Karis Baker is the Manager of the UK Physics of Life Network (PoLNET), a role she has held since 2017. PoLNET is a UK-wide interdisciplinary network connecting physical and life science researchers to address complex biological and medical challenges. During her time in role, she has helped deliver three successful phases of the network, including managing the Physics of Medicine programme. Karis has worked closely with a wide range of funders, including UKRI’s EPSRC, BBSRC and MRC, as well as Wellcome and the Rosetrees Trust.
Before joining PoLNET, she completed a PhD and postdoctoral research in biology and later became Manager of Durham BSI. Karis has also served on the Physics of Life Conference Committee since its inaugural conference in 2023, supporting the growth of this thriving interdisciplinary research community.
Rivka Isaacson is Professor of Molecular Biophysics in the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical and Engineering Sciences, King’s College London. Her research uses integrated biophysical methods to investigate structure, function, interactions and dynamics of proteostasis machinery inside mammalian and bacterial cells. Rivka is also a passionate interdisciplinarian conducting many projects across
the arts-sciences interface, including an ongoing multimedia collaboration with London Fine Art Studios called Viewing the Invisible, and a longstanding relationship with the Iris Murdoch Research Centre at Chichester University around science and literature. She is excited to welcome you all to UK Physics
of Life 2027…