2024 Mid-South Biophysics Symposium

May 20th at University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Registration deadline: May 3, 2024. 

Registrations are Closed

The Symposium

Born out of the Mississippi Regional Biophysics Consortium, the goal of the Mid-South Biophysics Symposium is to promote biophysical collaboration and awareness in the Mid-South, including Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Biophysics is traditionally underrepresented in these states with only 25 members of the Biophysical Society currently registered in the entire state of Mississippi. In addition, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Louisiana are either EPSCoR or IDeA states (or both) and thus recognized by the NSF and NIH respectively as areas in need of broadening participation in STEM and include rural and underserved communities. Despite these numbers, there is a strong core of faculty and trainees involved in biophysical work, especially emerging from new early career investigators to the area, making this event a prime opportunity to promote collaboration, trainee development, and membership in the Biophysical Society.

Format

The event will be hosted at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL – a central location within driving distance for institutions in the Mid-South region. The format will be a regional symposium of research talks, a poster session, and networking. The one-day event will have diverse talks throughout the morning and early afternoon sessions that are selected from submitted abstracts, a keynote speaker over lunch, and a poster session/networking reception in the afternoon.

We plan for there to be an informal dinner the Sunday evening prior for attendees coming in from out of town (not included in registration; just an opportunity to further network and visit). Breakfast and lunch will be provided on Monday, so please indicate any dietary restrictions when registering.

Lodging

The Hotel Capstone is on campus and within walking distance of the event location. In addition, there are several hotels in downtown Tuscaloosa or within a short drive of campus. The Hampton Inn Tuscaloosa – University is the closest.

Mobirise

JC Gumbart

Keynote Speaker

Dr. J.C. Gumbart is the Dunn Family Professor of Physics at Georgia Tech University in Atlanta. He holds a B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from Western Illinois University and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research primarily involves molecular dynamics simulations to explore biological systems at an atomic level. His lab focuses on understanding the processes by which bacteria synthesize and insert proteins into membranes, import nutrients, and maintain the integrity and shape of their cell walls.

Program

Sunday, May 19
6PM - Welcome Dinner (Informal dinner - pay on your own)

Monday, May 20
7:30 AM - Registration - Badge pickup 
8:30 AM - Welcome

8:45 AM - Session 1
Talks TBD

10:30 AM - Session 2
Talks TBD

12:00 PM - Keynote Talk / Lunch

1:00 PM - Session 3
Talks TBD

2:00 PM - Session 4 - Flash Talks
Talks TBD

3:00 PM - Poster Session
Posters TBD

5:30 PM - Closing Session (Poster Awards)

How to get to it

Organization

Matthew Thompson

Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at University of Alabama. 

Rafael Bernardi

Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics at Auburn University. 

Nikki Reinemann

Assistant Professor at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Mississippi. 

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