Biological Materials and Systems

Bioscience research at SNS and HFIR is broadly interested in the structure and dynamics of biological assemblies. The biology program spans areas where neutrons excel (hydrogen/deuterium contrast, light atoms, order/disorder transitions, lipids and membranes, hierarchical assemblies, imaging of biological systems). Members of the Biological Materials and Systems Initiative have specific interests in:

  • Bio-inspired catalysts

  • Carbon sequestration in soil

  • Deuterium labeling of biomolecules

  • Lipid and membrane systems

  • Metalloenzyme catalytic mechanisms

  • Neuromorphic materials

  • Plants and microbial systems for generation of biofuels and bioproducts

  • Protein-ligand interactions / Biomedicine for emerging infectious diseases

  • Protein/nucleic acid/lipid complexes