NSF BioXFEL Science and Technology Center

In 2013 the National Science Foundation established the BioXFEL Science and Technology Center through a cooperative agreement with the University at Buffalo on behalf of a consortium of eight research institutions. Our scientists draw from backgrounds in physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and computer science to develop new approaches for using X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) to resolve biomolecular structures. The center thrives on collaborative research and maximizes the broader impacts of our work through targeted education and knowledge transfer initiatives. We bring a community of students and postdoctoral fellows together through quarterly workshops, monthly web-based colloquia, summer research internships, and collaborations with partner universities such as the University of Puerto Rico-Ponce. Public education is accomplished through museum exhibitions and continually growing Internet and social media resources. We promote the worldwide adoption of XFEL-based techniques by sharing data analysis algorithms and sample delivery tools developed by our team. BioXFEL also represents a large XFEL user community on the world stage. Our work will culminate in a new set of tools and methods for visualizing the structures of single molecules and for creating “movies” of molecules in action during chemical reactions. The legacy of our center will be the emerging generation of scientists who harness these techniques to generate groundbreaking discoveries.