Biophysical Society Bulletin | March 2019

Biophysicist in Profile

Officers President

David W. Piston President-Elect Catherine Royer Past-President Angela Gronenborn Secretary Erin Sheets Treasurer Kalina Hristova Council Zev Bryant Linda Columbus Michelle A. Digman Marta Filizola Teresa Giraldez Ruben Gonzalez, Jr. Joseph A. Mindell Anna Moroni Marina Ramirez-Alvarado Jennifer Ross David Stokes Pernilla Wittung-Stafeshede Biophysical Journal Jane Dyson Editor-in-Chief The Biophysicist Sam Safran Editor-in-Chief

proteins and began to project intact mem- brane protein complexes into the gas phase. She then returned to Oxford in 2009 to take up the Chair of Dr. Lee’s Professor of Chemis- try, a position she holds to this day. In 2013, Robinson was named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her contributions to science. During her time at Oxford she has focused pri- marily on the relationship between membrane proteins and lipids. “We have recently discov- ered an entirely new way to study membrane proteins directly from their native environ- ment without any chemical intervention. The approach involves sonication of lipid vesicles and then exposure of these sonicated vesicles to high fields in the mass spectrometer,” she shares. “The resulting mass spectra are in- credibly complex, take many hours to interpret but have revealed new protein assemblies and previously unknown interactions between complexes. We’re very excited to see where this research leads us.” Going forward, Robinson plans to adapt some of these recently developed mass spectrom- etry approaches to study protein complexes within their native environments. “I think we have a lot of opportunities to apply this ap- proach to different membranes and vesicles – I am excited about the possibilities,” she says. Despite being an accomplished leader in her field, she says that one of the most rewarding aspects of her job is to see young scientists in her research group going on to great positions and careers. She has always encouraged them to maintain the work–life balance. One of her own role models is Dorothy Hodgkin, who succeeded in raising three children as well as having a highly distinguished scientific career.

When she is not working, Robinson enjoys taking part in a wide range of outdoor activi- ties, but especially running, which she tries to fit in regularly each week. “I also enjoy cook- ing, especially entertaining — I love to host friends and family around the table or out- doors in our garden,” she says. Asked how she would describe her research to a sixth grade teacher, Robinson says, “My research explores proteins and their inter- actions in the gas phase — an entirely new medium in which proteins can be interrogated. In this phase the protein molecules are able to express themselves in different ways. We can learn new things about the ways in which they do this. I think of it as the proteins having free- dom of movement – akin to running on a track as opposed to running in a swimming pool. The protein molecules are not constrained in the gas phase as they would be in solid or liquid states.” “ Maintain the passion that brought you into this field originally—and even in the face of difficulties persevere for as long as it takes—you have to keep going. ” Robinson recommends that young scientists focus on “the three ‘P’s – Passion, Persever- ance and Plenty of both! Maintain the passion that brought you into this field originally — and even in the face of difficulties persevere for as long as it takes — you have to keep going. I often say that experiments are not failing — they are simply not working – yet!”

Society Office Jennifer Pesanelli Executive Officer Newsletter

Executive Editor Jennifer Pesanelli Managing Editor Beth Staehle Contributing Writers and Proofreaders Dorothy Chaconas Laura Phelan

Caitlin Simpson Elizabeth Vuong Sean Winkler

Production Catie Curry Ray Wolfe

Revisiting the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology at the Single-Molecule Level Lima, Peru | July 18-21, 2019

The Biophysical Society Newsletter (ISSN 0006-3495) is published eleven times per year, January-December, by the Biophysical Society, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1110, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Distributed to USA members and other countries at no cost. Canadian GST No. 898477062. Postmaster: Send address changes to Biophysical Society, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1110, Rockville, MD 20852. Copyright © 2019 by the Biophysical Society. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved.

Abstract Submission Deadline: March 8

Registration Deadline: April 5

www.biophysics.org/ 2019Lima

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