An Assistant Professor's Perspective on FOMMS 2024

The ninth triennial FOMMS (Foundations of Molecular Modeling and Simulations) conference took place in Snowbird, Utah, from July 28^th to August 1^st this year. The event featured outstanding presentations, beginning with a fantastic keynote by Mark Tuckerman and culminating in Sharon Glotzer being honored as the FOMMS medal winner. In addition to the impressive lineup of talks, attendees benefited from a variety of panels and workshops throughout the meeting.

On Monday, I moderated a panel titled “Best Publishing Practices in Molecular Modeling and Simulations (MMS)”. The panelists were Birgit Strodel from the University of Düsseldorf, Shikha Nangia from Syracuse University, Ed Maginn from the University of Notre Dame, and Michael Shirts from the University of Colorado, Boulder. The panel opened with each panelist telling the audience a little bit about their editorial experience and providing advice for people looking to publish with them. They were also asked to weigh in on the challenges that FAIR data management faces in the field of MMS and what journals can do to facilitate uniform publishing practices. After each question, there were active discussions between the audience and the panelists, with a lot of engagement from students and trainees. The session wrapped up with a final conversation about what we as a community can start doing to facilitate good publishing practices. The panelists shared their favorite ‘best practices’ article, which are referenced at the end of this article.

On Tuesday, Sumit Sharma (Ohio University) and Rebecca Lindsey (University of Michigan) moderated a panel on “Careers in Molecular Modeling and Simulations (MMS)”. The panelists were Zahra Hooshmand from Microsoft, Scott Bobbitt from Sandia National Lab, Randall Snurr from Northwestern University, and Daniela Kohen from Carleton College. They were chosen as representatives from academia, national lab, and industry. There were stimulating discussions about the pros and cons of careers in these three domains as well as gearing up for an entrepreneurial path after graduating. Panelists and participants shared their experiences during their own job search and the day-to-day challenges that they face in their jobs.

A highlight of the meeting was the hospitality reception held each evening, where we could unwind with friends and colleagues, all against the stunning backdrop of Snowbird’s beautiful mountains. Overall, the 9^th FOMMS conference not only showcased cutting-edge research but also helped foster connections within the community, particularly amongst the early career researchers. We eagerly look forward to the next one!

Favorite ‘best practices’ articles from the “Best Publishing Practices in Molecular Modeling and Simulations (MMS)” panelists:

1. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00599
2. https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-023-04653-0
3. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00268976.2020.1742938

• Janani Sampath, Assistant Professor, University of Florida