Users' Executive Committee

Overview

SSRL Users' Executive Committee

By submitting a proposal or participating in beam time at SSRL, scientists are automatically included in the SSRL user community and a member of the SSRL Users' Organization. The SSRL Users' Organization (SSRLUO) is broadly concerned with representing the interests of the SSRL users (click Charter tab above); its opinions are its own and do not necessarily reflect those of SLAC or the DOE.

Users’ Executive Committee

Users elect members to serve on the Users' Executive Committee (UEC) to carry out the business of the SSRLUO. The UEC is the formal organizational unit of the SSRLUO. The SSRL Users' Executive Committee (UEC) provides a framework for interaction between the scientific user community and SSRL/SLAC Management. UEC elections are held annually in conjunction with the Users' Meeting. The SSRL UEC generally meets quarterly to plan the Annual Users' Meeting in coordination with the LCLS UEC, select recipients for several awards, provide input to SSRL management on topics of interest to the user community and to raise awareness about SSRL capabilities, user science and accomplishments to a broader audience.

UEC members serve 3-year terms, with the Chair and Vice-Chair elected by the UEC (Chair serves for 1 year; Vice-Chair rotates into the Chair position the following year; former Chair serves as ex-officio for 2 additional years for continuity). The UEC Chair and Past Chair serve in ex-officio roles on advisory panels such as the SSRL Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the LCLS Users' Executive Committee (LCLS UEC). The Vice Chair co-organizes the Annual Users' Meeting along with the LCLS UEC Vice Chair and scientific staff members appointed by SSRL and LCLS.

The SSRL UEC periodically contacts users, conducts surveys, and welcomes user feedback. Share ideas, suggestions, concerns with the SSRL UEC.

The SSRL UEC functions include:

  • Meet periodically to discuss issues of interest to the user community;
  • Coordinate Users' Meeting and workshops to facilitate interactions, plan and prepare for new capabilities;
  • Coordinate a poster session to encourage users, particularly students, to share their research results or new techniques;
  • Judge the Joe Wong Outstanding Poster Award Competition;
  • Promote, select recipients, and present the Farrel W. Lytle Award and the SSRL Scientific Development Award which recognize important contributions or accomplishments from the user community;
  • Encourage and consider user feedback and suggestions;
  • Coordinate activities with the LCLS UEC and representatives from other national labs to increase awareness and support for basic sciences and the role of user facilities.

Roles & Charter - SSRL Users’ Organization

Charter updates ratified and approved by the SSRL UEC July 2026

A. Terms and Definitions

SSRLStanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource
SSRL UOSSRL Users’ Organization
SSRL UECSSRL Users’ Executive Committee
SLACSLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
LCLSLinac Coherent Light Source
LCLS UECLCLS Users’ Executive Committee

B. Overview

The purpose of the SSRL Users’ Organization (SSRL UO) is to provide an organized framework for interaction between the scientists who use the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC) for their research and the SSRL and SLAC management, as well as to provide a channel for communication with other national laboratories, funding agencies, and the public in general. The SSRL UO shall advise the SSRL Director and the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) on matters of interest to users. Responsibility for the SSRL and the research programs carried out at the SSRL resides with the SSRL Director.

The SSRL UO is broadly concerned with representing the interests of the SSRL users. The SSRL Users’ Executive Committee (SSRL UEC) is the formal organizational unit of the SSRL UO.

The SSRL UEC communicates the needs and desires of users regarding operating policies, use of the SSRL, user support, and other relevant issues of concern to those engaged in research at this facility. The SSRL management will engage SSRL UO in discussions regarding current and/or future strategic plans for the facility to ensure evaluation of user interests and the most efficient and optimal utilization of the facility.

The SSRL UEC members are elected by the SSRL UO, and they meet several times each year to carry out the business of the SSRL UO. The UEC coordinates periodic surveys to obtain user feedback and suggestions, and they organize an Annual Users’ Meeting, which provides a forum for the presentation and discussion of recent user developments and experimental results as well as future plans.

