The BioInterfaces Special Interest Group (BioI SIG) seeks to stimulate progress across the diverse landscape of biomaterials research at BioInterfaces. By creating spaces for interaction and collaboration, the BioI SIG shapes the evolution of this research landscape spanning molecular/cell biology to tissue biology and biomaterials. Increasingly, cells and biomacromolecules are designable components of biomaterials, creating new opportunities for innovative research at the interface of materials science and fundamental biology. The BioI SIG serves as a forum for advances in bioinspired approaches to design and modulate biomaterial-cell/tissue interfaces, investigations of structure-function and self-assembly at biointerfaces, and applications of biointerface-driven biomedicine. Integrating advances across disciplines, BioI SIG members advance a biomaterials lens to cutting-edge research in protein and cell biology, and research that translates progress in molecular and cell biology into innovative biomaterials.
The BioI SIG sponsors a standing session at the SFB annual meeting, as well as several member-initiated general sessions and symposia on emergent BioI-relevant research areas. Graduate student members are eligible for BioI-sponsored STAR awards, and the Dr. Rena Bizios Poster Awards. Through the annual BWF BioInterfaces Rising Star Award, we recognize postdoc-level scientists who are making highly creative and impactful contributions to BioInterfaces research.
More on our signature awards:
BWF BioInterfaces Rising Star Award: Sponsored by the BioI SIG and Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF), this annual award recognizes outstanding BioInterfaces research by postdoc-level scientists. The BWF BioInterfaces Rising Star Award seeks to stimulate and highlight research that advances a biomaterials lens to cutting-edge research in protein and cell biology, and, conversely, research that translates progress in molecular and cell biology into innovative biomaterials. The awardee receives a cash award ($1000 USD) and is invited as the keynote speaker for the BIoI SIG session at the SFB annual meeting. Call for applications are announced in late October and due in early January.
The Dr. Rena Bizios Poster Awards: Honoring a founding and active member of the BioI SIG, Dr. Rena Bizios, these awards recognize outstanding BioInterfaces research by graduate students who present at the annual SFB meeting. To be eligible, the candidates must be current graduate students or recent graduates (within 6 months of their most advanced degree). Candidates become eligible by either indicating the BioI SIG as one of their choices for STAR awards and/or by presenting a poster in the BioInterfaces SIG session. First place ($300), second place ($150), and honorable mention ($50) winners are announced after the SFB annual meeting. The awardees are invited to deliver talks at the BioI SIG Fall webinar.
Officers
Chair: Felipe Garcia Quiroz, PhD
Assistant Professor
Emory University
1760 Haygood Dr NE
HSRB Room E184
Atlanta, GA 30322
t: (404) 251-5435
e: felipe.quiroz@emory.edu
Vice-Chair: Erik Dreaden, PhD
Assistant Professor
Emory University
1760 Haygood Dr NE
HSRB Room E108
Atlanta, GA 30322
t: (404) 778-3033
e: e.dreaden@emory.edu
Secretary/Treasurer: Jouha Min, PhD
Assistant Professor
University of Michigan
028-2010E NCRC
2800 Plymouth
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
t: (734) 647-4821
e: jouhamin@umich.edu
Program Chair: Nathan Gallant, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of South Florida
4202 E Fowler Ave
ENB118
Tampa, FL 33620
t: (813) 974-5840
e:ngallant@usf.edu
Web Contact: TBD
Student Contact: Sanju Vardhan, PhD candidate
University of Texas, Austin
e: sanju.vardhan@utexas.edu
Industry Representative: Lauren Austin, PhD
Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences
Merck
770 Sumneytown Pike
14-2134
West Point, PA 19486
t: (215) 652-0327
e: lauren.austin@merck.com
Biomaterials Forum Reporter: TBD
e:
Past Chair: Stephanie Florczyk, PhD
Assistant Professor
University of Central Florida
12760 Pegasus Drive
Orlando, FL 32816-2455
t: (407) 823-2738
e: Stephanie.Florczyk@ucf.edu
