quantum Leap.

The first 10 “Big Ideas” were developed internally at NSF. However, for their next set of ideas, NSF will be seeking public input. The NSF 2026 Idea Machine is a competition to help set the US agenda for fundamental research in science and engineering. This public input process will provide researchers and other interested stakeholders a direct way to contribute to NSF’s mission and focus federal resources towards major societal challenges. The Idea Machine will begin accepting entries in August 2018. BPS members are encouraged to participate. https:/www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/ns- f2026ideamachine/index.jsp Join NewOpinion Piece Program Organizations utilize opinion pieces or letters to the editor to build local awareness of their activities or policy priorities and elevate members who are interested in getting more involved. At 600–800 words, these concise articles allow members to communicate their personal backgrounds, their research and scientific work, and call attention to pressing policy priorities. These pieces can be placed in local media outlets around the world to raise awareness of global science activities, or highlight BPS efforts around diversity or Annual Meeting programming. Are you interested in writing about your community, science policy, or simply want to call attention to an exciting research idea? Consider getting involved with this new BPS program! BPS staff is here to provide the support you need to get your piece published. We are happy to provide you with templates, help you brainstorm an idea, review your draft, and help contact media outlets to pitch your piece. Please contact Sean Winkler , Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy, at swinkler@ biophysics.org for more information.

Senate Appropriators have proposed increases for re- search-funding agencies across the board. Proposed Senate funding for NSF sits at $8.1 billion, a $301 million increase over FY2018 levels. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) are provided with $39.1 billion, an increase of $2 billion above FY2018 levels. The rest of the federal research enterprise is also likely to see a boost. While the Senate Appropriations Committee has wrapped up its work, the annual funding process still has a ways to go. To date, no funding bills have been signed into law and only a few have been approved on the floor of either chamber. However, congressional leaders remain optimistic that ap- propriations will be finished on time by October 1. This would represent the first time all spending bills would be approved in time since the 1990s. Yet, Congress is facing down an important midterm election in November, a Supreme Court nomination fight, and a host of immigration issues that may derail the spending process. Only time will tell if Congress finishes its appropriations work as planned.

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GET INVOLVED! The fourth annual Biophysics Week will take place March 25–29, 2019. We invite you to participate in this highly successful event which has grown each year as the field of biophysics expands and awareness of biophysics increases. Join this global celebration by planning an affiliate event. The Biophysical Society is committed to helping you celebrate by providing resources such as lesson plans, flyers, brochures, and profiles of biophysicists. Register your activity by January 15, 2019 , and you will receive a customized poster to help you advertise your event. Visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/5WBN26Z.

From the Blog AAAS Science & Technology Policy Forum - Realism with a Dash of Optimism Informs Policy Discussions Biophysical Society Director of Public Affairs & Advocacy Sean Winkler shares his experience at the 43rd annual AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy. http:/ www.biophysics.org/blog/aaas-science-technolo- gy-policy-forum-realism-with-a-dash-of-optimism-in- forms-policy-discussions biophysics.org/blog

Biophysics on World Hepatitis Day In recognition of World Hepatitis Day on July 28, biophys- icists Jodi A. Hadden and Juan R. Perilla , both University of Delaware, and JC Gumbart, Georgia Tech, discussed their research related to the hepatitis B virus on the BPS blog. http:/www.biophysics.org/blog/biophys- ics-on-world-hepatitis-day

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Annual Meeting

Biophysical Society Annual Meeting Abstracts by David W. Piston, WashingtonUnversity School ofMedicine in St. Louis

Thank you to our sponsors: Asylum Research Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Bruker Corporation Cell Press Chroma Technology Hamamatsu Corporation Leica Microsystems LUMICKS Molecular Devices Nanion Technologies Photonics Media Physics Today Sophion Bioscience A/S Wyatt Technology Corporation

The Biophysical Society Annual Meeting is always one of the highlights of my year. This meeting has become quite large and diverse, so no matter which direction my research is heading, there seem to be several overlapping communities relevant to that area at the meeting. My group has always found the Annual Meeting to be a great place to get feedback on our latest research, whether focused on new approaches, new models, or new mechanistic insights.

