New UEC Members for 2025

I am currently a postdoc at the SIBYLS beamline (12.3.1) at the ALS, working on solution small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) of biomolecules. I have been a general user at ALS since 2019, when I was in grad school at Penn State. I mainly utilized 7.3.3 (SAXS/WAXS) and 11.0.1.2 (Resonant soft X-ray scattering). My research experience is centered around X-ray scattering of biological systems, which have included plant cell walls, proteins, and lipids. I greatly enjoy working at the ALS and plan to continue pursuing an X-ray scattering-oriented research career. In particular, I am excited for the ALS-U upgrade and hope
to gain as much experience as I can as we deconstruct and rebuild the X-ray scattering beamlines.

I am a Ph.D. candidate at University of California, San Diego, focusing on using synchrotron X-rays to investigate the electronic properties of quantum materials. As a regular user of the ALS and presenter at recent ALS User Meetings, I actively engage with the community. Currently, I serve as a Doctoral Fellow at ALS in the Photon Science Development Group, collaborating closely with coherent beamlines 7.0.1.1, 7.0.1.2, and 5.3.1. My research develops novel methods for employing coherent soft X-rays, aligning with the upcoming coherence upgrade of ALS-U and benefiting the broader X-ray community.

As both a graduate student researcher and an ALS affiliate, I bring a unique perspective to foster collaboration within our user community. I am committed to enhancing online resource accessibility by ensuring comprehensive and updated beamline instrumentation details. Additionally, I advocate for upgrading user interfaces at beamlines—such as implementing Bluesky—to align with other advanced synchrotrons. Improving accessibility for in-person users remains important, including addressing parking availability and weekend transportation. As an international student and employee, I am dedicated to promoting ALS’s strong practices in inclusion and diversity. With major upgrades toward ALS-U approaching, I believe clear communication between ALS and its users is vital to keep everyone informed and engaged throughout the transition.

I am an assistant professor of environmental engineering at Arizona State University, where I started in January 2025 and focus on the development of new technologies for water purification and environmental remediation. I have been a user of the ALS since March 2020, both as a graduate student and as an ALS postdoc, and I have used several x-ray scattering (7.3.3, 11.0.1.2, 5.3.1) and spectroscopy/imaging (8.3.2, 5.3.2.2, 6.3.2) beamlines. I look forward to serving on the UEC, especially during this important time with ALS-U. In this role, I represent several scientific communities, including environmental sciences, energy sciences, and soft matter/polymers, and I look forward to working with and learning from the rest of you.

I am a Professor of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah, with an adjunct appointment in Material Science and Engineering. I study the mechanical properties of materials under extreme conditions. For earth sciences this helps us to understand dynamic processes like plate tectonics and mantle convection as well as transient processes like meteor impacts.  In addition to earth science, I also study deformation of metals and nano materials as well as the effects of radiation damage on mechanical properties.   My first synchrotron experiments were at the ALS as a UC Berkeley Ph.D. student, 20 years ago. Since then, I have used the APS, the NSLS, the ESRF, and PETRA III.  However, ALS remains a special place for me and I keep coming back to beamline 12.2.2. for high pressure work. I have also collaborated on projects at the 12.3.2. and 8.3.2. beamlines. I have served on the ALS General Sciences Proposal Study Panel, and I also served on the facilities committee for the NSF-funded Consortium for Materials Properties Research in the Earth Sciences (COMPRES), which had an Approved Program at 12.2.2. for many years.  In that role I reviewed the effectiveness of the various COMPRES supported facilities, (including the AP program at 12.2.2) in serving their user base.

I am interested in serving on the UEC because of the ongoing and upcoming changes to the ALS and its users.  In the near future, as the upgraded APS comes online and soon after as the dark period for the ALS upgrade (ALS-U) begins, it will be vital to maintain our connections with the ALS user base.  Most importantly we need to ensure that the new ALS-U provides better scientific and technical capabilities as well as an enhanced user experience. I see the ALS User’s meeting as an ideal venue in which to maintain and cultivate our ties with the ALS user base during the ALS upgrade. To that end, I have the experience of having served for 3 years on the American Geophysical Union’s Fall Meeting Program Committee. In summary, my motivation to serve on the UEC is to help ensure a smooth and successful transition for the user community during the ALS-U.

My research addresses chemical and biological processes that result in the cycling of metals in the environment. I approach these processes from the perspective of metal speciation: What is the form of the metal, and how will its form affect transport, fate, and bioavailability. My favorite metals are iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn). These two transition metals are prevalent in terrestrial and aquatic environments. They both form chemically reactive minerals – Fe oxyhydroxides and Mn oxides –  that influence, and sometimes control, the partitioning of other elements, like arsenic (As) between the solid and aqueous phases. Iron and Mn are also interesting study subjects because microbial activity can make their speciation delightfully complex.