Each year at the Annual Meeting, we invite a group of attendees to share their experiences and perspectives on the Society's blog. Read about this year's crop of bloggers below, and then follow their adventures here on the blog throughout the meeting. 

Pragya Arora

My name is Pragya Arora, and I am a postdoctoral researcher at Brandeis University in the Fraden Lab. My research focuses on self-assembled biomaterials, particularly using DNA origami and lipid-based systems to study self-organization and dynamic behaviors in soft matter. I am passionate about interdisciplinary science, and my work bridges biophysics, materials science, and nanotechnology. Beyond the lab, I enjoy science communication and have previously engaged in outreach through social media and blogging. I am excited to bring this passion to the BPS blog by sharing highlights from cutting-edge research, engaging discussions, and the vibrant atmosphere of the meeting. Looking forward to connecting with the BPS community in Los Angeles!

 

Mark Bray

I am a third-year graduate student in the Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Chemical Biology group at the University of Pennsylvania. In my research, I combine computational protein design tools with biophysical experiments to design inhibitors targeting the Ebola virus protein, VP35. 

Before joining the Penn community, I earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Professional Writing from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. I then completed a Rosetta Commons Post-baccalaureate Fellowship in the Horowitz Lab at the University of Denver.

Outside of research, I enjoy traveling, photography, and engaging in programs that increase STEM accessibility.

 

Anneliese Gest

I earned my bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Macalester College, where I performed undergraduate research in developing a colorimetric assay for catalytic peptide screening, and discovered a love of chemical biology, analytical methods, and biophysics. I then went to UC Berkeley to pursue a PhD in Evan Miller's lab, focused on using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to quantitatively measure membrane potential using fluorescent dyes. Now I am a postdoctoral fellow in Jin Zhang's lab at UC San Diego, focusing on developing and using fluorescent biosensors, continuing her interest in the chemistry, biology, and physics of fluorescence and its application to tools in biology. I am also passionate about teaching, mentorship, and science communication.

 

Alessia Golluscio

My name is Alessia, and I am a Postdoc in Peter Larsson Lab at Linköping University.

My research focuses on the voltage-gated K+ channel Kv7.1 and its modulation by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Our laboratory aims at finding and testing novel PUFA-like activators to target loss-of-function mutations in Kv7.1 linked to cardiac disorders by utilizing a combination of electrophysiological techniques and MD simulations.

When I am not in the lab running experiments, you will find me working out at the gym, enjoying a cup of coffee with a book in my hand or travelling to exotic islands!

I am beyond excited for the opportunity to be a blogger at the BPS 2025 and I am looking forward to hearing about the latest findings in biophysics and meet new people!

 

Marin Okamoto

I am Marin Okamoto, from Sanyo-Onoda City University, Yamaguchi, Japan. I’m a third-year undergraduate student in the Department of Pharmacy. I am going to be a member of the “Pharmacology for Immune Cells” laboratory from next April. Also, I am a member of the BPS Student Chapter which is the only one in Japan. This is the first time to attend BPS Annual meeting. I’m excited to join the undergraduate breakfast and career fair. 

 

Divya Yadav

Hi! I’m Divya, a PhD student in the Fried Lab at Johns Hopkins University, where I explore the fascinating world of protein folding—a fundamental problem in biophysics with implications for everything from disease to drug design. Originally from India, my scientific journey has been fueled by a deep curiosity about how proteins traverse their intricate energy landscapes to achieve functional structures, with a particular focus on the role of molecular chaperones. Outside the lab, I’m an adventurer at heart—you’ll often find me running, hiking, practicing yoga, or embarking on a quest to discover the finest coffee in town. This year, I’m excited to blog for the BPS Meeting, sharing insights from groundbreaking research, engaging discussions, and the vibrant community that makes biophysics so dynamic. Stay tuned for updates, reflections, whereabouts of best coffee and food and maybe a sprinkle of humor along the way!

 

Feng Yu

I am Feng Yu, a postdoctoral fellow at the SIBYLS Beamline of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. My research focuses on intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and protein biophysics. Intrinsically disordered protein regions constitute about 40% of all protein regions. However, as an assessor in the CASP16 ensemble competition this year, I discovered that there are no machine-learning models that can generate accurate protein ensembles with 6-amino-acid flexible linkers when compared to NMR and SAXS experiments. Thus, I am dedicating my efforts to combining my expertise in biophysics with deep learning to reconstruct protein ensembles from SAXS curves.