Biophysical Society Newsletter | December 2017

Newsletter DECEMBER 2017 Future of Biophysics Burroughs Wellcome Fund Symposium Speakers

DEADLINES

2018–2019 Congressional Fellowship December 15, 2017 Applications 62 nd BPS Annual Meeting February 17–21, 2018 January 15, 2018 Early Registration and Late Abstract Submission Biophysics Week 2018 March 12–16, 2018 January 15, 2018 Affiliate Event Registration #MyBiophysics Video Submission Thematic Meetings Genome Biophysics Santa Cruz, California August 19–24, 2018 April 2, 2018 Abstract Submission Registration The Heart by Numbers Berlin, Germany September 4 –7, 2018 May 7, 2018 Abstract Submission June 4, 2018 Early Registration

Meytal Landau

Giulia Palermo

Schuyler Van Engelenburg

Anastasia Zhuravleva

The 2018 Future of Biophysics Burroughs Wellcome Fund Symposium will again highlight the work of young researchers who are currently conducting cutting-edge research at the interface of the physical and life sciences. The speakers selected for the 2018 Symposium are Meytal Landau , The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology; Giulia Palermo , University of California, San Diego; Schuyler Van Engelenburg , University of Denver; and Anastasia Zhuravleva , University of Leeds, United Kingdom.

The symposium, in its ninth year, will be held on Monday, February 19, 2018, 10:45 am–12:45 pm, at the Moscone Center, San Francisco, California.

Anne Kenworthy and Francesca Marassi , Program Co-Chairs for the 62nd Annual Meeting, will co-chair the symposium.

Last Call! Apply to be the 2018-2019 BPS Congressional Fellow! Members who have obtained their PhD and are eligible to work in the United States may apply.

Application deadline: December 15, 2017 Visit www.biophysics.org for additional information.

CONTENTS

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14 16 17 18 19 20

Biophysicist in Profile

From the BPS Blog

Public Affairs Publications

Molly Cule

Grants and Opportunities

Biophysical Society

Members in the News Thematic Meeting

Subgroups Donations

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Annual Meeting Student Center

Upcoming Events

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Biophysicist in Profile DA-NENG WANG

BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY

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

Da-Neng Wang , professor at New York University (NYU) School of Medicine’s Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, grew up in China during the Cultural Revolution, a 10-year period of turbulence under the country’s leader Mao Zedong . Wang was born in Benxi, a coal and iron mining city, but he moved to the countryside in 1969 when his parents, who were medical doctors, were sent there for re-education. “Although my parents’ careers came to a stop, I actually enjoyed the four years in the countryside. Between school days, I helped the farmers with their work in the fields. I played in the mountains and river with friends, gathered food for our chickens and ducks, carried water from the well for cooking, and cut trees and chopped wood for heat in the winter,” he shares. “These experiences taught me a lot about life and friendship.” High schools, colleges, and universities were closed during the Cultural Revolution, so Wang attended just four and a half years of middle and high school combined. “Physics was a favorite subject of mine, largely because the physics teacher made us realize the power of the subject to explain and predict how the natural world works, often in elegant ways,” he says. “In 1976, the Cultural Revolution ended, and the school was able to teach seriously again. In the final year before graduation, we probably learned more than in the first three and a half years combined.” Universities reopened in 1978. Wang passed the entrance exam and enrolled at the Northeastern University in Shenyang, where he majored in metal physics, a combination of physical metallurgy and solid state phys- ics. “Despite large differences in experience and age — the students were graduates from the last 10 or 12 years and most had previously worked in factories or in the countryside,” he explains, “we all shared the goal of making up the time we lost, and mostly studied six and a half days a week.” After college, he entered the graduate school of the Chinese Academy of Science to pursue a master’s degree in the lab of Kehsin Kuo , a Swedish- trained crystallographer who specialized in high-resolution electron microscopy (EM). “He was a father figure to many of us, and he inspired us to think creatively and do the best science we could,” Wang says. “My project was to study crystal defects in alloys by directly observing the crys- tal lattice and its atoms using high-resolution electron microscopy. Kehsin wondered, given the high resolution of EM, why can’t one see atoms in biological macromolecules? Therefore, after I finished my master’s thesis, he made arrangements for me to go to Sweden, to learn three-dimensional EM image reconstruction of proteins, which set me on the path to struc- tural biology.” Wang arrived in April 1985 as a PhD student in Sven Hovmöller ’s lab at the University of Stockholm. “Sven was very kind and generous. I read my first biology textbook while in his lab. Not only did he teach me so much about science, he also sent me around to the various continents to

Zev Bryant Jane Clarke Bertrand Garcia-Moreno Teresa Giraldez Ruben Gonzalez, Jr. Ruth Heidelberger Robert Nakamoto Arthur Palmer Gabriela Popescu Marina Ramirez-Alvarado Erin Sheets Joanna Swain

Da-Neng Wang

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 Department Editors Dorothy Chaconas Daniel McNulty Laura Phelan Raelle Reid

Caitlin Simpson Elizabeth Vuong Ellen Weiss Production Ray Wolfe Catie Curry

Wang chopping wood at age 11 or 12.