David W. Piston

Which abstract category should I choose? The breadth of the meeting can make it a challenge to find the right audience for your presentation, and a common ques- tion I hear from my colleagues is how to choose the best abstract category. This is not a trivial question, and should be given some attention during the submission process since the Program Committee will try to honor your choice when scheduling the abstract for presentation. The list of abstract categories provided might feel a little overwhelming, especially if your work falls in between categories or fits into more than one category. However, rather than thinking about which category best fits your work, you should use these categories to target your work to the best audience. Most biophysicists have interests in bio- logical questions as well as novel physical and chemical techniques to address those questions. As a project progresses, the optimal audience might well shift as well. For example, we use live cell microscopy to study hormone exocytosis, which might fit into a number of different categories. Sometimes, we are developing new ap- proaches, so we would choose 10F Optical Microscopy & Super Resolution Imaging

because we want to discuss our work with experts in imaging approaches. At oth- er times, this work has focused on Ca2+ activity (4D Calcium Signaling), molecular regulation of secretion (4C Exocytosis & Endocytosis), or mathematical models of the stimulus-secretion coupling (8B Cellular Signaling & Metabolic Networks). Over a few years, a single focused project will be seen by a broad audience depending on the specific aspect of the project at that time. In each case, we make the choice based on where we expect to find the experts who can give us the most rigorous feedback on the work. This approach is most effective if you also tailor the presentation for your expected audience, which will also max- imize their interest in your work. If you aren’t sure where your right audience will be, you can search through previous years’ programs. Should I request a poster or platformpresentation? Whether as a presenter or in the audience, I enjoy both the poster and platform ses- sions. Both types of sessions are crowded with a wide range of attendees – includ- ing leaders in the field – and each has some advantages. For young researchers,

The Society really tries to include all levels of scientists in the Annual Meeting program and resources available to the membership and I think that is one of the most special parts of the Society. —Linda Columbus, University of Virginia

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Annual Meeting

Theory and Experiment to the Cell and Back

Abstract Submission Deadline: October 1, 2018 Top Reasons to Submit an Abstract before the October 1 Deadline • Present Be considered for one of the 500 oral platform session speaking slots • Publish Have your accepted abstract published and included in a supplement to Biophysical Journal • Enhance Research Enrich the experience of attendees and contribute to the sharing of ideas that is the basis of the biophysics community • Network Increase confidence and personal development while enhancing your CV • Strategic Connections Increase your visibility and leadership potential by meeting contacts and colleagues in this interdisciplinary community.

posters are a great way to meet people. Personally, I have recruited almost every post-doc in my lab by first meeting them at their poster. The relaxed time constraints around the posters allow extended discussions with others who have similar experimental and scientific questions, which are just are not possible during a platform session. If you want to meet specific people at the meeting, you can contact them in advance and suggest that you meet at a specific time in front of your poster. This not only gives you a defined place to meet, but also allows you to show off your work. The platform sessions give you a chance to speak in front of a larger audience. This can be unnerving for some, but public speaking is an important skill to develop no matter what your long-term career goals may be. The number of platform presentations is limited, and about one-third of the abstracts that request “Platform or Poster” can be accommodated each year. In choosing platform presentations, the Program Com- mittee looks for abstracts that tell a complete story while also balancing the diversity of science and presenters. To increase your chances for a platform presentation, it is important to tell your story clearly and support it with data. I have encour- aged my students to focus on posters until the year they are planning to defend their thesis. One thing to keep in mind is that a presenter cannot give platform presentations in con- secutive years, so you may want to choose “Poster Only” in the beginning years of a project. Student Research Achievement Awards (SRAA) The Student Research Achievement Award (SRAA) compe- tition provides students the opportunity to present their poster to senior researchers in their field. If you are a student presenting a poster, this is an excellent opportunity to hone your presentation skills. If you are a faculty member, please encourage your students attending the Annual Meeting to register for the competition. Participants must submit their abstract by the October 1 deadline and register for the SRAA Competition by October 3, 2018.

