Ken Andersen, Director General at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, France, is excited about LINXS’ role in supporting a growing neutron community worldwide as ESS is set to open in early 2027.

He visited Lund, Sweden, for LINXS Science Day in June, where he delivered a keynote address.

"LINXS supports both X-ray and neutron users, which adds value to the co-location of MAX IV and ESS," says Ken Andersen. "In Grenoble, ILL and the X-ray facility ESRF are similarly co-located, and I think there is great potential for closer collaboration between our facilities."

"As far as I know, there is nothing like LINXS elsewhere, even though this kind of construct is really needed. Both neutron and X-ray facilities need to collaborate to highlight their different strengths and complementarities to the user communities."

"The most advanced research questions cannot be answered through one technique alone but rather require many experiments using different methods. Here, we can collaborate to support users in seamlessly accessing different large-scale facilities."

LINXS: connecting ILL and ESS

Ken Andersen underscores how LINXS can play an important role in bringing together the future users of ESS and user groups at ILL. He especially highlights the ongoing theme model at LINXS, where researchers can apply for funding to explore and develop a field of research using X-rays and/or neutrons over a three-year period. Through future themes, researchers can come together to advance neutron science.

At this year’s Science Day, attendees heard many presentations focusing on how X-rays have contributed to revealing new knowledge about everything from soft matter to heritage science. The same potential exists for neutrons, Ken Andersen notes, but the user community is currently smaller.

LINXS can support ESS in developing neutron science

Jane Hvolbæk Nielsen is the incoming Director General of ESS and will take over from the current Director General, Helmut Schober, on 1 November. In her previous role, she served as Denmark’s scientific delegate to the ESS Council.

During her attendance at LINXS Science Day, she reflected on her anticipation of getting to know ESS from the inside.

"It will be exciting to learn more about the neutron user community and the whole ecosystem around ESS over the next few months."

She agrees with Ken Andersen that LINXS can support the ESS user community.

"I think the LINXS initiative is really exciting. You are truly doing something important to build up the community and ensure that researchers are ready to carry out science at ESS when it goes into operation."

She also identifies LINXS’ themes as an important driver of neutron science.

"LINXS themes could be an inspiration for ESS: how can we support the new scientific questions posed by these groups? How do these questions align with our instrument suite?"

She continues:

"It will also be interesting to see which areas the LINXS community identifies as emerging fields and to hear from scientific groups that are either new to neutron science or not yet neutron users."

Huge potential for neutron science to address global challenges

Both Ken Andersen and Jane Hvolbæk Nielsen are continually impressed by the contribution neutron science makes to society.

"The breadth of applications and impact is enormous, from both scientific and technical perspectives. Neutrons can provide new knowledge for batteries, fuel cells, and solar cells. The fact that researchers can study real energy devices while they are operating, with the aim of improving their performance and sustainability, is truly unique," says Ken Andersen.

Jane Hvolbæk Nielsen adds that neutron science has significant potential to support various EU initiatives, especially in the areas of advanced materials for clean energy and sustainability.

"The upcoming EU Advanced Materials Act, which aims to accelerate the research, scale-up, and deployment of advanced materials and is expected in late 2026, will present an important opportunity. Neutron science can make a huge contribution by supporting the widespread use of advanced materials across different sectors of society."

“Performing experiments at large-scale facilities like MAX IV and ESS can be challenging. Our goal is to lower some of the barriers researchers face when using such facilities. This means looking at the entire experimental pipeline, from accelerator and beamline operations to data analysis,” says theme leader Pablo Villanueva Perez, Associate Professor in Physics at Lund University.

Identify bottlenecks in X-ray and neutron science

GAIN (Generating Advances with AI for neutrons/X-rays) will bring together three communities: scientists working at large-scale facilities, X-ray and neutron users, and experts in AI and scientific computing. The challenge is not simply to develop new AI methods, but to connect them with real scientific and operational needs, Pablo Villanueva Perez notes.

GAIN will create a platform where facility scientists who understand the instruments, users who encounter challenges during experiments, and AI and scientific-computing experts can identify problems and solutions. These challenges occur across the whole experimental workflow, from loss of beam during an ongoing experiment and the need for extensive training and support to operate certain beamline instruments, to challenges in data processing and analysis.

Pablo Villanueva Perez highlights several examples of how AI could be used to tackle these issues.

“Losing the beam can be extremely disruptive during an experiment because every interruption means losing valuable beamtime. AI could help in several ways. It could identify unusual patterns in operational data that indicate a potential problem before an interruption occurs. When a problem does happen, an AI agent could also search facility documentation and previous cases to help identify possible solutions.”

Freeing up time for science and opening facilities to new users

“AI can also be used to optimise experiments at large-scale research facilities”, says Pablo Villanueva Perez.