The SSRL UEC represents SSRL to numerous constituencies and coordinates activities with representatives from other user facilities to promote awareness and public support for user facilities and more broadly for basic sciences in the United States.

C. Ethics Statement

The SSRL UO celebrates and encourages fostering an on-going environment of collaboration, cooperation, and mutual respect.

The SSRL UO recognizes that a plurality of background, views, and experiences supports both scientific creativity and productivity. Members and staff are expected to adhere to the objectives of enhancing equal opportunities, and encouraging broad participation and fairness in the activities of the SSRL.

The SSRL UO pledges that all members and staff are treated with respect regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, physical appearance, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, marital status, race, nationality, socio-economic status, and religion.

The SSRL UO is opposed to all forms of discriminatory behavior, including harassment, bullying, coercion, or any behavior contributing to a hostile environment. This applies to all professional interactions including research environments and community conferences or social events.

D. Organization

  1. Membership
    • The SSRL UO membership will be comprised of all scientists who are interested in research at the SSRL, including students, staff, and all researchers who have used the SSRL facilities in the past or plan to use the facilities in the future.
  2. Standing Committees
    • The SSRL UEC is charged with conducting the day-to-day business of the SSRL UO. The UEC shall consist of 13-17 individuals representing the broad techniques and disciplines which comprise the SSRL user community, including 3 representatives from materials/chemistry, 2 from environmental/geosciences, 2 from biospectroscopy/bio SAXS, 3 from macromolecular crystallography, 1 from ultrafast science, 1 from industry, 1 postdoctoral associate (in any discipline) and up to 4 student representatives (in any discipline). Candidates for open UEC positions shall be solicited from the SSRL UO each summer, and a ballot with candidate biographies will be distributed to the SSRL UO each fall during the Annual Users' Meeting. UEC representatives will be elected by majority vote of the SSRL user community. UEC members serve for a three-year term, beginning immediately after the Annual Users' Meeting.

      To facilitate awareness of synergies and coordination of activities between the user facilities the Chair and Vice Chair of the LCLS UEC will be invited to serve in an Ex Officio capacity on the SSRL UEC with full voting rights.

      The SSRL User Research Administration Manager will serve as Liaison to the SSRL UEC, in a non-voting capacity. Additional non-voting, Ex Officio members of the SSRL UEC may include representatives from the SSRL UO appointed as representatives of broader user outreach groups such as SSURF; these representatives will be invited to SSRL UO meetings to facilitate information flow among user groups at other national laboratories.
    • The SSRL UEC may appoint other subcommittees comprised of SSRL UEC or SSRL UO representatives as it deems appropriate.
  3. Officers
    • The Chair of the SSRL UEC shall also serve as Chair of the SSRL UO. The Chair’s term of office shall be for one year. Under normal circumstances the Vice Chair automatically becomes the Chair beginning immediately after the Annual Users’ Meeting. To ensure continuity and to share benefits from the experiences gained as an officer of the UEC, the Chair shall continue to serve on the UEC for two additional years after concluding their term as Chair, in the role of Past Chair. The Chair shall serve in an Ex Officio capacity on the SSRL Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the LCLS UEC. The Chair also serves on the Users’ Meeting Planning Committee and plays a supporting role to the Vice Chair during the Users’ Meeting. The Past Chair, in their first year, shall also serve in an Ex Officio capacity of the SSRL Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to facilitate communication between the SSRL UEC and the SAC.
    • The Vice Chair of the SSRL UEC shall also serve as Vice Chair of the SSRL UO. The Vice Chair shall stand in for the Chair if he or she is unavailable and shall assist the Chair in the discharge of his or her duties. His or her term of office shall be one year, upon expiration of which term he or she shall assume the position of Chair. The Vice Chair, along with SSRL and LCLS scientific staff appointed by the SSRL and LCLS Directors, shall co-chair the Annual Users’ Meeting, which includes serving on the Users’ Meeting Planning Committee that meets regularly several months before the Meeting. The Vice Chair shall be elected by the SSRL UEC from among its members by majority vote. The nominations and elections shall normally take place within two months of the Annual Users’ Meeting either at the next UEC meeting, during a phone conference call, or electronically via email or internet polls.
    • The Secretary of the SSRL UEC will be elected from the membership of the SSRL UEC. The Secretary shall assist at times when the Vice Chair is unavailable. His or her term of office shall be one year, with an option to continue for a second year in the position or to stand for election as Vice Chair.

