BETHESDA, MD – The Biophysical Society is pleased to announce that Cornelis (Cees) Dekker, of Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, will receive the 2026 Kazuhiko Kinosita Award in Single-Molecule Biophysics. Dekker will be honored at the Society’s 70th Annual Meeting, being held in San Francisco, California from February 21-25, 2026.
Dekker is being recognized for groundbreaking contributions to the field of nanobiology and single-molecule biophysics, from nanopores to SMC molecular motors.
“Cees Dekker’s pioneering work in nanotechnology and single-molecule biophysics has made transformative contributions and reshaped our understanding of biology,” said BPS President Lynmarie Thompson of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “He amply embodies the legacy of Professor Kazuhiko Kinosita, whose cross-disciplinary approaches, single-molecule studies, and especially spirit of curiosity, have inspired generations of biophysicists.”
About the Award – The Kazuhiko Kinosita Award in Single-Molecule Biophysics recognizes outstanding researchers for their exceptional contributions in advancing the field of single-molecule biophysics. This award honors the life and work of Professor Kazuhiko Kinosita, Jr., who helped to establish the field. The award is intended to encourage investigators, to promote further developments in single-molecule biophysics, to advance the type of cross-disciplinary research that is characteristic of this field, and to elevate an appreciation of single-molecule studies among scientists in general.
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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.