UEC Information
The UEC represents the interests of the CHESS user community to CHESS Management and ensures good communications between the CHESS user community and CHESS leadership. The CHESS UEC also participates in organizing the annual CHESS User Meeting. The CHESS UEC bylaws can be found HERE. Current members are listed here under Users' Executive Committee.
2024 CHESS User Meeting - Candidate Nomination Information:
Srirayma Nair:
My name is Sriramya Nair and I am currently an Assistant Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University. Prior to this, I was a postdoc at CHESS at the F2 / FAST beamline. My research group uses CHESS to evaluate the micromechanical behavior of sustainable low-carbon cementitious materials under in situ loading conditions. We are also interested in conducting in situ experiments at early ages to understand hydration kinetics that will facilitate the use of waste materials instead of manufactured materials for construction. As a member of the CHESS User Executive Committee, I hope to engage with the user community and understand their needs. I’m primarily excited about fostering an exchange of ideas within the community. Understanding each other’s scientific needs and providing a space for a dialogue will benefit the entire community.
Matthew Mcleod:
As a frequent CHESS user for over three years, I (and my colleagues) have worked with MacCHESS beamline staff to push the limits of the 7A1 and 7B2 beamlines' experimental capabilities. While this has often resulted in impromptu troubleshooting and on-the-fly changes to instrumentation, potentially annoying beamline staff, my hope is that it has made the beamlines more effective in serving their users.
My experimental interests are truly enabled by the MacCHESS beamlines and their unique capabilities. Besides the standard cryocrystallography setup at 7B2, I have also collected data using both the cryo high-pressure capabilities (with the help of Qingqui) and the ambient temperature high-pressure diamond anvil cell. Additionally, I have collected a host of multi-temperature crystallographic data spanning -20 to 60°C as well as high-quality diffuse scattering data. At 7A1, I have used both the standard SAXS and SEC-SAXS setups, and I have also conducted unconventional measurements testing prototype sample mounts requiring the use of an air-gap. Being a “frequent-flyer” at CHESS, I have come to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the facility. Moreover, being a postdoctoral fellow looking towards establishing my own research lab, I believe that my perspective can serve to bridge the gap between trainee and mentor and can provide useful insights into improving the overall user experience. CHESS has been an invaluable tool for my research and career growth, and I would like further increase my contributions to the CHESS community by serving as a member User Executive Committee.
The UEC election begins at the annual CHESS User Meeting and the CHESS community can cast votes between June 3th and June 10th.
Cast your vote here:
https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6qTnYJJzE7Ff8vc