Single-Molecule Forces, Manipulation, & Visualization Subgroup Bylaws 

Article I 
Purpose: Single-Molecule Forces, Manipulation & Visualization (SMF) Subgroup focuses on the detailed mechanistic research of biomolecular processes using dynamic single-molecule tools that combine force with imaging or optical signals. The Subgroup aims to advance the field of SMF through the presentation of novel findings, and exchange of advances in innovative methods, tools, and assays to tackle all possible steps from experimental design to data analysis. 

Article II 
Membership: Members of the Biophysical Society may join the Single-Molecule Forces, Manipulation, & Visualization Subgroup; non-members of the Biophysical Society are welcome to attend SMF Subgroup symposia but are unable to join the Subgroup, serve as Officers of the Subgroup, or vote.  

Article III
Meetings: Business meetings of the Subgroup membership shall be held in connection with or in close proximity to the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Biophysical Society. If any matters come up that require a vote at any time of year, Subgroup members can transact Subgroup business by a virtual vote. For virtual votes, decisions shall be made by two-thirds of the Subgroup members voting on the measure.

Article IV 

Officers: The officers of the Subgroup will be two Subgroup Co-Chairs and two Co-Chairs-Elect, and past Co-Chairs. Co-Chairs-Elect serve one year in a learning role before becoming Co-Chairs. Co-chairs serve as such for one year, before become past-Co-Chairs for a similar one year term. These positions have the following responsibilities:

Chair & Chair-Elect: As chair, will organize and conduct the annual Subgroup meeting; apprising the Biophysical Society of the activities and needs of the Subgroup; advising the Society on matters related to the Subgroup; promoting and overseeing the Student Research Achievement Award (SRAA) competition; communicating with the Society concerning meeting plans and public communications (flyers, announcements, newsletter reports, etc.); and participating in activities that benefit the Subgroup and Society. Responsible for the Subgroup meeting all deadlines established by the Subgroup Manager and monitoring all efforts that contribute to the Subgroup Report Card. Past Co-Chairs provide ad hoc advice to current Co-Chairs.

Article V
Eligibility for Office: Only members of the SMF Subgroup may be elected to Subgroup leadership positions. If an elected officer does not become a member prior to the Annual Meeting where they would be taking office, the second runner-up candidate shall assume the position instead. The runner up must also be a BPS member and a member of the Subgroup in order to assume office. In order to serve as a regular Subgroup Officer, the member must be a Regular, Emeritus, or Early Career member of BPS. Graduate students/Postdocs can only serve if the Subgroup has a designated trainee position, in which case the position title will reflect the career stage of eligible members. Members may not be elected to the same position in the Subgroup more than once every five years. 

Article VI
Elections: Elections must be held and concluded electronically two weeks prior to the Subgroup’s business meeting. The candidate for each office receiving the highest number of votes will be elected. In the case of a tie, the deadline will be extended for an extra three days. If the tie remains after three days, BPS staff will send out a new ballot with just the tied candidates to break the tie. 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 XVIII of the Biophysical Society.  

Article VII 
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 Officers: Co-Chairs and Co-Chairs-Elect. 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 VIII 
Nominating Committee: The Nominating Committee is responsible for soliciting nominations from Subgroup membership and for preparing the final slate of candidates. The members of the Executive Committee shall constitute the Nominating Committee. Nominations can come from anyone, with self-nominations also permitted. Nominations will be received electronically no later than one month prior to the Subgroup’s business meeting. Nominees must accept their nomination prior to being placed on a ballot. 

Article IX

Awards Committee: The Awards Committee will be responsible for inviting nominations from all Subgroup members and selecting awardees based on the established eligibility criteria, nomination packets, and judging rubric. This committee will likely include the Executive Committee, and other ad hoc Subgroup members on an as-needed basis. If any of these have a conflict of interest with the Award nominees or sponsors, the Chair may appoint Subgroup members to serve in their place on the Awards Committee.

Each year, the Committee must review and confirm award eligibility requirements and the rubric with BPS staff. While the primary selection criteria will focus on scientific excellence, the committee is also responsible for ensuring that the candidate pool gives meaningful access to underrepresented individuals and groups of the Biophysical Society.

Committee members must avoid any conflicts of interest with nominees or award sponsors in a given year.

Article X
Dissolution: The SMF Subgroup must be in accordance with the Biophysical Society’s constitution and bylaws, mission, values, goals, and operational guidelines. If not, the group will be placed on probation and may be dissolved at the discretion of the Council of the Biophysical Society. 

Article XI

Amendments to the Bylaws: Amendments can be proposed by any member of the Single-Molecule Forces, Manipulation & Visualization Subgroup, approved by a two-thirds majority of the Subgroup Executive Committee, and be ratified in a ballot by a majority of the members of the group voting.

2024-2025

Lucy Brennan, University of California, Berkeley

David Rueda, Imperial College, London

2023-2024

Neva Caliskan, Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infecttion Research

Nils Walter, University of Michigan

2022-2023

Zev Bryant, Stanford University

Wesley Wong, Harvard University

Founding Co-Chairs (2021-2022)

Laura Finzi, Emory College

Mark Williams, Northeastern University

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