BETHESDA, MD – The Biophysical Society is pleased to announce that Sarah Veatch, of the University of Michigan, USA, will receive the 2026 Agnes Pockels Award in Lipids and Membrane Biophysics. Veatch will be honored at the Society’s 70th Annual Meeting, being held in San Francisco, California from February 21-25, 2026.

Veatch is being honored for foundational scientific research understanding the miscibility phase transition and associated critical phenomena in membranes and for the rigorous application of these biophysical concepts to cellular processes.

“Sarah’s contributions to advancing the field of lipids and membrane biophysics epitomizes and expands upon the legacy of Agnes Pockels,” said BPS President Lynmarie Thompson of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “The impact of her research, not only elucidating lipid membrane structure but intricately relating key features to cellular function, establishes her as a leader in this field.”

About the Award - The Agnes Pockels Award in Lipids and Membrane Biophysics, formerly the Avanti Award in Lipids, will be given to an investigator for outstanding contributions to advancing the field of lipids and membrane biophysics. 

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The Biophysical Society, founded in 1958, is a professional, scientific society established to lead an innovative global community working at the interface of the physical and life sciences, across all levels of complexity, and to foster the dissemination of that knowledge. The Society promotes growth in this expanding field through its Annual Meeting, publications, and outreach activities. Its 6,500 members are located throughout the world, where they teach and conduct research in colleges, universities, laboratories, government agencies, and industry.