One example is to develop AI-assisted tools that can help researchers interact with complex beamline control systems and perform operations that today require extensive training or the assistance of an instrument scientist. Already, scientists have begun to develop autonomous beamline experiments in which AI can control parts of the experimental workflow. Such approaches could also allow experiments to adapt in real time, using data being collected to help decide what to measure next.

By handling routine operations and helping users navigate complex controls, such tools could allow instrument scientists to devote more time to scientific collaboration, challenging experiments, and developing new capabilities. In addition, by reducing some of the technical barriers associated with operating complex instruments, AI could also make X-ray and neutron techniques more accessible to researchers from different scientific fields.

Use AI where it can make a meaningful difference

“There are many exciting possibilities for AI, but the important question is where it can make an actual difference. To answer that, we need to bring together the people who understand the facilities, the researchers who experience the challenges, and the people developing AI methods. GAIN is a place where we can match real problems with new possibilities and turn them into meaningful solutions,” says Pablo Villanueva Perez.

Builds on Pablo Villanueva Perez’s own research interests

The aim of the theme is also close to Pablo Villanueva Perez’s own research interests. Originally from Spain, he came to Lund seven years ago to explore the new capabilities offered by MAX IV and ESS. He develops novel X-ray imaging methods and instruments, with AI as a key ingredient in enabling new imaging capabilities.

“AI became a tool that enabled us to come up with solutions for how to develop new imaging methods. It allows us to tackle problems that are very difficult to address with conventional computational methods and helps us think in new directions.”

“Our work in X-ray imaging made us interested in exploring how we can integrate AI into the whole pipeline for X-ray and neutron science and motivated the theme application. With GAIN, we are looking forward to working with colleagues across these different communities to identify where AI could be used smartly and to accelerate its adoption.”

About GAIN

GAIN will start its work in 2027. The theme will work across three interconnected working groups spanning the full scientific workflow: Working Group 1: AI for sustainable accelerators; Working Group 2: Beamline controls, autonomous experimentation, and online data analysis; and Working Group 3: AI for knowledge. Through these working groups, GAIN aims to create a meeting point for facility scientists, X-ray and neutron users, and experts in AI and scientific computing.

He is a professor at the Faculty of Basic Sciences at the EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, where he founded the Laboratory for Quantum Magnetism in 2007. He has chaired the Swiss and European Neutron Scattering Societies and is the incoming Dean of Basic Sciences at EPFL.

Why did you want to come to LINXS?

I am interested in contributing to the exciting scientific and strategic activities related to quantum materials taking place at ESS and MAX IV.

I invented the CAMEA (Continuous Angle Multiple Energy Analysis) class of instruments – and a modified version will be used at the ESS instrument BIFROST to form its back-end spectrometer. The CAMEA instrument belongs to a class of revolutionary multiplexing neutron spectrometers designed to maximise data collection efficiency.

BIFROST is of particular relevance to quantum materials as the instrument will be able to explore the physics of magnetism and superconductivity, with applications in many new energy materials and functional materials. It makes use of neutron spectroscopy, the main tool for investigating low-energy dispersive dynamics in single crystals.

Initially, the idea was that BIFROST would be up and running in time for my stay at LINXS, but since there are no neutrons yet, I will work with researchers to prepare for the commissioning and early science at BIFROST, as well as discuss how to optimise sample environments and scientific computing support.

Once there are neutrons, I will come back for another visit!

What else will you do during your visit?

My plan is to connect with the Swedish research community in my field of quantum materials – for example by visiting other Swedish universities – including Karlstad University, where my cousin is the vice-chancellor! I am half-Danish and half-Swedish, so the stay at LINXS has some sentimental value to me as well!

I know the Danish research community very well, but I am less connected in Sweden, and this will be a good chance to build my network and also work with researchers in the Quantum Materials theme.

What are your research interests?

My research focuses on quantum magnetism, strongly correlated electron phenomena, and materials with novel electronic properties, including high-temperature superconductors, CMR manganites and skyrmion-hosting materials. 

Within the field of quantum materials, my specialty could perhaps be described as going for the experiments others thought were impossible!

Read more about Henrik Moodysson Rønnow at the EPFL website
Read more about the Quantum Materials theme

“The LINXS Science Day in June was a very lively event and one of the largest Science Days ever, filling the entire premises as well the main atrium for an extremely interesting programme of interdisciplinary science,” says LINXS Director Trevor Forsyth.

The event featured two keynote lectures: one by Ken Andersen, Director General at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, in France, and another by Michael Sattler, Professor at Helmholtz Zentrum Munich in Germany. LINXS’ ten scientific themes also presented their work, highlighting how X-rays and neutrons enable new discoveries and scientific breakthroughs.

“The presentations were first class and extended from quantum materials, heritage science, semiconductors, life science, chemical biology, materials processing, and soft matter, and brought out the huge impact that large-scale science infrastructures have over a range of pure and applied science,” says Trevor Forsyth.

