Jacob Klein - Surface Forces with a Focus on Biointerfaces
Weizmann Institute,
Israel		 Interests:
Physics of polymers and interfaces. Static and dynamic force laws between interacting surfaces, especially steric, lubrication and frictional forces. Using nuclear reaction analysis techniques to understand surface and interfacial structure in polymeric systems. Transport, wetting, surface interactions, and nanotribology.

Julio Fernandez - Forces that Drive Self-Assembly
Columbia University,
New York, USA		 Interests:
Much of what is known about protein dynamics has been studied using bulk biochemical techniques and chemical denaturants. By contrast, we study proteins at the single molecule level and use mechanical forces to denature proteins. Force is a ubiquitous denaturant in biology. Our results are opening new vistas into protein function and challenging some widely accepted views of protein dynamics.

Mirjam Leunissen - Blame Boltzmann: The important Role of Entropy in Bio- & Soft Matter Science
FOM Institute AMOLF,
Amsterdam, The Netherlands		 Interests:
Interactions and structures in soft matter and biologically inspired systems that are the result of multiple weak, preferably specific, non-covalent bonds. We want to acquire a better understanding of the unique properties of such reversible "multivalent" interactions, their dependence on the individual bond properties, and their consequences for spontaneous self-organization and the macroscopic properties of self-assembled materials. To this end, we will use a combination of designer model systems, state-of-the-art force probe and microscopy techniques, and numerical simulations.

M.A. Cohen Stuart - Proteins and Other Amino Acid Polymers: Adsorption and Self-assembly
Physical Chemistry & Colloid Science Laboratory,
Wageningen University, The Netherlands		 Interests:
Statics and dynamics of macromolecules, interfaces, wetting, phase behavior, self-assembly, networks and gels, emulsions and coalescence, the physics of macromolecules in living cells

Jens-Uwe Sommer - Polymer Physics at Interfaces and Surfaces
Leibniz-Institute of Polymer Research,
Dresden, Germany.		 Interests:
Theory of polymers and complex systems. Polymer networks, polymers at surfaces and interfaces, polymer crystallization. Computer simulations.

Nicholas L. Abbott - Review of thermodynamics: phase equilibrium, phase diagrams
University of Wisconsisn-Madison,
USA		 Interests:
Interfacial phenomena, colloid chemistry, soft materials, biotechnology, nano-scale science and engineering, polymers, liquid crystals and surfactants.

Michael Kozlov - Cell Membranes: the Physics Perspective
Tel Aviv University
Ramat Aviv, Israel.		 Interests:
Mechanics of cell membranes. Cell membrane fusion.

David Daleke - Cell membranes: the Biology Perspective
Indiana University,
Bloomington, Indiana, USA		 Interests:
The generation and maintenance of transmembrane phospholipid asymmetry. The role of blood cell membrane structure and lipid asymmetry in cardiovascular disease.

Oscar Millet - Proteins: structure / function / analysis
CIC bioGUNE,
Bilbao, Spain		 Interests:
Thermodynamic stability of the folded conformation of proteins belonging to extremophiles, protein dynamics, NMR, heme group biosynthesis and porphyrya.

Cecile Leduc - Fluorescence Methods for Studying Complex Interfaces
Institute of Optics
CNRS & Université Bordeaux, France		 Interests:
Development of new tools for long-term tracking of single particles inside living cells based on photothermal imaging of gold nanoparticles, as well as a new activity on kinesin motor trafficking in live cells using super-resolution techniques. Collective behavior of molecular motors

Sarah Cartmell - Mechanotransduction of stem cells
University of Manchester,
UK		 Interests:
Orthopaedic tissue engineering with a focus on biomaterials characterisation, mechanotransduction, statins and bioreactor design

Jennifer Gallop - Biophysics of Cytoskeleton and Cell Adhesion
The Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute
University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom		 Interests:
Membrane-protein interactions, assembly of membrane-localized protein complexes, actin cytoskeleton, membrane curvature, cell and tissue movements

Buddy Ratner- Engineered Surface Modifications To Precision-Direct Biological Responses
Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering, University of Washington
Seattle, Washington, USA.		 Interests:
Molecular origins of biocompatibility. Blood-biomaterial interactions. Synthesis and characterization of polymeric biomaterials. Surface analysis by ESCA, SIMS, STM, FTIR-ATR, AFM.

Julia Mahamid - Taking Advantage of Disorder: on Amorphous and Crystalline Phases in Biomineralization
Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry,
Martinsried, Germany		 Interests:
Structural biology and biophysical aspects of biomineralization processes, self assembly and organization of sub-cellular structures. Cryo-electron microscopy and tomography of frozen hydrated native tissues

Fredrik Höök - Biosensors
Dept of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology,
Göteborg, Sweden		 Interests:
Cross-fertilization of the recent advancements in molecular biology with novel nanotechnology concepts for optimized analysis of a broad range of biomolecular recognition events, ultimately making label-free studies feasible and efficient on the single-molecule scale.