Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in conjunction with North Carolina State University, and support from the National Science Foundation (Award #1915748) and the Shull Wollan Center—a Joint Institute for Neutron Scattering, celebrates a decade of neutron scattering education in structural biology at ORNL with the HFIR/SNS Advanced Neutron Diffraction and Scattering workshop (HANDS 2019).
The unique potential of neutron scattering in structural biology arises from the strong interaction of neutrons with hydrogen (H) and its deuterium (D) isotope. This property makes the information available from neutron scattering unique and a valuable complement to data obtained from other structural techniques. Individual hydrogen/deuterium atoms are visualized in neutron density maps from crystallographic data at the resolution typical of most protein structures (2.0 -2.5 Å). Using H/D exchange and contrast variation, proteins and nucleic acids are sequentially modeled and mapped in large biological complexes using small angle neutron scattering. Protein-membrane interactions are revealed using reflectometry and protein and water dynamics measured using spectroscopy.
The workshop includes a symposium, lectures, and hands-on experiments at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (IMAGINE, BIO-SANS) and the Spallation Neutron Source (EQ-SANS, MaNDi, Neutron Spin Echo Spectrometer).
The workshop is designed for graduate students, post-doctoral researchers and faculty with knowledge of protein function and structure but with limited to no experience with neutron sciences.
Techniques introduced include:
- Crystallography
- Small Angle Scattering
- Reflectometry
- Spectroscopy
- Imaging
- Labeling techniques
- Sample preparation
Course Objectives
- Educate participants in neutron scattering techniques, instrumentation and data collection, analysis and interpretation.
- Expose participants to cutting-edge research in neutron structural biology.
- Build interactions between participants, their university groups, and ORNL neutron scattering experts to develop new research projects.
Course Information
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3-minute pitch talk session: A 3-minute pitch talk session will be held on Monday, June 10, 2019. Each participant will present her or his interest in a concise 3-minute presentation using up to 3 slides. This session will offer participants an excellent opportunity to open the door to further discussions with ORNL neutron scientists. Abstract for a presentation should be emailed to the workshop organizers no later than Monday, May 27, 2019.
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Fellowships: A limited number of travel and accommodation fellowships are available for participants from U.S. institutions. There are no registration fees for any participant.
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Application deadline: Applications must be submitted by April 29, 2019 (8:00 a.m.) to be considered for admission.