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 © 2017 by the Biophysical Society. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved.

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attend scientific conferences, which opened my eyes to the world,” he says. For his postdoc, he joined Werner Kühlbrandt ’s group at European Molecular Biology Labora- tory (EMBL), Heidelberg. There he worked on determining the structure of the plant light-harvest chlorophyll-protein complex II (LHC-II), using a type of cryo-electron microscopy — electron crystallography — from two-dimensional crys- tals. “This was around the time when Richard Henderson at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology was about to finish the bacteriorhodopsin structure, which he published at 3.5 Å resolution in 1990. We were following in Richard’s and Nigel Unwin ’s footsteps,” he says. “With help from Yoshinori Fujiyoshi , then at the Protein Engineer- ing Research Institute in Osaka, in 1994 Werner and I were able to solve the LHC-II structure at 3.4 Å resolution. The resolution was high enough to allow us to trace the amino acid side chains and to visualize a dozen chlorophyll and two lutein molecules, which told us a lot about how plants harvest sunlight for photosynthesis.” Reinhart Reithmeier from the University of To- ronto introduced Wang to membrane transport- ers. “While I was still working on the structure of LHC-II in Werner’s lab at EMBL, Reinhart came to Heidelberg to visit. Over a beer, Reinhart convinced me that membrane transporters, par- ticularly his favorite, the anion exchanger 1 (AE1), would be worthy targets for structure determina- tion,” he shares. “After returning to Toronto, he started shipping purified AE1 samples to Heidel- berg. I did manage to get a low-resolution EM structure of AE1. When I left Werner’s group to start my own lab at NYU, he generously let me take the project with me. Since then, my lab has been focusing on membrane transporters.” Over the years, members of Wang’s lab have crystallized and solved the atomic structures of a number of proteins. “One of them is the glycerol-3-phosphate transporter structure that we solved in 2003 — one of the first two structures determined from the major facilitator superfam- ily (MFS) — the other one by the lab of Ron Kaback at UCLA. The MFS family is the largest secondary transporter family; the human genome

contains over 100 members and E. coli more than 70. These members transport anything small and hydrophilic across the cell membrane. Our crystal structure helped a lot of investigators with work on their favorite MFS proteins,” he explains. Another was the bacterial dicarboxylate transporter VcIN- DY, the human homolog of which is involved in epilepsy in newborns and obesity in adults. “With such structural information in hand, we often collaborate with friends who use complementary techniques to look at the system from multiple angles, which is great fun,” Wang says. Joanne Lemieux , University of Alberta, was Wang’s first research technician, who helped him set up his lab at NYU in 1995. After working together for two years, he supported her decision to pursue a PhD, and she became his first PhD student. “Da-Neng’s most memorable quality is his car- ing attitude for his team of people in the lab. He fostered teamwork and collaborative learning,” she shares. He also taught Lemieux a valuable lesson that has helped her throughout her career. “As a junior scientist I was often caught up in the details of the methodologies, but his most sage advice was to focus on the bigger picture,” she says. “He en- couraged me to ask what contribution my research was making to the field.” Going forward, Wang hopes that his lab will help find ways to apply single-particle cryo-EM struc- ture determination to small proteins. In addition, he and several labs from different areas of biophys- ics have come together to explore how membrane transporters work in real time — to push their understanding to a level similar to that of ion channels. Outside of the lab, Wang enjoys spending time with his family and participating in less-than- adventurous hobbies. “I wish I could say that I climbed Everest or have run a marathon, but my life is a lot less exciting,” he jokes. “I do enjoy travel and seeing different parts of the world. On weekends, I hike a bit in New Jersey or upstate New York. During my daily commute to work, I read history books and biographies, both science and non-science related ones. Of course, I also like art. All crystallographers like art.”

Wang relaxing with his younger son in upstate New York.

Profilee-at-a-Glance Institution New York University

Area of Research To understand how

membrane transporters work in atomic detail.

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Public Affairs

NDD United Releases New Report on the Impact of Budget Cuts In an effort to move Congress away from addi- tional cuts to nondefense programs and toward a bipartisan deal to raise the budget caps, NDD United, of which the Biophysical Society is a member, released a report in October entitled, Faces of Austerity 2.0: How Budget Cuts Continue to Make Us Sicker, Poorer, and Less Secure . This report details the impact of sequester-level funding on key non-defense discretionary programs. This online report can be found at www.raisethecaps.org. Representative Lamar Smith Announces Retirement Chairman of the US House Science and Technol- ogy Committee, Lamar Smith (R-TX), announced that he will not seek reelection and will retire from Congress at the end of his term. Smith has served two terms as the Chairman and would not be able to continue to serve in that capacity due to term limits set by members of the Republican Party in the House. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced a bill that would add to federal peer review panels, members of the public and scientists from unrelated disci- plines to the research being reviewed. Paul believes that these additions are necessary to ensure that federally funded research is in the taxpayers’ inter- est; he sees a conflict in interest in having only scientists from the same field review proposals. The bill would also discontinue allowing appli- cants to suggest a review panel for their proposal or to ask that proposals not be reviewed by certain people. It would make changes to the Office of the Inspector General at the National Science Foundation, renaming it the Office of the Inspec- Senator Paul Proposes Changes to Peer Review

