Synopsis: The Physical Cell Biology Subgroup of the Biophysical Society is hosting a virtual mini symposium aimed at connecting early career researchers who apply physical principles to gain a deeper mechanistic understanding of cell biology at different spatiotemporal scales. This symposium will showcase presentations by young researchers who who are utilizing theory, computation, and experiments to investigate the structure, dynamics, and interactions of cells in physiological contexts. The objective is to encourage collaborative interactions between theoretical and experimental approaches in order to advance the field. The talks are based on the abstracts submitted for the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting February 2023, which did not have the chance of oral presentation but carries the promise of creativity and vigor in applying physical principles to gain deeper mechanistic insights of cell biology. This event is part of the Physical Cell Biology Subgroup's initiatives to promote the visibility, breadth, and networking opportunities for young researchers in this field.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Rebecca Rousseau, Graduate Student, Caltech. “Bifurcation and multistability in three-gene-driven network models”
• Siarhei Hladyshau, Graduate Student, Georgia Institute of Technology. “Reaction-diffusion model of Rho-GTPase signaling quantitatively reproduces different types of complex actin dynamics”
• Gillian McMahon, Graduate Student, UC San Diego. “4D mitochondrial biophysical parameters predict cell type in human organoid tissue”
• Jeremy Copperman, Postdoc, Oregon Health and Science University. “Recovering hidden information from live-cell trajectories to predict the biological pathway activity underlying cell state change decisions”
• Giulia Ammirati, Graduate Student, ETH Zurich. “Compression force induces transient actomyosin activation and compression-time dependent stiffening in cells”
• Adam Hendricks, Associate Professor, McGill University. “Optogenetic control of kinesins and dynein reveals their specific roles in vesicular transport”
• Shannon Yan, Postdoc, UC Berkeley. “Do cell membranes support or resist tension propagation?”