Facility Updates and Scientific Talks
Participants were treated to insightful updates from various CHESS facilities, including CESR, CHEXS, MSN-C, MacCHESS, NSDF, HMF, and XLEAP. These sessions underscored the cutting-edge research and technological advancements happening at CHESS, fostering a deeper connection within the community.
Student Paper Award
A highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the CHESS Student Paper Award to Tanvi Jakkampudi. Tanvi, a second-year medical student at UT Health San Antonio and a soon-to-be PhD candidate in Radiological Sciences, delivered a compelling presentation on her research involving SPLUNC1 antimicrobial peptide derivatives. Her work, comparing the biological activities of these peptides against colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, showcased significant findings in the realm of antimicrobial resistance and therapeutic strategies.
Poster Session
The poster session featured impressive research presentations, with awards recognizing outstanding contributions. Thomas Ugras received the Best Scientific Poster prize for his work on "Magic-Sized Cluster Self-Assembly enables Exceptional Chiroptical and Anisotropic Properties." Ben Gregory was honored with the Best Technical Poster prize, celebrating the technical innovations and applications presented.
XCITE Workshop
Concurrent with the User Meeting, the first X-ray Cyberinfrastructure Training and Education (XCITE) workshop was led by CLASSE IT Director Werner Sun. This workshop aimed to equip the CHESS community with essential cyberinfrastructure skills, reducing barriers to the effective use of CHESS instruments, data, software tools, and computing resources.
The XCITE workshop covered a range of critical topics, including:
• Best practices for data collection and software usage at CHESS.
• Basics of programming with Python, numerical analysis, and essential libraries.
• Systems fundamentals, such as Linux basics, command line usage, and data management.
• An overview of NSF computing resources available to users.
The day-long workshop included lectures tailored for CHESS users, hands-on sessions with end-to-end examples, and dedicated office hours for personalized support and feedback. This inclusive approach ensured both new and experienced users could benefit from and contribute to the workshop.
Looking Ahead
The 2024 CHESS User Meeting reinforced the importance of community and collaboration as CHESS progresses towards two new beamlines and continued growth. With engagement and shared expertise, the CHESS community is well-positioned to drive future discoveries.
We extend our gratitude to all attendees, participants, and organizers for making this year's meeting a resounding success. We look forward to cultivating even stronger connections and breakthroughs in the coming year.
Please check out some photos from the day!