A few examples of meetings our team members attended as part of their training
UXSS 2023 Ultrafast X-ray Summer School – Hamburg, Germany
From 12-16.06.2023, Andrea Flores Ibarra and Bence Olasz attended the Ultrafast X-ray Summer School held in Hamburg, Germany. The School focused on introducing the attendees to the basics of X-ray free-electron lasers, which were presented in a series of talks focusing on the physics of the technology. Subsequent presentations during the summer school described the chemistry, physics, material science and structural biology research carried out at XFEL facilities. A highlight of the school was the opportunity for all the participants to prepare a mock proposal for beamtime at the European XFEL facility, with beamline scientists and group leaders with experience helping the groups. The mock proposal was presented as a poster on the last day of summer school, with helpful feedback from the organizers on the work presented. In addition to the talks, tours to the DESY Flash facility and the European XFEL were also part of the school, providing an opportunity to see the beamline setups servicing the users at these facilities. Besides the focus on science, during the summer school, we had great opportunities to expand our professional network in the evenings.
International School on Biological Crystallization – Granada, Spain
On 21-26.05.2023, Bence Olasz and Magdalena Pachota attended the International School on Biological Crystallization in Granada, Spain. The event consisted of three days of lectures covering the basic theory of protein crystallization, methods of growing crystals and optimization, as well as measurements and data analysis, followed by a day of practical demonstrations of techniques previously presented in the lectures. The participants had a chance to learn about novel approaches in protein crystallography and consult their research problems with experienced crystallographers from all over the world. It was also an excellent opportunity to meet and exchange experiences with other young researchers in the field. We also enjoyed participating in organized social events, like the guided walk around the beautiful historic center of the city of Granada and the gala dinner with an exquisite view of the Alhambra palace.
57th Winter Seminar – Klosters, Switzerland
From January 24 to 29, 2024, Przemysław Nogły, Bence Olasz, and Magdalena Pachota had the opportunity to participate in the 57th Winter Seminar on Biophysical Chemistry, Molecular Biology, and Cell Function, held in the picturesque town of Klosters, Switzerland. This unique event has been organized in the breathtaking Swiss mountains since its inception in 1966. Over the years, it has hosted lectures from numerous Nobel Prize laureates and other remarkable scientists. This year’s seminar continued the tradition of excellence, featuring a diverse range of fascinating talks on cutting-edge research on topics such as high-resolution imaging techniques, enzyme biology, and the application of artificial intelligence in scientific research. Bence Olasz presented a poster detailing the advantages and challenges associated with the use of fixed targets in X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs) and received a poster prize for his work. Beyond the academic sessions, the seminar offered a unique blend of intellectual and recreational activities. Mornings were reserved for winter sports, allowing participants to take full advantage of the stunning Madrisa ski resort nearby.
Gordon Research Conference on Photosensory Receptors and Signal Transduction – Lucca, Italy
From March 3 to 8, 2024, Przemysław Nogły, Bence Olasz, and Magdalena Pachota attended the prestigious Gordon Research Conference on Photosensory Receptors and Signal Transduction, held near the charming city of Lucca, Italy. The conference, set in the scenic region of Tuscany, was themed “Light-Dependent Molecular Mechanisms, Cellular Responses, and Organismal Behavior.” This five-day event brought together scientists from around the globe to discuss topics such as various light-sensing mechanisms, vision, and light response in organisms.
The conference provided an excellent opportunity for attendees to learn about the latest advances in the field and to network with other researchers working on similar topics. Przemysław Nogły gave a talk titled “Time-Resolved X-Ray Crystallography on Membrane Proteins: Watching Ions Moving in Time and Space” and Bence Olasz presented a poster on the utilization of fixed targets in X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs), showcasing the innovative approaches and potential challenges in this area of research.
In addition to the stimulating academic sessions, the conference offered several social and cultural activities, such as an afternoon trip to a local organic winery, where participants enjoyed a guided tour of the vineyards and wine cellars, followed by a wine-tasting session and an exquisite gala dinner.
Time-resolved serial crystallography workshop – Grenoble, France
Between the 8th and 12th of July, Bence Olasz attended a workshop organized by the EMBL in Grenoble focusing on Time-resolved macromolecular serial crystallography. The course consisted of lectures in the morning, focusing on aspects of conducting a TR crystallography experiment, from sample preparation and delivery to data collection and data processing and analysis. The afternoons were reserved for practical demonstrations, focusing on the topic of the lectures from each morning.
The organization of the course allowed the participants to gain hands-on experience in testing various crystallization techniques used to prepare samples for TR-SSX/SFX experiments, insight into the analysis of spectroscopic data at the TR-icOS instrument at the ESRF, setting up sample delivery methods, and collecting data at the new ID29 beamline as well as analyzing the data collected, with guidance from developers of the CrystFEL software, such as Thomas White.
The course perfectly encompassed the journey that one takes during a TR-SSX/SFX experiment, from crystal growth to data analysis, while allowing the building of friendships and working relationships with both the participants and the speakers due to the number of attendees kept purposefully low.
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