Fang Huang, Chair (2024-2025)

Allison Squires, Chair-Elect (2024-2025)

Quan Wang, Secretary-Treasurer (2024-2026)

Abdullahi Aborade, Graduate Student Representative (2024-2025)

Sangwoo Park, Postdoc Student Representative (2024-2025)

Nanoscale Biophysics Bylaws

Article I

Purpose: The purpose of the Nanoscale Approaches to Biology Subgroup (formerly Nanoscale Biophysics) is to advance the field of nanoscale biophysics through the exchange of information, ideas, and innovative techniques operating at the scale of nanometers to tens of nanometers. The Group also seeks to serve as a mentoring platform for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty, both through the knowledge shared and their involvement in Group activities.

Article II
Membership: Members of the Biophysical Society may join the Nanoscale Approaches to Biology Subgroup; non-members of the Biophysical Society are welcome to attend Nanoscale Approaches to Biology Subgroup symposia but are unable to join the Subgroup, serve as Officers of the Subgroup, or vote. Subgroup members may submit via email, by October 15, the abstract of one graduate student or postdoctoral fellow to the Executive Committee for consideration as an oral presentation at the next Subgroup meeting. Each Subgroup member is limited to one abstract submission each year. 

Article III

Dissolution: The Nanoscale Approaches to Biology Subgroup must be in accordance with the Biophysical Society’s constitution and bylaws, mission, values, goals, and operational guidelines. If the subgroup is found in violation of their bylaws or Society’s guidelines, the group will be placed on probation and may be dissolved at the discretion of the Council of the Biophysical Society.

Article IV

Meetings: Business meetings shall be held in connection with the annual scientific meeting of the Biophysical Society. Five percent of the members of the Nanoscale Approaches to Biology Subgroup or 10 members, whichever is smaller, shall constitute a quorum. Scientific meetings shall be held in association with the annual Biophysical Society meetings, and must follow the guidelines established by the BPS Council. A minimum of 30 days’ notice of the Annual Meeting, such as publication in the Biophysical Society Newsletter, must be given for new business requiring a vote of Subgroup members.

Group members attending an Annual Meeting may transact Subgroup business by a simple majority vote.

Article V

Officers: The Officers of the Subgroup will be the current Subgroup Chair, the Chair-elect, the two previous Past-chairs, and the Secretary-Treasurer.

Duties of the Subgroup Chair are to plan the agenda and speakers for the next meeting, to advise the Biophysical Society of the activities and needs of the Subgroup, to advise the Society on matters related to nanoscale biophysics, and any other activities the Chair deems to be beneficial to the Subgroup and the Society.

Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer are to maintain adequate records of membership and finances and to conduct necessary correspondence and to submit items about the Subgroup to the Biophysical Society newsletter and/or Website.

The Subgroup Chair will serve for four years:  one as Chair-Elect, one as Chair, and two as Past-Chair. There is two-year term of office for the Secretary-Treasurer.
 

Article VI

Executive Committee: The Executive Committee will be responsible for fulfilling the scientific and business obligations of the group. The Executive Committee will consist of the Chair, Chair-Elect, Immediate Past Chair, and the Secretary-Treasurer. One graduate student and one postdoctoral fellow will be non-voting participants at the meeting of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have the power to conduct business by means of electronic vote. The affairs of the Subgroup shall be handled by the Officers in accordance with the policies determined by the Executive Committee and the Biophysical Society Council.

Article VII

Nominating Committee: The members of the Executive Committee shall constitute the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee is responsible for soliciting nominations from subgroup membership and for preparing the final slate of candidates. Nominations will be received electronically up to one month prior to the Subgroup’s business meeting. Nominees must accept their nomination prior to being placed on a ballot. It is the intent of the Group that the Chairperson shall rotate so as to fairly represent the different specialties within the membership.

Article VIII

Eligibility for Office: Only members of the Nanoscale Approaches to Biology Subgroup may be candidates for offices. Members may not be elected to one office more than once every five years.

Article IX
Elections: Elections will be held electronically up to two weeks prior to the Subgroup’s business meeting. The candidates for each office receiving the highest number of votes will be elected. The results will be announced to the Subgroup’s membership during the Subgroup’s business meeting. Officers will take office at the end of the annual business meeting held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Biophysical Society. Interim vacancies in officers or councilors will be filled in accordance with Bylaw Article VII of the Biophysical Society.

Recognizing this as a mentoring opportunity, the Subgroup will elect one graduate student and one postdoctoral fellow as non-voting participants of the Executive Committee. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows interested in participating will indicate their interest to the Nominating Committee.

Article X
Amendments to the Bylaws: Amendments to the bylaws of the Nanoscale Approaches to Biology Subgroup must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Subgroup’s Executive Committee, and ratified in an electronic ballot by a majority of the members of the group. Proposals for new or amended bylaws shall be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer for consideration at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting.

The following word cloud is comprised of the speaker talk titles from our symposia.