Meetings

  1. General Meeting
    • A general meeting of the SSRL UO will be held annually. The Annual Users' Meeting will be co-chaired by the Vice Chair of the SSRL UEC along with the LCLS UEC Vice Chair, and SSRL and LCLS scientific staff appointed by the SSRL and LCLS Directors. The Vice Chair will also co-chair the Users’ Meeting Planning Committee that meets regularly to organize the meeting. The Chair will also serve on this committee to share their knowledge of the prior year’s meeting.
  2. Users’ Executive Committee
    • The Users’ Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the Chair to transact all such business as shall be required between general meetings of the membership of the SSRL UO. Except under unusual circumstances, notice of meetings shall be given to the membership three weeks in advance. An agenda for each meeting shall be provided by the UEC in advance of the meetings. During the meeting, SSRL management and staff may be invited to discuss the current status and future developments of SSRL. The SSRL UEC is open to receiving agenda topic items for discussion by contacting the Chair, Vice Chair, or Secretary.

F. Procedures

  1. Notes or minutes of meetings may be recorded by the SSRL UEC Secretary and may include a brief summary of the discussions and results of the meeting. After circulation and approval by the Chair and the committee, SSRL UEC meeting minutes may be made available to the SSRL UO by posting them on the Internet.
  2. In the event that a position on the SSRL UEC should be vacated before expiration of its term, the committee may appoint a member of the SSRL UO to fill the vacant position.
  3. In the event the Vice Chair becomes unable to discharge their duties, the Secretary will be invited by the Chair to fill in for the Vice Chair. Under these conditions, the Secretary will advance to Chair at the end of the User Meeting. If the Secretary is unwilling to take on the Vice Chair duties more than four months before the Users’ Meeting, a special election will be held for a new Vice Chair; otherwise, the Chair will appoint one of the past Chairs to discharge the Vice Chair duties. In this last scenario, an election will be held after the Users’ Meeting for both the Chair and Vice Chair positions.
  4. The SSRL UEC advises the SSRL Director with regard to the membership of relevant committees that may be established. The SSRL Director shall keep the SSRL UEC advised of proposed changes in the operation of SSRL and of future plans; the committee shall bear responsibility for making appropriate recommendations to the SSRL Director regarding such matters, including future directions, major equipment, and changing user needs.
  5. The UEC will work with members of other SLAC user committees to facilitate communications and coordination of activities in areas of mutual interest.
  6. The UEC can appoint representative(s) from the SSRL UO to serve as their liaison to broader user outreach groups such as the “Society for Science at User Research Facilities” (SSURF), and/or other user advocacy activities. The appointed Ex Officio representative(s) do not need to be a current member of the UEC and, at the discretion of the UEC Officers, can serve for multiple years in order to maintain and enhance the experience and representation of the SSRL UO in efforts promoting the importance and impact of the user research.
  7. Amendment to this charter may be suggested by any member of the SSRL UO. The actual changes are to be discussed and ratified by the UEC, who will cast votes through electronic means. An open voting period of no less than two weeks is required. These bylaws shall be amended by a favorable vote of two-thirds of ballots cast.

G. Awards

  1. Farrel Lytle Award
    • The SSRL UEC has primary responsibility for the selection of the Farrel W. Lytle Award recipient. The Farrel W. Lytle Award was established in 1998 by the SSRL Users’ Organization to promote important technical or scientific accomplishments in synchrotron radiation-based science and to foster collaboration and efficient use of beam time among users and staff at SSRL.
  2. SSRL Scientific Development Award
  3. William E. and Diane M. Spicer Young Investigator Award
  4. Joe Wong Outstanding Student Poster Awards
    • In 2016, the SSRL UEC created the Joe Wong Poster Awards to promote multi-disciplinary interactions among the lightsource user community, to recognize the best poster presentations at the Annual Users’ Meeting, and specifically to help students in preparing for their science careers. The poster awards are open to users of both the SSRL and LCLS based on research results from either facility. Awards will be given to the most exciting, novel and compelling science as presented during the poster session.