US Federal Budget News Funding for US Government Set to Expire December 8 The continuing resolution that is currently fund- ing the US federal government at Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 levels is set to expire on December 8. Congress must either pass another continuing resolution or a budget for FY 2018 to keep the government operating past this date. In early November, the Biophysical Society — along with other biomedical research organiza- tions — sent a letter to the Congressional leader- ship thanking them for “maintaining the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a key national priority” and urging “enactment of a bicameral, bipartisan budget agreement that raises the spend- ing caps and enables a $36.1 billion investment in NIH in FY 2018, as approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.” Be sure to check the BPS website for updates on the FY 2018 budget! Congress Passes FY 2019 Budget Resolution that Includes Future Cuts to NDD Programs In order to pave the way for tax reform, Congress passed a budget resolution for FY 2019 in Octo- ber, something they historically have done in the spring (but recently have done in the summer or not at all!). The resolution keeps federal funding for nondefense discretionary (NDD) programs flat for FY 2019, and then reduces funding over the next decade by $600 billion. These cuts would be deeper and last longer than those that were in- cluded in the Budget Control Act of 2013, which put sequestration into play. The “savings” will be used to offset the cost of tax reform measures being considered by Congress. The budget resolu- tion does not require approval of the President; it is a mechanism used by Congress to set its top line spending level for each year.

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tor General and Taxpayer Advocate for Research. The bill had not been scheduled to be considered by a committee as of press time. US Plans to Continue to Support UNESCO Science Programs after Withdrawal On October 12, 2017, the Trump administra- tion announced that the United States would withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), citing “mounting arrears at UNESCO, the need for fundamental reform in the organization, and continuing anti-Israel bias.” The United States had discontinued funding for the organization in

2011 but has remained involved and now plans to pursue non-member observer status so that it can continue to contribute to UNESCO work. While the decision to withdrawal has nothing to do with the scientific work undertaken by UNESCO, there is concern that withdrawal by the United States will hinder international scientific collaboration. According to the UNESCO web- site, “UNESCO is responsible for coordinating international cooperation in education, science, culture and communication.” The organiza- tion has played a role in the development of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), which hosts the Large Hadron Collider, for example.

Biophysics has impacted the world in many big and important ways. From advances in human health and developing sustainable energy sources, to increasing our basic understanding of life and how it has evolved, biophysics has made huge contributions to science. We’d like to hear from our members on what you think the most important discoveries, breakthroughs, and inventions in the field have been over the last 10 years. Let us know what you think by taking this survey. The results of the survey will be compiled, and members will vote during Biophysics Week 2018 on which discoveries they think are the most important breakthroughs.

Help us show the world how biophysics impacts everyone! Take the survey at:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2N8K3RN

Survey Deadline: January 31, 2018.

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Publications BJ – Know the Editors James Cole

molecules and distinguish between host and viral RNAs? Our recent studies demonstrate how single stranded regions can contribute to PKR binding and activation by short duplexes. Surprisingly, we found that PKR can even bind single-stranded RNAs lacking any secondary structure, albeit with lower affinity. We identified a basic region in PKR as the single-stranded RNA binding site. This is an exciting observation that suggests a mechanism for how PKR cooperatively interacts with single- and double-stranded regions present in RNA activa- tors. We are now working to test this model and to define the structure of a complex of PKR with single-stranded RNA. Q. What have you read lately that you found really interesting or stimulating? (a paper, a book, science or not science) I recently read Madeline Albright ’s autobiography, Madam Secretary . She has led a fascinating life and describes the improbable series of events that led from growing up in communist-controlled Czechoslovakia to serving as Secretary of State un- der Bill Clinton . Her book provides a candid and personal account of how high-stakes diplomatic negotiations really work.

University of Connecticut Editor, Proteins

James Cole

Q. What are you currently working on that excites you? I am interested in how the innate immunity system recognizes molecules that signal the pres- ence of a pathogen. There are several receptors that bind RNAs produced by viruses and initiate an antiviral response. How are they activated? Could we develop methods to modulate these receptors to create novel antiviral drugs? A key component of this pathway is protein kinase R (PKR). Although PKR was originally classified as a double-stranded RNA binding protein, we now appreciate that it is regulated by a variety of host and viral RNAs with complex secondary and tertiary structures. How does PKR recognize these

BPS Now Accepting 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? Contact visit http://ioppublishing.org/biophysical-society-ebooks/ or, to sim- ply discuss your idea for an ebook, contact Jessica Fricchione at 215/627-0880 or Jessica.Fricchione@iop.org.

