1. Jeff Abramson

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Department of Physiology

Structure Biology of Membrane Proteins

• B.Sc., California Polytechnic University, CA, U.S.A. (1995)
• Ph.D., Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (2000)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Imperial College, London (2000-2003)
• Assistant Professor, University of California, Los Angeles (2005-present)

My research interest has two main foci: development of innovative tools and approaches for determining 3D structures of membrane proteins and determine the biological basis for secondary active transport. I am particularly interested in the structure, function and dynamics of secondary active transporters using X-ray crystallography, biochemistry and time-resolved X-ray diffraction. We have laid the essential foundation by determining structures (in multiple conformations) from several families of secondary active transporters. The ensuing challenge is to obtain structures in different conformational states and use the resulting structural blueprints to design biochemical/biophysical experiments. Ultimately, our objective is to track conformational changes in real time by time-resolved X-ray diffraction.

I am a regular user on beamlines 5.0.1, 5.0.2, 5.0.3, 8.2.2 and 8.2.1 where we have collected X-ray diffraction data on a number of difficult membrane proteins. These successful projects were brought to fruition through close interaction with beamline staff often requiring hardware modification. If elected, I will work with beamline staff to improve all aspects of the data collection process to increase the level of user happiness and provide direct input into the challenges of resolving difficult crystal structures.

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2. Chris Cappa

Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of California, Davis

Physical, chemical, and optical properties of aerosols

• B.S. (Chemistry) Hope College, 2000
• Ph.D (Chemistry) University of California, Berkeley, 2005
• Post-doctoral scholar, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at University of Colorado, Boulder and Earth System Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2005-2007
• Assistant Professor, University of California, Davis, 2007 - present

My research interests include characterization and understanding of atmospheric aerosol particles in relation to their influence on climate and air quality. An important tool I use in this pursuit is the vacuum ultraviolet aerosol mass spectrometer (VUV-AMS) endstation at BL 9.0.2. The VUV-AMS is a one-of-a-kind resource that provides for real-time measurement of the changing chemical composition of aerosol particles. I (along with my collaborators) have been using the VUV-AMS to develop molecular level understanding of the inter-relationship between chemical composition and aerosol physical properties. In addition to my recent work on BL 9.0.2, a significant portion of my graduate studies were carried out at the ALS, where I was a user on BL 8.0.1, BL 9.0.2 and BL 11.0.2.

As a UEC member, I would bring a perspective as both a PI and a former grad-student user.

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3. Yves U. Idzerda

Professor of Physics and the Associate Director of the Center for Bio-Inspired Nanomaterials
Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

Polarization dependent X-ray absorption and scattering in Materials Physics

• Washington University, St. Louis, MO, Physics, B.S. 1981
• Washington University, St. Louis, MO, Elec. Eng., B.S. 1981
• Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA, Physics, M.S. 1983
• Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD, Physics, Ph.D. 1986

• Naval Research Laboratory, Head, Artificially Structured Materials, 1998 - 2000
• Naval Research Laboratory, Research Physicist, 1988 - 1998

My current research interest is in ultra-thin film/interface magnetism of itinerant magnetic systems, multi-ferroic systems, magnetic nanoparticles, and in novel characterization techniques that have strong magnetic contrast. Part of this research includes exploiting polarized X-rays to obtain unique knowledge of the behavior of magnetic nanostructures, thin films and surfaces.

If elected to the UEC, I would strive to diversify the modes of access to the ALS facilities for the user community including fast access for important experiments.

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4. Jeffery Kortright

Material Sciences Division
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Resonant elastic soft x-ray scattering of materials

• B.A. (Physics) Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, 1979
• Ph.D., M.S. (Materials Science) Stanford University, California, 1984, 1981
• Staff Scientist, Center for X-Ray Optics, LBNL, 1984 - 1996
• Staff Scientist, Materials Sciences Division, LBNL, 1996 - present

My research interests center around the development and use of resonant, elastic soft x-ray scattering as a structural and spectroscopic tool to study a range of materials spanning hard and soft condensed matter. I am a long-time ALS user with experience at many soft x-ray beamlines, and have developed a roll-up end station used at several beamlines. I was a member and chair of the SSRL UEC some time ago. At the ALS we can foresee challenges for users and the facility as experimental floor space becomes even more crowded and redevelopment of sectors according to the strategic plan proceeds.

If elected to the ALS UEC I would work to ensure that user interests are considered in decisions regarding the evolving ALS scientific and instrumentation program, and to promote improved communication among users and between users and the ALS management.