Representatives of the SSRL UEC will participate alongside SSRL scientific staff in the selection committees for the William Spicer Young Investigator Award, the Scientific Development Award, and the Joe Wong Outstanding Student Poster Awards, which are presented during the annual meeting.

2026 - 2027 Executive Committee Members

Archive

The SSRL Users' Executive Committee (UEC) encourages users to participate in SSRL events and contact UEC members to share feedback or suggestions:
 
Eris Albert-Minckler, UC Santa Cruz
Emmanuel Asante, University of Wyoming
Sarah EJ Bowman, University of Buffalo (Past Chair)
Jingyi Chen, University of Arkansas
Roberto Colina-Ruiz, University of Chicago
James P. Evans, Utah State University
Minhal Gardezi, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Graham George, University of Saskatchewan
Matthew Law, University of Rochester
Michael Mara, Argonne National Laboratory
Levi McClelland, University of Montana
Blaine Mooers, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center
Liane Moreau, University of Wyoming
Caitlin Palmer, University of Pennsylvania
Jake Pushie, University of Saskatchewan (Chair)
Robert Root, University of Arizona
Katie Rush, Auburn University
Sarah Saslow, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Limei Zhang, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Alec Follmer, UC Davis (LCLS Chair; Ex Officio)
Laura Crowe, SLAC (SSRL Liaison, Ex Officio)
Lisa Dunn, SLAC (SSRL Liaison, Ex Officio)
Eris Albert-Minckler, UC Santa Cruz
Eris Albert-Minckler is a physical chemistry PhD student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, working in the Ayzner lab. Her research focuses on designing and characterizing water-based viscoelastic semiconducting materials for light-harvesting applications. She uses a combination of optical and synchrotron x-ray techniques to characterize her soft materials. Eris earned her B.S. with honors in Chemistry from UC Santa Cruz, where she coauthored multiple publications investigating aqueous exciton transport networks and phase behavior of complex fluids. Prior to her graduate studies, she served as the Advanced Imaging & Microscopy Core Facility Manager at Loma Linda University. In this role, she designed experimental workflows, led user training and workshops, and co-authored research on the effects of hypoxia on fetal development. Eris is broadly interested in material design for light-harvesting applications and hopes to contribute to the development of sustainable and environmentally conscious devices that address global energy challenges.
Emmanuel Asante, University of Wyoming
Emmanuel Asante has a master's degree in chemistry from the University of Denver and is currently a Ph.D. graduate student researcher in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wyoming, where he conducts research in the nuclear nanotechnology group under Professor Liane Moreau. His research focuses on nuclear materials chemistry, actinide oxide materials, and advanced nanomaterials for nuclear energy applications. His research combines materials synthesis with advanced characterization techniques, including synchrotron X-ray characterization methods (primarily X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy and X-ray scattering), electron microscopy, and spectroscopy, to investigate structure/property relationships in complex nuclear materials. Emmanuel would bring interdisciplinary research experience spanning nuclear chemistry, nanomaterials, and analytical characterization to his abilities to serve on the UEC. His broader research interests center on understanding nanoscale structure and composition in materials relevant to energy and nuclear applications, with a particular interest in leveraging large-scale scientific facilities and advanced X-ray characterization to address challenging materials science questions. He would therefore place emphasis on our ability to put materials characterization, and particularly characterization of radiological materials at the forefront of SSRL capabilities. As an emerging researcher, Emmanuel is interested in the continued development of the synchrotron user community and in expanding opportunities for researchers to utilize large-scale facilities for interdisciplinary materials research. He looks forward to contributing his perspective as a student researcher and engaging with the broader SSRL user community.
Sarah EJ Bowman, University at Buffalo
Sarah EJ Bowman is an Associate Professor in Biochemistry and the Director of the National Crystallization Center at the University at Buffalo. Her research focuses on developing new methods for crystallization of biomolecules, for detecting very small crystals, and for in situ X-ray data collection. Her research lab is also interested in developing techniques that combine crystallographic and spectroscopic approaches to answer fundamental questions about protein biochemistry, especially in proteins that contain metals.
Jingyi Chen, University of Arkansas