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Members in the News

Jolanda van der Velden , Vrije University Medical Center and Society member since 2005, received the International Society for Heart Research (ISHR) Outstanding Investigator Award.

Charles Lieber , Harvard University and Society member since 2011, was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, and was awarded the NIH Director's Pioneer Award.

Jolanda van der Velden

Charles Lieber

David Eisner , University of Manchester and Society member since 1993, was awarded the ISHR Peter Harris Distin- guished Scientist Award.

Frances Separovic , University of Melbourne and Society member since 1985, was elect- ed an Ordinary Member (Physical Sciences) of Council of the Australian Academy of Science.

David Eisner

Frances Separovic

Daniel Chiu , University of Washington and Society member since 2004, was awarded an NIH Director's Transfor- mative Research Award.

Daniel Chiu

The following members were elected as Fellows to the Society for Mathematical Biology:

Leah Edelstein-Keshet , University of British Columbia and Society member since 2007. Santiago Schnell , University of Michigan and Society member since 2009. John J. Tyson (not pictured), Virginia Tech and Society member since 2011.

Leah Edelstein- Keshet

Santiago Schnell

The following members received NIH Director's New Innovator Awards:

Hernan Garcia , University of California, Berkeley, and Society member since 2004. Joanna Slusky , University of Kansas and Society member since 2007. Huanghe Yang , Duke University Medical Center and Society member since 2004.

Hernan Garcia Joanna Slusky

Huanghe Yang

In 2017, BPS funded 220 travel awards to attend society-sponsored meetings, totaling $104,050. Numbers By the

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Emerging Concepts in Ion Channel Biophysics Thematic Meeting

This past October, Mexico City hosted a very stimulating BPS Thematic Meeting, with the support of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACyT). With ap- proximately 160 attendees, the Emerging Concepts in Ion Channel Biophysics meeting saw the partici- pation of researchers from 15 countries who pre- sented cutting-edge research on subjects related to the structure, regulation, and function of diverse ion channels and transporters, and classic and novel methods used to study these proteins. The meeting was held in an eighteenth century palace set right next to the Old Aztec Temple of the historical center of Mexico City. There, re- searchers at different stages of their careers listened to outstanding leaders in the field of ion channel biophysics present 37 talks by invited speakers and presenters selected from submitted abstracts. During the poster sessions, the participants visited

74 posters presented by students, postdocs, and established scientists. Discussion was lively and many attendees established future collaborations. The meeting showed that the field of ion channels is as vibrant as ever and poised to be revolution- ized by new exciting technical advances. The strength of these thematic meetings is the convening of scientists from disparate fields to discuss topics of interest in an ambience that pro- motes close, informal discussion and that includes researchers at the beginning of their careers, as well as leaders in the field. This provides estab- lished researchers, postdocs, and students with a great opportunity to enrich their knowledge and perspective as well as to foster international collab- oration. For the organizers, Tamara Rosenbaum , León Islas , and Froylán Gómez from UNAM, this was a fantastic opportunity to help project the beauty of the study of ion channels and to pro- mote the development of biophysics in Mexico.

BE A

JUDGE Interested in helping the next generation learn about biophysics? Volunteer to judge at your local science fair and choose a student to win an award for the best biophysics-related proj- ect. BPS will provide funding for a student award for every regional or state fair where a BPS member wishes to judge and choose a winner. Award amounts are typically $100. Visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ScienceFairs-18 and fill out the form at least three

weeks prior to the event to have BPS sponsor an award at your local fair. Contact Caitlin Simpson at SciFairs@biophysics.org with questions.

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BJ Poster Award Winners

as the Basis for Targeting Allosteric Modulation Sites for Drug Design Leticia Stock, Universidad de Brasilia, Brasilia, DF, Brazil Molecular Insights into Kv1.2 Channel Modulation by General Anesthetic Sevoflurane Post docs Marisol Sampedra Castenada, MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Institute of Neu- rology, London, United Kingdom Gating Modifier Toxins as Hits for Developing Blockers of Nav1.4 Sodium Channel Omega Cur- rents: Domain I-specific Effect of Spider Toxin Hm-3 David Baez-Nieto, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts The T-type Calcium Channel CaV3.3 (CACNA1I) and Schizophrenia: A Case Study in What We Can Learn from Human Population Genetics to Un- derstand Structure-Function Relationships in Ion Channels

Left to right, Marisol Sampedra Castenada, Leticia Stock, Marc A. Dämgen, and David Baez-Nieto.

The Biophysical Journal sponsored a poster com- petition at the Mexico City Thematic Meeting. Two student and two postdoctoral winners were selected. Congratulations to these young scientists! Students Marc A. Dämgen , University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom Studying Protein-Lipid Interactions of a Pentameric Ligand-gated Ion Channel in a Synaptic Membrane

New at the 2018 Annual Meeting!