Travel Awards

Are you in need of supplemental funding so that you or your students can attend the Annual Meeting? The Biophysical Society provides travel awards to the Annual Meeting for students and scientists of all career levels, to recognize ex- cellence in biophysics and promote greater interaction among biophysicists throughout the world. There are several catego- ries of awards; please visit the Annual Meeting website for eligibility and application information. Applicants must submit their abstract by the October 1 deadline and apply for Travel Awards by October 3, 3018.

biophysics.org/ 2019meeting

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Committee for Professional Opportunities for Women The BPS Bulletin is running a series highlighting the Society’s committees to help members learn more about them and

the kinds of things committee members do on behalf of BPS. In 1972 the Society’s Council established a new committee, the Committee for Professional Opportunities for Women (CPOW), dedicated to increasing recognition and opportunities for women biophysicists. The charge of CPOW is to promote science education for girls and women; to promote the advancement and retention of women and minorities in biophysics; to foster development of professional communities among women; to raise awareness of the scientific contributions of women in biophysics; to rec- ognize the challenges of balancing career and family; and to promote fair and equitable treatment and improve the climate for women in biophysics at all stages of their careers. The committee is made up of volunteer members who serve staggered three-year terms, renewable once. The current chair is Gabriela Popescu , University at Buffalo. The committee meets in person at the Annual Meeting and via conference call in late summer each year to plan their activities and discuss any relevant issues.

At the Annual Meeting, CPOW organizes professional development and networking sessions. The PI-to-PI Mixer is a wine and cheese mixer for principal investigators to come together to compare notes and discuss challenges and solutions. CPOW also organizes workshops on issues of concern especially to women scientists. The committee produces articles for Biophysics Week profiling women biophysicists in order to share the stories of successful women in the field. In another effort to promote the accomplishments of women in biophysics, committee members encourage and assist in organizing nominations of women for Biophysical Society awards each spring. Additionally, CPOW writes posts for the BPS blog tackling issues including imposter syndrome, mentoring, the “leaky pipeline,” gender equality accreditation programs, and the state of women in biophysics.

Use Your Expertise toMake a Difference! Be an inspiration to your community and help change the lives of those interest- ed in or studying science. The Find a Biophysicist (FaB) Network launched in early April with the newly redesigned BPS website. Volunteer to be a K–12 classroom visitor, mentor, science fair judge, speaker, or student chapter sponsor. The FaB Network is free and accessible by members and nonmembers, but only BPS members may add their names to FaB. The network is designed to provide the best match to users searching for a biophysicist for any of the aforementioned activities. To join FaB, login or create your myBPS account and get involved. Help build this new network by signing up today. For more information, visit biophysics. org/get-involved.

Apply to be the 2019-2020 BPS Congressional Fellow!

Are you interested in working on Capitol Hill and learning more about science policy? All members who have obtained their PhD and are eligible to work in the United States may apply. Application deadline: December 22, 2018 Visit www.biophysics.org for additional information.

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BPS Announces Five New Student Chapters

The Biophysical Society is pleased to announce that five new student chapters have been approved to join the BPS Student Chapter Program. We congratulate these chapters, selected by the Education Committee, and look forward to working with them to promote the field of biophysics and foster the next generation of biophys- icists. The five new Chapters, listed below, represent a variety of institutions and areas.

• Arizona Student Chapter • Mustafa Kemal University • NY Capital District • The University of Minnesota Duluth • The University of New Mexico

The goal of the BPS Student Chapter Program is to build active student chapters around the globe, increase student member- ship and participation within the Society, and promote biophysics as a discipline across college campuses through activities organized by the chapters. Students who become officers or participate in the chapters will have an opportunity to take an active leadership role within their institutions and the Biophysical Society, with special opportunities to participate in activities at future Society meetings. Chapters may be formed within a single institution, or regional chapters may be developed among multiple, neighboring insti- tutions. Recognized chapters will be reimbursed up to $200 by the Society to assist with getting started. For more information and a complete list of instructions on forming an official BPS Student Chapter visit www.biophysics.org/ StudentChapters.

Connect with BPS

The Biophysical Society is grateful to its 2018 Industry Partners.