Dr. Jingyi Chen is a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. She received her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Washington, Seattle, working with Younan Xia. She worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Brookhaven National Laboratory and then a Research Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Washington University in St. Louis. In 2010, she started her independent career as a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 2016, and to Professor in 2020. Her research focuses on rational design and synthesis of functional nanomaterials for energy conversion and human-health related applications. Her group emphasizes on precise synthesis of nanostructures, aiming to efficient and sustainable use of materials in applications, and fundamentally understand materials synthesis-structure-property-performance relationship under operando conditions. She and her group have been X-ray users at SSRL since 2017 and established collaboration with Dr. Simon Bare and his group at Co-ACCESS, focusing on in situ/operando characterization of nonprecious metal nanostructures for electrocatalysis.
Roberto Colina-Ruiz, University of Chicago
Roberto Colina-Ruiz is a Beamline Scientist stationed at the X-ray Fluorescence Microprobe (XFM) at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), on behalf of the Center for Advanced Radiation Sources (CARS), a center within the University of Chicago that operates three sectors at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), to support the geoscience community. His research focuses on the application and development of synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopy, imaging, and microspectroscopy techniques to address fundamental questions in earth, planetary, environmental, and geochemistry. His work includes investigations of lunar and extraterrestrial samples, geochemical mechanisms, environmental sciences, and energy-related systems using X-ray techniques. Roberto is a former SSRL and ALS postdoctoral researcher and has extensive experience as a synchrotron user across multiple facilities.
James P. Evans, Utah State University
James Evans is Professor of Geosciences at Utah State University. He received his Ph.D. and MS in Geology from Texas A&M University. His research interests include rock deformation from the micro scale to the map scale. Quantitative analysis of fluid-rock interactions as applied to earthquake processes, energy resources, and CO2 sequestration. 
Graham George, University of Saskatchewan
Graham George was educated at King's College London (B.Sc., 1979) and the University of Sussex (D. Phil., 1983). After postdoctoral fellowships at Sussex and Exxon Research & Engineering Co. in New Jersey USA, he continued at Exxon as a Principal Investigator. Graham was Exxon Participating Research Team spokesperson for both NSLS X10-C and SSRL 6-2 between 1988 and 1992. In 1992 Graham married fellow synchrotron radiation researcher Ingrid Pickering and moved to the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory where he held the position of Physicist until 2003. In 2003 he became full professor and Canada Research Chair in X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy at the University of Saskatchewan. Graham's first experiments using synchrotron radiation were on the EMBL XAS beamline at DESY Hamburg in April 1982, and his first experiments at SSRL were on Beam Line 7-3 in December 1983. Since that first run at SSRL Graham has taken part in over 185 different beamtime experiments at SSRL and has published more than 270 papers using data collected at SSRL. His research bridges the chemical, the environmental and the life sciences and includes a career-long interest in metalloenzymes, toxic metals and fuel science.
Matthew Law, University of Rochester
I am a 4th year biochemistry graduate student at the University of Rochester. I am a member of the lab of Prof. Joseph E. Wedekind, where we specialize in RNA X-ray crystallography. My thesis project focuses on structurally and functionally characterizing a newly discovered spermidine (spmd) riboswitch found in gram positive bacteria. Characterization of this riboswitch is an opportunity to understand how bacteria regulate their intracellular polyamine levels to maintain a healthy phenotype. I have screened hundreds of RNA crystals and collected dozens of datasets virtually using the Blu-Ice software interface provided by the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL). Using the tunable X-ray wavelength, I performed a fluorescent scan of heavy atom derivative spmd riboswitch crystals to optimize the anomalous signal and perform a single wavelength anomalous diffraction phasing experiment. Using the microfocus capabilities of beamline 12-2, I collected multiple complete datasets from single crystals that were merged to maximize multiplicity and solve the spmd riboswitch structure to 1.85 Å-resolution. I think I am a good candidate for student representative of the SSRL Users' Executive Committee (UEC) because, as a developing crystallographer and active user of the SSRL, I can provide feedback regarding user interface, user support, and user experience.