DataVisualization Monday, February 19, 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

This interactive session will focus on how to best represent your data visually, whether for a talk, a poster, or publishing a paper. Different types of data require different approaches to presentation while the emergence of new ways to publish and present results are challenging traditional ways of showcasing outcomes and data. New tools and approaches are now enhancing how we interact with our data. How to determine the best approach, summarize complex material in easily digest- ible forms, and why simpler is better will all be discussed. Datasets and real examples of visual interpretations by participants will be discussed.

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Late Abstracts Deadline Deadline: January 15

Abstracts Programmed Following the regular abstract deadline, members of the Program Committee and Council reviewed and sorted submitted abstracts, which were pro- grammed into 20 symposia, 4 workshops, 64 plat- forms, and 134 poster sessions. Nearly 700 posters will be presented each day of the meeting.

Thank you to our sponsors:

AAT Bioquest Allen Institute for Cell Science ALVEOLE Asylum Research, an Oxford Instruments Company Bruker Corporation Burroughs Wellcome Fund Carl Zeiss Microscopy Cell Press Cellular Dynamics International Chroma Technology Corporation Dynamic Biosensors GmbH FUJIFILM Dimatix Inc HEKA Elektronik HORIBA Scientific Journal of General Physiology KinTek Corporation LUMICKS B.V. Mad City Labs Malvern Instruments Ltd MDPI Molecular Devices Nanion Technologies GmbH Pall Fortebio Photonics Media Physics Today Princeton University Press Sophion Bioscience A/S Sutter Instrument TA Instruments Wyatt Technology

Late abstracts for the 2018 BPS Annual Meeting are now being accepted. All late abstracts will be posted online in a searchable format through the online itinerary planner and the meeting app. Late abstracts will be programmed each day of the meet- ing and grouped by topic to correspond with the presentations of abstracts submitted by the Octo- ber 2 deadline.

Calling All Bloggers! Deadline to apply: January 15 Add Your Perspectives on the Meeting Interested in sharing your experiences at the Annual Meeting? Enjoy writing

or interested in expanding your writing experi- ence? BPS is looking for five to ten bloggers to share their personal experiences at the meeting with the Society’s 3,500-plus blog readers. Blog posts could focus on meeting tips, must-go-to events, the best local eateries, how you are navigat- ing the meeting, or what you have learned! You can review posts from the 2017 meeting at https:// biophysicalsociety.wordpress.com/category/annual- meeting-2017/. To learn more and submit your application, visit https://www.surveymonkey. com/r/BPSblogger2018. Student Volunteers The Biophysical Society invites undergraduate and graduate students to volunteer time at the Annual Meeting in exchange for complimentary meeting registration. Volunteers must be Society members with registration fully paid and must be willing to volunteer for six hours during the meeting. To apply, please send an e-mail to meetings@biophys- ics.org by December 15, 2017, with the follow- ing information: full name, cell phone number, and complete list of dates/times available. Those selected will have their registration refunded after the meeting.

The Society would like to thank the Program Committee, Council, and the many other Society members who participate in the planning, review- ing, sorting, and programming each year. Their work ensures that the final program reflects the breadth of research areas in biophysics with as few programming conflicts as possible, given the volume and richness of the scientific program. The 2018 Annual Meeting Program Committee mem- bers are Anne Kenworthy , Francesca Marassi , Olga Boudker , Samantha Harris , Michael Pusch , David W. Piston , and Catherine A. Royer . Society mem- bers James Sellers , Ana Maria Soto , Dorothy Beckett , Kalina Hristova , and Andrej Sali also assisted Anne Kenworthy and Francesa Marassi with the program- ming this year. Left to right, 2018 Program Chairs Francesca Marassi and Anne Kenworthy along with Society members Dorothy Beckett, James Sellers, Andrej Sali, Kalina Hristova, and Anna Maria Soto finalize the programming of symposia and platform ses- sions for the 2018 San Francisco meeting.

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Fueling Discovery through Biophysics

Education Events Undergraduate Student Mixer and Poster Award Competition Saturday, February 17, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Poster Printing Looking for an easy way to have your poster printed and delivered directly to the Moscone Center for onsite pickup? BPS is working with Tray Printing to simplify poster print- ing and allow you to pick up your poster onsite. Visit www. biophysics.org/2017meeting and click on 'Abstracts,' then 'Poster Guidelines' for more information. A discount is avail- able to those who submit their printing request on or before February 8, 2018.