Gold Member

Silver Members

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

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Communities

Biopolymers in Vivo BIV Junior Faculty Award 2019 APPLICATION PROCEDURE

To apply, candidates must submit (1) a cover letter that in- cludes a short statement about the significance of their past research accomplishments, (2) a one-page outline of current and future research plans with their “research vision,” (3) a two-page curriculum vitae, including a list of publications, and (4) a letter of support from their department head. These items should be sent as a single PDF file to bivsubgroup@ gmail.com. Each candidate must also arrange for two letters of recommendation to be sent by the recommenders to the same email address. The deadline for applications is November 30, 2018. The BIV Awards Committee that selects the winner is comprised of the BIV Executive Committee, the two immediate Past Chairs, and the BIV Student and Postdoc Representatives. The out- come will be announced by December 31, 2018. Further information: https:/www.biophysics.org/ Awards-Funding/Subgroup-Awards Submission Rules: 1. Send your design entry as an email attachment to bivsub- group@gmail.com before November 30. Please put “BIV Logo Contest” in the subject line of your email. 2. If possible, provide your logo design in two sizes: (a) a smaller version that would fit within a 2-inch square for use in slides and print, and (b) a larger version that would look appropriate on a t-shirt. You may save the design using any common file format. 3. In the text of your email, be sure to provide your full name and the names of your current laboratory group and compa- ny or university affiliation. If the inspiration for your design concept is not obvious, you may also want to include a brief explanation. Announcement of Winning Design: The winner of the logo contest will be contacted in January 2019, prior to the 63rd Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society in Baltimore, MD, March 2-6. The winner is encouraged to attend the BPS Meeting, but participation is not mandatory to receive the $350 prize. Copyright Release: In submitting an entry to this contest, it is understood that all participants agree to transfer copyrights of their logo design to the Biophysical Society if their submis- sion is selected as the winner.

The purpose of the Award is to boost the visibility of a be- ginning faculty member whose research and recent achieve- ments focus on cutting-edge investigations of biomolecular processes in living organisms. The research can involve computation, theory, or experiment. The winner will present a featured talk at the 2019 Biopolymers in Vivo subgroup symposium on March 2 in Baltimore, MD. Candidates must be a member of the subgroup and be em- ployed by a research university at the tenure-track assistant professor level. The award comprises a plaque and a check for $2,000 to be awarded at our symposium. The winner must register for the meeting at his/her own expense, but the subgroup will try to reimburse travel costs, pending success in obtaining sponsorships.

New Logo Design Contest RULES AND REGULATIONS

Prize: $350 cash, free BIV dinner following the BIV Subgroup Symposium (Baltimore, Mar 2, 2019), and a free t-shirt fea- turing your logo! Entry Deadline: November 30, 2018 Eligibility: This contest is open to all scientists, including pre-doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers. Only one submission per individual, however multiple submissions from the same laboratory group are permissible. Judging Criteria: The winner will be determined by popular vote of the BIV Awards Committee. One attribute to keep in mind is that the logo should be distinctive in black & white print, as well as in color; the design may be used in the BPS Newsletter, in presentation slides, and on tee shirts and other promotions. From the viewpoint of making a t-shirt, the ideal design will use a minimum number of colors and shades (e.g., 3-4 colors) in order to keep down production costs. The win- ning design should relate, in a direct or abstract way, to the name and/or goals of the BIV Subgroup, as described on the subgroup webpage: http:/www.biophysics.org/subgroups/ biopolymers-in-vivo-1

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Career Development

Science Communication Careers: Journalism, Writing, PR, and Other Paths September 18, 2:00 PM Eastern Presented by Alaina G. Levine Green Cards for Scientific Researchers: How to win your EB-1A/NIW Case! November 8, 2:00 PM Eastern Presented by Brian H. Getson , Esq. Pivot Your Career: Strategies for Planning, Designing, and Facilitating Your Own Second Act Success

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Register Today at biophysics.org/webinars

Nominate a FellowBiophysicist for the Alexander Hollaender Award in Biophysics The Alexander Hollaender Award in Biophysics is presented every three years and carries with it a $20,000 prize. The Award recognizes outstanding contributions made to the field of biophysics. Self-nom- inations are not accepted. For more information about the award, please visit www.nasonline.org/programs/awards/alexander-hol- laender-award.html. Deadline for Nominations: October 1, 2018

Grants & Opportunities

Sartorius & Science Prize for Regenerative Medicine & Cell Therapy

Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) Program – 2019 Spring Term SULI encourages undergraduate students to pursue sci- ence, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers by providing research experiences at the Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories. Selected students participate as interns appointed at one of 17 participating DOE laboratories/facilities. Who can apply: Applicants must be enrolled as a full- time undergraduate student, having already completed at least one year of study and must be a US citizen or lawful permanent resident. Deadline: October 9, 2018 Website: https:/science.energy.gov/wdts/suli/