Michael Mara, Argonne National Laboratory
Michael Mara is a staff scientist in the Solar Energy Conversion group at Argonne National Laboratory who investigates the dynamics of photocatalytic transition metal complexes using steady-state and time-resolved X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray scattering. His work aims to relate the earliest dynamics following photoexcitation, such as directional charge transfer and spoin-vibronic coupling, to photochemical outcomes observed on longer time scales. This research therefore utilizes the short X-ray pulse widths provided by synchrotron and XFEL X-ray sources to map out the time-dependent electronic and nuclear motions that are driven by photoexcitation. Additional research efforts investigate the redox/structural properties of catalytic intermediates captured via chemical oxidation/reduction or under operando electrochemical conditions. Michael has been a regular user at several facilities, including the APS, SSRL, NSLS-II and LCLS, which has resulted in peer-reviewed publications in top journals, and has served on the proposal review panel for synchrotron user facilities.
Levi McClelland, University of Montana
Levi McClelland is a Research Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of the Integrated Structural Biology Core at the University of Montana (UM). He received his PhD in Biochemistry and Biophysics (2015) in Bruce Bowler's Lab (UM) studying protein stability and conformational changes associated with pH sensitivity. To better understand structural effects of conformational change, he solved novel cytochrome c crystal structures of interest. Levi then joined Stephen Sprang's Lab (UM) as a post-doc. Work in the Sprang Lab yielded further experience in protein macromolecular crystallography and small-angle X-ray scattering, solving the structure of G-alpha-i complexed to its chaperone Ric-8A. In 2020, he began managing the Integrated Structural Biology Core – a core facility of the Center for Biomolecular and Structural Dynamics COBRE at UM, providing protein expression and macromolecular structural services (including acting as the point-of-contact/spokesperson to SSRL) for the UM and regional communities. Levi's research focuses on mechanisms of cytosolic regulation and activation of G-alpha proteins and their binding partners. In 2023, he was elected as a member of the SSRL User Executive Committee (UEC) and seeks re-election to continue representing SSRL users.
Blaine Mooers, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center
Blaine Mooers is an Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC). In addition to faculty, he serves as the director of the Laboratory of Biomolecular Structure and Function, which is also a core facility for the Oklahoma COBRE in Structural Biology. Blaine began macromolecular crystallography as a graduate student by working on problems in DNA structure with Dr. Shing Ho at Oregon State University. He worked on problems in protein structure as a post-doc with Dr. Brian Matthews at the University of Oregon. While a post-doc, he used synchrotron radiation to collect atomic resolution data from crystals of proteins, thanks to expert guidance in data collection from SSRL staff. He determined the structures of several proteins and RNAs by direct methods with data collected at SSRL. Blaine has been a proposal spokesperson continuously since 2000, first in on OUHSC structural studies of RNAs and proteins from the unique RNA editing system in the mitochondrion of trypanosomes. He also collaborates with several OUHSC labs on structural studies of proteins related to influenza and cancer biology. He has been involved in SAXS studies since 2011 and is an active user of BL 4-2. Blaine believes that crystallography will continue to play a vital role in integrative structural biology. He served as chair of the SSRL User Executive Committee (UEC) during the existential budget crisis of 2017. He seeks re-election to the UEC to represent the concerns and needs of the users of macromolecular crystallography.
Liane Moreau, University of Wyoming
Liane Moreau has been an SSRL user on XAS and RXES beamlines since 2017. She is currently a faculty member in the department of chemistry at the University of Wyoming, where she leads a research group towards exploring nanoscale properties of f-element materials (particularly the actinides) and the structure of their surfaces and interfaces through pairing new synthetic developments with in-depth X-ray characterization. Liane completed her PhD in Materials Science and Engineering under the direction of Michael Bedzyk and Chad Mirkin at Northwestern University. Subsequently, she worked as a postdoctoral fellow under Corwin Booth at Lawrence Berkeley Lab in the heavy element chemistry group before beginning her independent career at Washington State University. Historically, Liane's work has relied upon synchrotron XAS and SAXS studies, specifically aiming to map the growth and transformation processes involved in the synthesis of nanoparticles, spanning the periodic table from first row transition metals to actinides. She has experience developing containment strategies for safely measuring radioactive samples and analysis strategies for systems with complex backgrounds. Liane had her first taste of synchrotron XAS work in 2009 as an undergraduate at Cornell University studying nanoscale oxidation processes and hasn't stopped since. She has experience working at CHESS, APS and ALS in addition to SSRL and looks forward to contributing to the continued growth and development of the synchrotron community for years to come.