Other participants included Joachim ‘Achim’ Schnadt, Science Director of MAX IV; Helmut Schober, current Director of ESS, and former Director of ILL; incoming ESS Director Jane Hvolbaek Nielsen; and ESS founding Director Colin Carlile.

LINXS’ position between MAX IV and ESS builds bridges

Keynote speaker Ken Andersen, Director General at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), is impressed with how LINXS connects both X-ray and neutron communities.

“A construct like LINXS increases the value of the co-location of MAX IV and ESS by acting as a bridge between the facilities,” says Ken Andersen.

“ESS is about to open, and it will be interesting to see how LINXS can support collaboration between the user communities at ESS and ILL. All neutron facilities have different strengths, and it will be important to highlight their complementarity to researchers interested in using neutrons.”

Platforms for early-career researchers to meet

LINXS’ early-career researcher initiatives were also present, emphasising how they engage with scientists at the PhD and postdoctoral levels through creating strongly enabling platforms in the areas of hard matter, soft matter and life sciences.

“It is nice to see how links between LINXS’ early-career initiatives and other international activities are developing, such as the International Union of Crystallography Early Career Scientist Division,” says Trevor Forsyth.

Showcasing LINXS’ new workstations

The day ended with an interactive session showcasing LINXS’ new workstations – an initiative that has been funded by a large grant from the Crafoord Foundation. Each workstation is preloaded with analysis software for imaging, scattering, diffraction, and microscopy experiments and is free to use for all researchers working with X-rays and neutrons. The workstations are also used for targeted Data Clinics, providing support for specific techniques and methods based on researchers’ needs. The Data Clinics are hosted by invited experts.

“The participants had many questions about what can be done at the workstations,” says Martin Stankovski-Clark, senior strategist at LINXS. “It was great to highlight the different options for analysis and pre-processing.”

“There was also a great deal of interest in our Data Clinics. It will be exciting to develop this concept further together with the community. Our ambition is to help reduce the time it takes between experiments and publication by supporting users in analysing and processing their data.”

Read more about LINXS Science Day

“These themes were prioritised by the LINXS Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and selected from a large number of highly competitive applications. They include initiatives for AI, data interpretation, and protein design/analysis,” says Trevor Forsyth, LINXS Director.

“We extend a warm welcome to the new theme leaders, core groups and working groups. Many of these researchers have been actively involved in LINXS previously, either as visiting researchers or as participants of other activities. That they return to lead their own themes as part of completely new initiatives is very gratifying.”

Themes

Functional Proteins for the Future (FunProF)

Led by Petri Kursula, Professor in Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Norway

The FunProF theme aims to understand, design, and exploit functional proteins. Functional proteins include both different states of proteins in the cellular environment as well as engineered molecular tools that have been established by biotechnology and molecular engineering. The theme will focus on how their structure, dynamics, and performance can be interrogated and optimised using synchrotron and neutron sources.

FunProF will advance the understanding and application of functional proteins through combined experimental and computational approaches, linking experimentalists and data scientists to state-of-the-art facilities. This approach will foster both basic science on protein function and innovation towards sustainable protein-based solutions, expanding the user base and capabilities of large-scale research infrastructures, with a strong Nordic dimension.

The theme will divide its work across four working groups: Working Group 1: Sample production and characterisation workflows; Working Group 2: Experiments on functional proteins at synchrotron and neutron sites; Working Group 3: Computational approaches to experimental design and data analysis; and Working Group 4: Future applications for functional proteins.

Accessible Computational Scattering Tools (CATS)

Led by Mikael Lund, Professor in Computational Chemistry, Lund University

The CATS theme aims to consolidate computational scattering tools and make them available through standardised interfaces and workflows to support users of ESS, MAX IV, other facilities, and industry, to interpret scattering data from concentrated biomolecular and soft matter systems.

By focusing on improving the accessibility and integration of different tools, enhancing interoperability between different systems, and validating tools through experiments, the theme will improve the analysis of scattering data, which up to now has been very challenging, despite small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS) being indispensable techniques for probing structure and interactions in soft matter and biological systems.

The theme will work across five working groups: Working Group 1: Simulation-Based Structure Factors; Working Group 2: Numerical Theory for Structure Factors; Working Group 3: Hydration, Solvation, and Coarse-Grained Scattering Models; Working Group 4: Intrinsically Disordered Proteins and Flexible Systems; and Working Group 5: End-User Integration and Training.

Generating Advances with AI for neutrons/X-rays (GAIN)

Led by Pablo Villanueva Perez, Associate Professor in Physics, Lund University

The GAIN theme aims to establish a collaborative platform and roadmap for integrating AI into MAX IV and ESS, with the goal of making facility operations more efficient, experiments easier to perform and optimise, and the path from experimental data to scientific knowledge faster.

