Melih Sener (he/him) is a theoretical biophysicist specializing in the computational modeling of biological systems from atomic detail to cell-scale organization, particularly for bioenergetic domains in photosynthesis. He develops novel mathematical formulations for energy conversion processes in order to determine
organizational principles at multiple scales. This integrative modeling approach closely follows experimental collaborations and spans a range of scales from excitation kinetics of pigment networks to structure-based rate kinetics at the cell level, revealing, e.g.,
cell doubling times as a function of incident light. Science outreach to the general public is an accompanying passion of Melih, as he employs the visualization techniques developed for modelling purposes also as narrative devices for humanity's oldest story: how from light, life grows. His narrative for energy conversion in photosynthetic bacteria received the
Best Scientific Visualization Award of 2019. In September 2022, he retold this story on stage as part the
'Joy of Regathering' collaborationat the Krannert Performance Center, UIUC—a live action, music, and spoken word performance—allegorically describing photosynthesis for broad audiences.