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5. Kevin F. McCarty

Sandia National Laboratories
Livermore, CA

Materials and surface science research

• B.S. (Chemistry) Iowa State University, 1979
• Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) Iowa State University, 1985
• Staff Scientist at Sandia National Laboratories, 1985- present

I have a diverse background in materials science and surface science research, ranging between heterogeneous catalysts, high-temperature superconductors and thin-film synthesis. For the past decade my primary interest has been studying dynamic processes on surfaces using low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM). Research areas include the stability of thin films, mechanisms of bulk-surface mass exchange and collective phenomena in film growth. The materials studied include metal oxides, metallic alloys, metal hydrides, graphene and quasicrystals. While a relative newcomer to synchrotron-based science, I have been active for the past few years in using ambient-pressure XPS to study surface electrochemistry in fully functioning fuel cells/electrolyzers, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and PEEM-based spectral microscopy. I am very interested in expanding ALS capabilities in spectroscopy and microscopy to study energy-relevant materials and devices as they function in realistic operating environments.

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6. Robert Meulenberg

Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology
University of Maine

XANES and photoemission spectroscopy of nanomaterials

• B.S. (Chemistry) Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 1998
• Ph.D. (Physical Chemistry) University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 2002
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Materials Science and Technology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 2003-2006
• Staff Scientist, Materials Science and Technology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 2006-2008
• Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology, University of Maine, 2008 - present

My main research interests involve applications of synchrotron radiation techniques to problems relevant in nanotechnology. Notably, we use techniques like valence band photoemission spectroscopy, soft x-ray emission spectroscopy, and x-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) to probe the effects of dimensionality and surfaces on the electronic structure of a host of quantum dot systems. We also use element specific spectroscopic techniques like XANES and extended x-ray absorption fine structure in project ranging from gaining a better understanding of charge carriers and heterojunctions in next generation energy materials to examining active sites in transition metal catalytic materials for a DOE biofuel project. Lastly, we have been using magnetometry and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism to probe unique magnetic effects in nanomaterials.

I was the LLNL PRT lead contact for beamline 8.0 (van Buuren/Terminello) from 2003-2008 and have extensively used beamline 9.3.1 at ALS since 2004 as well as a user of a handful of beamlines at SSRL, CLS, and APS. Due to my former position at LLNL/ALS, I feel that I can represent the user's best interests in the UEC. It is also important that the UEC has a member representing the condensed matter community. Finally, as someone who was once closely involved in the operations of ALS to now far removed from that process, I hope that I can use my knowledge and experience to help foster new users at ALS. In particular, targeting users from economically poorer states with minimal existing infrastructure is extremely important to me. During my time here as a professor at UMaine, I have initiated collaborations with many scientists who had not considered the impact that synchrotron radiation based experimental methods could have on their research program. For these reasons, if elected, I feel I can make a positive and strong impact to the user community through the UEC.

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7. Corie Ralston

Physical Biosciences Division
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Structural and functional characterization of proteins

• B.S. (Physics) University of California, Berkeley (1989)
• Ph.D. (Biophysics) University of California, Davis (1997)
• Post-doctoral Fellow, Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1997-2000)
• Engineer, IBM, New York (1989-1992)
• Staff Scientist, Physical Biosciences Division, LBNL 2001- present

Corie Ralston is a staff scientist in the Physical Biosciences Division at LBNL. She is also the Operations Manager for the BCSB crystallography beamlines, which include beamlines 5.0.1, 5.0.2, 5.0.3, 8.2.1, and 8.2.2 at the ALS. She served for several years on the Synchrotron and Neutron Users' Group committee, during which time she traveled to Washington DC on numerous occasions to advocate for synchrotron sources. Her research interests include the structural and functional characterization of chaperonins, which are a family of proteins that assist in many essential cell processes: the assembly of macromolecular structures; the transition of partially folded or misfolded proteins to the native state; and the channeling of misfolded proteins to the degradation proteosome.

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8. Gyorgy Snell

Takeda San Diego

Structural Biology for Drug Discovery

• M.S. in Physics, Technische Universitat Berlin, Germany (1993)
• Ph.D. in Physics, Universitat Bielefeld, Germany (1997)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Physics, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI(1998-2000)
• Biophysicist Scientist, Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (2001-2002)
• Senior Scientist, Department of Structural Biology, Takeda San Diego Inc. (formerly Syrrx) 2002- present

My current research interest is in using structural biology to advance the discovery of new drugs for diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Synchrotron radiation is an excellent tool to perform x-ray diffraction experiments on protein crystals and I am interested in new developments to be able to push the limits of the technique. Prior to joining my current position I was the beamline scientist on ALS beamline 5.0.3 where I played a major role in the development of sample handling automation for high-throughput protein crystallography. I have been using synchrotron radiation for my research for the past 19 years, 13 years at the ALS, in the fields of atomic and molecular physics, surface science, instrumentation and structural biology.

If elected, I would represent the interests of the protein crystallography community and industrial ALS users in general. Based on my broad background in synchrotron radiation research, I would strive to increase the interaction and cooperation with other ALS user communities and ALS staff and management.

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