If you’re an undergraduate student, plan on attending this social and scientific mixer! Come meet other undergraduates and learn about their research projects. For undergraduate students who will be presenting during the meeting's sci- entific sessions, the mixer provides an opportunity to hone presentation skills before the general poster sessions begin. Undergraduates listed as co-authors on posters are welcome to practice their poster presentation skills in a less formal set- ting, even if not listed as the presenting author. Additionally, undergrads presenting as first or second author on a poster may participate in the Undergraduate Poster Award Compe- tition. Three students will be selected for a $100 award, and to receive recognition prior to the 2018 National Lecture. Registration is required by January 15. Registration details are available on the Annual Meeting website. This free day for San Francisco Bay area college students at the BPS 62nd Annual Meeting kicks off with the Undergrad- uate Student Pizza “Breakfast” where participants will have an opportunity to network with their peers and members of the Biophysical Society’s Education Committee in a fun and relaxed environment. The breakfast will include a panel discussion on academic and career paths in biophysics, with opportunities for questions and answers from the audience. Come prepared to find out about the course of study that aspiring biophysicists undertake, what it means to be a bio- physicist, and how biophysicists make important discoveries. Students will also receive information and advice on how to get the most out of attending the Annual Meeting. Attendees will be permitted to attend any of the meeting's open sessions and activities for the full day, including the Graduate & Post- doc Institution Fair where they can meet with representatives of, and learn about, programs from all over the country. Colleges in the Community Day Sunday, February 18, 11:30 am – 5:00 pm

“ I always leave the BPS Annual Meeting encouraged and stimulated. This community of scientists is about learning and supporting each other. Everyone seems to desire the same thing...progress and learning. ”

— Otonye Braide-Moncoeur

biophysics.org/ 2018meeting

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Local undergraduate students, and their profes- sors/PIs, residing within a 25-mile radius of the San Francisco who are not presenting an abstract or listed on an abstract being presented at this meeting may register for this event and gain FREE access to all Annual Meeting sessions on Sunday, February 18, 2018. Registration is required for both students and their professors/PIs. Register by Monday, January 15, 2018. There will be no on-site registration for this event. Registration details are available on the Annual Meeting website. Biophysics 101: Mechanobiology Monday, February 19, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Mechanobiology is an emerging field of bio- physical research that focuses on understanding the mechanical basis of cell function. It includes studying the force-induced and tensional changes that occur within cells and between cells and their environment, and the mechanotransduction of cellular signals that lead to cell motility and induce changes during differentiation. The speak- ers in this session will discuss the mechanobiology of single molecules, migrating cells, and sheets of cells during embryogenesis, and the methods that they use in their studies.

Speed Networking Monday, February 19, 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Career development and networking is important in science, but can be a big time commitment. Here we offer refreshments and the chance to speed network, an exciting way to connect with a large number of biophysicists (including Bio- physical Society committee members) in a short amount of time. Mid-career and more experienced scientists could learn how to get more involved in the Society or network for open positions in their labs. Early career scientists could discuss career goals and challenges, get advice on tenure or grant writing, or find out how to gain recognition for their work. Graduate students and postdocs could make contacts to find their next position. After introductions, each person will have short 3-5 minute meetings with consecutive new contacts. During this time you can exchange information and ask questions. When time is up, you select the next person to talk to. By the end of the event, each participant will have had meaningful interac- tions with over half a dozen colleagues and the op- portunity to meet many more. It's that simple! See the Annual Meeting website for pre-registration. The registration deadline is January 15, 2018.

Green Cards for Scientific Researchers: How to Win Your EB-1A/NIW Case! with Getson & Schatz Brian Getson is a leading US immigration lawyer who represents scientific researchers in applying for green cards in the EB-1A, EB- 1B and NIW categories. Learn about the US immigration process and how to maximize your chances of immigration success during his workshop on Sunday, February 18, 10:30am–11:30am. He will answer questions and provide free legal consultations after the presentation and throughout BPS 2018 in the Career Development Center.

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Career Development Center Career consultants Andrew Green and Alaina Levine will lead workshops and provide one-on-one career counseling sessions in the Career Center from Saturday, February 17, through Tuesday, February 20. Registration is required for the limited number of one-on-one career counseling sessions. You can sign up for these appoint- ments onsite at the meeting beginning Saturday afternoon, February 17.

4:00pm – 5:00pm

Translating Your Credentials:Writing Effective Resumes, Cover Letters, and your LinkedIn Profile (Andrew Green)

One-on-One Resume and Career Counseling 8:30am – 1:00pm | 2:30pm – 6:00pm Monday, February 19 Workshops: 10:00am – 11:00am Demystifying the Academic Job Search II: Preparing yourWritten Application Materials: CV, Cover Letter, and Research Statement (Andrew Green) 11:30am – 12:30pm Networking for Nerds: How to Create Your Dream Career (Alaina Levine) 2:30pm – 3:30pm Nailing the Job Talk, or Erudition Ain’t Enough (Andrew Green) 4:00pm – 5:00pm Careers in Entrepreneurship (Spoiler Alert: There’s more here than launching your own start-up!) (Alaina Levine)

CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE: Saturday, February 17 Workshop: 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Going Live: Preparing for Interviews in Industry and Academia (Andrew Green)

One-on-One Resume and Career Counseling 1:00pm – 2:20pm | 4:30pm – 5:30pm Sunday, February 18 Workshops: 9:00am – 10:00am

One-on-One Resume and Career Counseling 8:30am –12:30pm | 2:00pm – 5:20pm Tuesday, February 20 Workshops: 9:30am – 10:30am

Networking for Nerds: Getting the Most out of the BPS Annual Meeting (Alaina Levine)

