Junior, Senior or M.Eng.:

Seeking Student for ANSYS Analysis of Sample Holder Designs for CryoSAXS

Can be independent study credit or pay.

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is widely used to study the shape of proteins, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules.  All biomolecular SAXS is currently performed on solutions held at room temperature. These are rapidly damaged by X-rays, and so large volumes of often expensive and/or difficult to produce samples are consumed.  The Thorne and Pollack groups (in Physics and A&EP) are developing hardware and methods for cryogenic-temperature SAXS, which dramatically reduces radiation damage and sample consumption.

A critical issue in the design of sample holders for cryoSAXS is that differential contraction of the holder and the biomolecular sample during cooling leads to cracking of the biomolecular sample, degrading the SAXS signal.  A similar issue is encountered in many areas of biological cryopreservation.   We are seeking an undergraduate or Master of Engineering student to perform ANSYS simulations of stresses developed during cooling in different sample holder geometries, to assist designing holders that minimize cracking.  For more information, please contact Prof. Robert Thorne at ret6@cornell.edu.  Please include a CV and a brief statement of qualifications.