The Prize is awarded annually to one researcher for the most outstanding basic or translational research con- ducted by him/her. The entrants’ essay must describe their research and its implications for regenerative medicine or cell therapy. Who can apply: Entrants must have an advanced degree received on or after January 1, 2008. Deadline: October 1, 2018 Website: http:/www.sciencemag.org/sartorius-sci- ence-prize-how-enter-1

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Career Development

Salary Negotiations Seem So Awkward. HowDo I Go About It?

Applicants should be prepared with counterproposals if a request is rejected. If necessary, asking for a 5-to-10 percent bump over an initial offer is not unreasonable. One should always add at least two percent to the counter offer. You’ll likely receive a two-percent raise after the initial year, therefore, try and get it immediately. Fourth, remember to be cognizant of the size, type, and rank of the institution and even the department, the relative wealth of the institution, and its local culture. Institutional resources vary immensely. Acquire background information to get an approximate sense of what you can reasonably expect. Salaries are extremely local, and you must carefully adjust your requests for the specific environment. Fifth, while some consider it imperative to negotiate by phone, it is perfectly acceptable to do so by email. Oftentimes, inexperienced job candidates are naïve, have no idea how to interpret an offer, or how to improvise during a live phone or skype call. While mood and tone are difficult to interpret and convey, email enables one to carefully scrutinize an offer and compose carefully crafted, precise, and collegial responses during the negotiation. Moreover, it creates a digital paper trail that can be shared with mentors or colleagues who can assist with interpretation and help clarify ambiguity. Finally, be confident. Keep a level head. Don’t be shy or em- barrassed. Employers expect a salary negotiation with every new hire. It is normal protocol. In fact, not advocating for yourself could be perceived as a weakness. Show gratitude for an offer, yet remain confident in your ability to earn more. Remember, offers are nearly always negotiated with no an- tagonism or animosity. Once the dust settles, no hard feelings will linger. For more information see: • https:/www.higheredjobs.com/Articles/articleDisplay. cfm?ID=700 • https:/chroniclevitae.com/news/400-the-professor-is- in-ok-let-s-talk-about-negotiating-salary • https:/dynamicecology.wordpress.com/2017/03/01/ tips-for-negotiating-salary-and-startup-for-new- ly-hired-tenure-track-faculty/ • https:/www.nature.com/nature/journal/v546/n7658/ full/nj7658-441a.html

Thanks for the excellent and important question. As individuals transition into their first permanent positions they are frequently unprepared to effectively negotiate their starting salaries. Many job-seekers are uncomfortable discuss- ing money, or fail to understand that they do, in fact, have leverage. While there is no universally correct way to negotiate a salary, fortunately there

are many resources available to facilitate the process. For instance, The Professor Is In http:/ theprofessorisin.com/ con- tains many helpful pointers. I have briefly summarized a few key principles from these resources (see links below for more information), along with my own suggestions, which may help junior researchers confidently secure their initial salaries. First, it is critical to develop and adhere to a strategy, know the appropriate salary range, consider additional benefits beyond salary, and remain confident about your overall value. Junior scholars should always have a sensible, carefully con- ceived idea of what they want, or need, to earn. Furthermore, do not undervalue yourself. Resist the inclination to think that any salary is acceptable. Because annual raises are added to your current salary, accepting too low of an offer could substantially influence your future earnings. Additionally, don’t forget that should you eventually relocate, which is not uncommon, salary at your new institution will likely be based, to some extent, on your previous one. Thus, your starting salary can impact your impending salary, over the course of your career. Second, be equipped with information and data. If possible, present proof of what you are worth to help justify your request. Compile information that potentially shows a return on investment from projects, fellowships, or grants that you have managed or obtained. Third, use exact numbers and not ranges. Initially ask for a salary at the higher end of the range that you researched. The negotiating party that makes the original offer is more likely to receive their desired result by drawing the other side in their direction.

Numbers By the

Employment of biochemists and biophysicists is projected to grow 11 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. Source: Bureau of Labor and Statistics https:/www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/biochemists-and-biophysicists.htm

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