Looking Beyond Academia: Identify- ing Your Career Options using MyIDP, LinkedIn &More (Andrew Green)

10:30am – 11:30am Green Cards for Scientific Researchers: How to win your EB-1A/NIW Case! with Getson & Schatz, PC (Brian Getson) 12:00pm – 1:00pm

11:30am – 12:30pm

Evaluating a Job Offer (Alaina Levine)

Demystifying the Academic Job Search I: Understanding the Search Process from the Perspective of Search Committees and Decoding Job Announcements (Andrew Green)

2:30pm – 3:30pm

Going Live: Preparing for Interviews in Industry and Academia (Andrew Green)

One-on-One Resume and Career Counseling 8:00am – 12:00pm | 2:00pm – 5:00pm

2:30pm – 3:30pm

Evaluating a Job Offer (Alaina Levine)

Registration is not required for the workshops, but please show up on time!

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2017

BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

DECEMBER

Student Center Suleyman Bozal

From the BPS Blog http://biophysicalsociety.wordpress.com

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

The Biophysical Society is committed to leading the development and dissemination of knowledge in bio- physics. It does so through its many programs, includ- ing its meetings, publications, and committee outreach activities. Consider making a donation to your society today! * Your donation will help: •Fund travel awards and grants •Provide bridging funds We spoke to Biophysical Society council member Joanna Swain, Bristol-Myers Squibb, about her research, meeting her heroes, and what she loves about living in New England. https://biophysicalsociety.wordpress. com/2017/11/10/get-to-know-joanna-swain-bps- council-member/ Importance of Biophysics in Breast Cancer Progression October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States. We spoke with University of California, San Diego, graduate student Pranjali Beri and her Principal Investigator, BPS member Adam J. Engler , about their research on breast can- cer and other epithelial-based cancers. https://biophysicalsociety.wordpress. com/2017/10/11/importance-of-biophysics-in- breast-cancer-progression/ Get to Know: Joanna Swain, BPS Council Member

University of Connecticut

Suleyman Bozal

Q: What has been your favorite course while studying biophysics? Why?

My favorite course while studying biophysics has been Genetics with Dr. Mark Longo . Al- though introductory, this class has provided the framework with which I am able to ask ques- tions involving the complexities of our genome, as well as the genetic underpinnings of disease. The lectures included content involving recent advancements in genome editing and epigenetic regulation. Coupled with more advanced courses and lectures, including the Summer Program in Biophysics, this course has given me the motiva- tion to pursue biophysical answers to questions in translational science.

•Support and promote local networking activities •Support BPS outreach and STEM education activities Donate today at biophysics.org/donate *All donations are tax deductible and you will receive a receipt immediately after making your donation.

Biophysical Society Thematic Meeting

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BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

2017

DECEMBER

The Heart by Numbers: Integrating Theory, Computation and Experiment to Advance Cardiology

September 4–7, 2018 | Berlin, Germany

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Martin Falcke , Max Delbruck Center Berlin, Germany Gernot Plank , Medical University of Graz, Austria Zhilin Qu , University of California, Los Angeles, USA Karin Sipido , University of Leuven, Belgium James Weiss , University of California, Los Angeles, USA SPEAKERS Donald Bers , University of California, Davis, USA Colleen Clancy , University of California, Davis, USA Pieter de Tombe , Loyola University Chicago, USA Emilia Entcheva , George Washington University, USA Julia Gorelik , Imperial College London, United Kingdom Jonathan Lederer , University of Maryland, USA Molly Maleckar , Allen Institute, USA Andrew McCulloch , University of California, San Diego, USA Steven Niederer , King’s College London, United Kingdom Brian O’Rourke , Johns Hopkins University, USA Sasha Panfilov , Gent University, Belgium John Rice , IBMThomas J. Watson Research Center, USA Yohannes Shiferaw , California State University, Northridge, USA Christian Soeller , University of Exeter, United Kingdom Natalia Trayanova , Johns Hopkins University, USA Isabelle van Gelder , University of Groningen, Netherlands Edward Vigmond , University of Bordeaux, France Alexandra Zahradnikova , SlovakAcademy of Sciences, Slovakia

The focus on mathematical and biophysical models coupled with experiments sets this meeting apart from cardiological and biological meetings. The meet- ing will be highly interdisciplinary with contributions from medicine, biology, physics, bioengineering, and mathematics. Specifically, topics will include: • Cell level: modelling of excitation contraction coupling, sarcomere models, metabolic modelling, ROS signalling, spatially resolved models and subcellular structures; • Hemodynamics: flow in atria and ventricles, aortic flow, valve stenosis replacement, stenting; • Organ level: Electrophysiology, Mechanics, total heart function, personalization; • Modelling diseases: arrhythmia, antitachypacing and defibrillation, Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

