New Graduate Course Utilizes Neutron Scattering Techniques to Study Structural Biology at ORNL

With state-of-the-art instrumentation at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s (ORNL) Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) and High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), application of neutron scattering techniques in structural biology is now possible for university researchers.

A new course—“Neutrons in Biology”— has been developed for graduate students in structural biology who are interested in broadening their expertise in applying neutron scattering instruments, techniques, and software to a broader range of biological research investigations. The opportunity will also build interactions between these students and their universities with ORNL neutron scattering experts with the goal of ultimately developing new research projects.

The one-week intensive course–which takes place at ORNL in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, June 7-11, 2010— is free of charge and designed for graduate students with knowledge of protein function and structure, and with new or limited experience in neutron sciences. Students will participate in a one-day symposium on Neutrons in Structural Biology and will tour the SNS and HFIR facilities at ORNL. The course also includes lectures and tutorials by researchers from ORNL's Neutron Scattering Sciences Division.

The number of participants will be limited to 15, and registration closes March 26. Travel and accommodations grants are available. For more information and to register for the course, please visit http://neutrons.ornl.gov/conf/gcnb2010/ or contact Flora Meilleur at meilleurf@ornl.gov or flora_meilleur@ncsu.edu.

Oak Ridge Associated Universities is a sponsor of the course in partnership with ORNL’s Joint Institute for Neutron Sciences and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.