Caitlin Palmer, University of Pennsylvania
Caitlin Palmer is a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Prof. Squire J. Booker at the University of Pennsylvania, where they study the mechanisms of metallocofactor biosynthesis and metalloprotein function. Their research integrates biochemical, structural, and spectroscopic approaches to investigate iron-sulfur cluster assembly, trafficking, and repair, with broader implications for mitochondrial function and human disease. Caitlin has extensive experience characterizing metalloenzymes and their cofactors using complementary biochemical and spectroscopic techniques, including X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES and EXAFS) and X-ray crystallography. Beyond research, Caitlin has mentored many undergraduate and graduate researchers and is committed to fostering an accessible and collaborative scientific community. As a member of the UEC, they would bring firsthand experience as a postdoctoral SSRL user and a strong interest in advancing resources, opportunities, and support for researchers across career stages.
Jake Pushie, University of Saskatchewan
Jake Pushie is a full-time staff scientist in the Department of Surgery at the University of Saskatchewan (Canada). My first visit to SSRL was in 2003. Autumn 2007 I became a regular user and over the past 15 years have had the pleasure of working and collaborating alongside some of the most amazing scientists and friends while visiting and collecting data at SSRL. My areas of interest are in the role of bio-metals in human health and disease, with particular focus on transition metal trafficking and coordination structure, as well as changes in trace elements associated with blood-brain barrier disruption and neurodegeneration. I have 66 peer reviewed publications, 35 of these have employed bio-spectroscopy beamlines at SSRL and 17 employed X-ray fluorescence microscopy beamlines at SSRL - and I feel like I'm only getting started! Much like the loss of wasted photons when we have beam, the loss of CPU cycles is also of concern to me as I use a broad range of computational chemistry tools at my home institution to help inform most of my synchrotron research. I was very impressed with how SSRL as a facility, and its staff, stepped-up and aided the user community during the pandemic. This only cemented my firm belief that SSRL is a facility like no other that researchers can rely on to enable the carrying-out of great science, no matter what. As a user I am also keenly aware of how difficult it is to train new users and grow the community. Such endeavours and outreach must start from within the user community itself and as a member of the UEC I envision opportunities to facilitate building user-led mentorships to educate, advise, and support new users - while also representing the needs and future interests of the existing user community.
Robert Root, University of Arizona
Rob Root is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science at the University of Arizona where he applies tools of environmental geochemistry to understand mechanisms that control the mobility and bioavailability of nutrients and toxic chemicals in the environment. Rob has been using synchrotron-based X-ray techniques in the soft, tender, and hard energy range for over 20 years for spectroscopic and imaging analysis of in vivo and in vitro alteration of geomedia in response to disequilibrium imposed by organisms, weathering, and climate to understand how chemical speciation impacts solubility, bioaccessibility, and mobility in environmental systems. His research combines macro-scale geochemical measurements of the release and uptake of stoichiometric or surface complexed elements between the solid and aqueous phases, constrained by atomic-scale spectroscopies and thermodynamic modeling, to develop predictive models of lability or secondary mineral precipitation. Rob is an interdisciplinary environmental researcher working to reveal a basic understanding of processes and reactions at the particle-surface interface relevant to human health.
Katie Rush, Auburn University