Abstract Submission Deadline: May 7, 2018

Early Registration Deadline: June 4, 2018

For more information, visit www.biophysics.org/2018Berlin

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2017

BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

DECEMBER

Molly Cule How to Prepare for an Academic Job Interview

meetings with faculty, make sure that you know their work in advance. Look at their website or read a paper so that you have a talking point. Before an in-person interview, call your host and ask questions about the visit. What is the depart- ment colloquium environment like? Do you have a chalk-talk? What is the format for the chalk-talk? What are potential pitfalls? Based upon my appli- cation, are you aware of any concerns that I should address during the interview? Remember that almost everyone is “on your side” during an inter- view — they are looking for someone to succeed. The research talk or colloquium is probably the most important part of the interview. You cannot practice your research talk too many times. Your talk must focus not only on what you’ve done, but also on where you are going. Spend the last 5–10 minutes of your talk on your future plans. Have clean, clear slides and tell a good story. The Q&A time after your talk is equally as important as the talk itself, so don’t let down your guard. Always repeat the question back to the questioner, to make sure you understand the question. You can also rephrase the question to something you do know the answer to, if you are stumped. Finally, be liberal with your acknowledgements, always project a happy and confident demeanor, and don’t forget to smile! If you are asked to give a chalk talk, the goal is to talk informally about your long-term goals. Try to have three long-term aims. It is worth working on your chalk (or dry-erase) board handwriting prior to interviewing. Be prepared to answer questions about funding and where you see yourself in 5 to 10 years. Make sure that you keep control of the board, and if you get stuck on one topic, switch to one of your other aims. For more on chalk talks, read my column in the October 2017 issue of the Newsletter . Finally, after you leave the interview, send thank you notes (email is fine in this day and age). Some will respond, others will not — but everyone notic- es the gesture. And don’t forget the administrative staff who put your visit together! — Molly Cule

First of all, congrats on getting to the stage of your career where you are being invited to academic interviews! The academic interview circuit can require you to prepare for a number of different situations during the interview process: a phone or Skype call, individual meetings, a research talk, a chalk-talk, and teaching a course. I’ll briefly out- line a general strategy for each of these situations. At all stages of the interview process, your three goals should be to: (1) promote your exciting work, (2) present yourself as a great potential colleague, and (3) make sure this is a place where you’d want to work. The people interviewing you are looking for someone doing exciting work, a great colleague (fun to talk to, creative, rigorous thinker, broad interests, respectful of students and staff), and someone who brings complementary expertise to their department. You, on the other hand, need to make sure they provide the necessary resources for you to succeed, have good opportu- nities for collaboration, have happy and brilliant students, good teaching opportunities, and ideally, programs in place to promote your work-life bal- ance. Interviews go both ways; don’t forget that during this process. For a Skype interview, find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted. Make sure there is nothing behind where you are sitting. Practice looking at the camera directly, not at your computer screen. Eye contact is important! If you can, find some friends to do a practice Skype session. For both the Skype interview and any on-site individual meetings you have, almost all interviews start out with “tell me about yourself.” Have a two-to-three minute description of who you are and what you do down pat. Poise is very important at all phases in the interview, but you especially want to start off looking polished. After that, be prepared to answer and ask questions about science, teach- ing philosophy, the department, the school, etc. Before you interview, look up the school’s mission statement and any information you can find about the department so that you can talk about how you would fit into the department and help fulfill the mission statement of the school. For individual

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BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

2017

DECEMBER

Grants and Opportunities i i

CVR-VISTA Vision Science Summer School, 2018 Objective: The Centre for Vision Research (CVR) at York University in Toronto, Canada, offers a one-week, all-expenses-paid undergraduate summer school on vision science, in cooperation with the Vision: Science to Applications (VISTA) initiative. This year's program will be held June 4–8, 2018. Who May Apply: Undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in scientific research. It is mainly for those who are planning to apply to graduate school in the fall of 2018. Citizens of all countries are eligible. Promoting Research in Basic Neuroscience (R01) Objective: The goal of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to stimulate research addressing fundamental questions in basic neuroscience. A more complete understanding of the structure and function of the normal nervous system will benefit the entire neuroscience com- munity. This FOA is aimed exclusively at stimulat- ing fundamental basic neuroscience research. Who May Apply: Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/ Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Deadline: March 1, 2018 Website: http://www.yorku.ca/cvrss/poster2018. pdf

Special issue Reconstituting cell biology Guest edited by Manuel Théry (HôpitalStLouis,ParisandCEA,Grenoble) Submission deadline: 15th February 2018 Call for papers JournalofCellScience ispleasedtowelcomesubmissions forthisupcoming special issue.WeencouragesubmissionsofResearchArticles,ShortReports andTools&Resourcespapers.Thisspecial issue is intendedtohaveabroad scope,soweareopentoarticles fromawidespectrumofareas. Allspecial issuepaperswillbepublishedshortlyafteracceptance,and collectedtogether inaspecial issuescheduled forrelease inearly2019.

Deadline: February 5, 2018

Website: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa- files/PAS-15-029.html

Connect with BPS

Find out more at: http://jcs.biologists.org/content/call-papers-reconstituting-cell-biology