Katie Rush is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Auburn University in Auburn, AL. She received her PhD in 2018 from the University of Michigan under the supervision of Stephen Ragsdale and completed postdoctoral work with Ninian Blackburn and Kelly Chacón. She has been a frequent synchrotron user since 2018 and her independent program at Auburn continues to rely on XAS resources at SLAC and NSLS-II. Her research program is focused on selenoenzyme and metalloenzyme catalysis, as well as biologically-relevant coordination chemistry of selenocysteine, using XANES, EXAFS, and HERFD-XAS beamlines in addition to in-house biochemical and spectroscopic techniques.
Sarah Saslow, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
As a Senior Chemist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Dr. Sarah Saslow leads and supports research projects that explore material technologies for capturing, immobilizing, and/or disposing of radionuclides and other contaminants found at legacy nuclear waste sites. In particular, she pursues understanding of the fundamental mechanisms driving radionuclide/contaminant interactions with natural and engineered materials, like secondary minerals, cements, and polymeric resins, that lead to contaminant capture and immobilization. Integral to this research is materials characterization, for which synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopies (XANES/EXAFS), microprobe X-ray fluorescence mapping, and X-ray diffraction are relied upon to understand how spatially localized system chemistry and mineralogy influence the speciation, fate, and transport of target contaminants. With over 10 years of experience performing X-ray synchrotron measurements on radiological samples and navigating the DOE user proposal process, she stewards X-ray synchrotron capability awareness and support (proposals, measurements, and data analysis) to PNNL research programs studying radiological materials and systems.
Limei Zhang, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Dr. Limei Zhang has been an SSRL user on X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and Macromolecular Crystallography beamlines since 2004. Limei received her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Saskatchewan working with Prof. Graham N George (2004-2009), followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the California Institute of Technology with Prof. Douglas C. Rees (2009-2014). She is currently a Susan J. Rosowski Professor of Biochemistry and the Redox Biology Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Zhang group's research focuses on the structural and mechanistic investigation of metalloproteins in redox reactions and stress response, using a combination of synchrotron light-based techniques (X-ray crystallography, XAFS and X-ray fluorescence imaging, cryo-electron microscopy [cryo-EM]) and biochemical approaches. Her research has supported by NIH and NSF. Limei is enthusiastic about advancing techniques at SSRL and LCLS by combining the strengths of X-ray crystallography and XAS. She is looking forward to contributing to the synchrotron community at SSRL.
Laura Crowe, User Research Administration Manager
Laura earned her Ph.D. from the University of Freiburg, conducting research on perovskite solar cells at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE). Laura was a postdoctoral researcher at SLAC and an active SSRL user before spending several years in industry commercializing perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, most recently as Head of Reliability Development at Swift Solar, where she focused on intrinsic cell stability and module reliability. Returning to SLAC, Laura now oversees the User Research Administration Office and supports all aspects of the SSRL user program. Her experience as an SSRL user, former SLAC researcher, and now manager of the User Research Administration Office provides a broad perspective on supporting the scientific user community.
Lisa Dunn, SSRL User Research Administration
Lisa has worked at SSRL since 1986 and has been part of the User Research Administration team since 2000. Lisa manages the administration proposal review and scheduling for macromolecular crystallography and biological small angle scattering beam lines. Lisa earned her Bachelor of Science degree from San Jose State University.
 

Meetings

All users are encouraged to participate in SSRL Users' Organization activities. Meetings of the SSRL Users' Executive Committee (SSRL UEC) include open sessions that all members of the SSRL user community are invited to attend. Meetings are held 3-4 times a year and include an Annual Users' Meeting, usually held in September. The SSRL UEC welcomes user feedback. Address ideas, suggestions, concerns to the SSRL UEC Chairs by email (ssrl-uec@slac.stanford.edu) or click above Members tab for the current representatives and their contact information.

The SSRL UEC annually solicits nominations of potential candidates interested in standing for election to serve to join the UEC.

Before and during the Annual Users' Meeting, users have the opportunity to vote for their Users' Executive Committee Representatives. Ballots will be circulated in September, and users will vote for the SSRL Users' Executive Committee (UEC) candidates.