GAIN will bring together three communities: scientists working at large-scale facilities, users of neutron and X-ray techniques, and experts in AI and scientific computing. Together, they will identify key bottlenecks before, during, and after experiments and explore where AI can provide meaningful solutions.

The theme will work across three interconnected working groups spanning the full scientific workflow: Working Group 1: AI for sustainable accelerators; Working Group 2: Beamline controls, autonomous experimentation, and online data analysis; and Working Group 3: AI for knowledge.

By connecting expertise across facilities, users, and AI, GAIN aims to lower barriers to using MAX IV and ESS, accelerate the adoption of AI where it can make a genuine difference, and build a strong community at the intersection of AI, neutron, and X-ray science.

“As more heritage science professionals are starting to use X-rays and neutrons, we need to discuss how and when to use these methods, and for what purpose,” says Mikael Fauvelle, leader of the Heritage Science theme, and researcher at the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Lund University.

In May, the theme organised a conference at LINXS to explore these questions. Archaeologists and heritage science professionals from institutions and museums worldwide were invited to the conference.

They discussed the impact various X-ray and neutron methods can have on different types of artefacts.

Raise awareness of both opportunities and potential negative impacts

One of the presenters was Dr. Lucia Burgio, Lead Scientist at the Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK. A trained chemist, she highlighted how many X-ray and neutron methods can cause changes to objects.

For example, neutron analysis can make materials temporarily radioactive, some only for a couple of hours, while others, like gold, can remain radioactive for days. The use of neutrons can further impact an object’s isotopic ratio, which researchers measure to determine age, chronology or provenance. X-ray analysis, in turn, can affect the chemical composition of an object, effectively changing or removing a layer of information that can no longer be evaluated by other researchers.

“These techniques are often labelled as non-invasive and non-destructive, but that is not necessarily true,” says Lucia Burgio. “To use them conscientiously, it is important to establish what damage, changes, or consequences different techniques may cause, so that any consent to analyse an object is given with full knowledge by collections or other heritage holders.”

Important to highlight hidden costs

Laura Perucchetti, who also presented at the conference, agrees. She is a researcher at the British Museum in the UK, and underscores how all analyses come with hidden costs. One such cost is the time commitment required from everyone involved - from curators to instrument scientists - in applying and preparing for beamtime, transporting objects to facilities, performing experiments, and learning new data analysis tools.

There is also the risk of damaging cultural objects. Large-scale infrastructures are not designed specifically for heritage science, which can make analyses more challenging.

“There is a sweet spot between potentially harming an object and only preserving it, and thus not sharing it with the world. In other words, we need to balance any research opportunity with its associated risks.”

Another aspect, highlighted by both Laura Perucchetti and Lucia Burgio, is how to handle and work with the large amounts of data acquired through experiments. They emphasise the importance of storing and sharing data properly so that different research teams can make use of the results. Otherwise, the same analysis might be performed twice, further increasing risks to the objects.

Questions of when and how to subject objects to analysis at the centre of discussions

Underlying the discussions during the conference was the more existential question of when and how an object should be subjected to analysis.

“The lifetime of a rare painting or vase can be hundreds of years, whereas our lifespan is much shorter. I often ask my staff and colleagues to sit on a research question and wait and see if less invasive methods might emerge in the future. The answer might not come to me, but to my successor. Fundamentally, it is about keeping the object at the centre,” says Lucia Burgio.

These issues are further brought to the fore in analyses of objects that belong to Indigenous groups or carry special cultural value.

Engage local stakeholders in large-scale analyses

Jamie Hampson, Associate Professor of Rock Art and Indigenous Heritage at the University of Exeter, studies cave paintings that still hold cultural significance for descendant communities. In his presentation, he highlighted the importance of engaging local stakeholders in large-scale analyses, especially when they involve changing the object’s material composition or transporting it over long distances. Different cultures also have different value systems that need to be considered when performing X-ray imaging or neutron analysis.

“Have you explained what you want to do to the object? What knowledge you are after and what it will mean? These are crucial steps in ensuring a good collaboration.”

He notes that many Indigenous groups are interested in the possibilities that neutrons and similar techniques offer, for example in determining the provenance of materials, such as where a pigment was originally quarried. This knowledge can help communities demonstrate historical presence in a geographical area and support land-use claims.

“As with any analysis, it is key to ensure you have all stakeholders on board. We also have to ask ourselves who will benefit from the analysis - is it only museum curators or researchers, or can this knowledge also support the communities connected to these cultural artefacts?”

Report on the effects of large-scale techniques on heritage science objects

The discussions at LINXS led to an agreement to draft a report outlining key considerations related to the use of large-scale techniques. That they represent the future of archaeology and heritage science is a given - never before has it been possible to obtain such detailed knowledge about human culture, trade routes, and physical movements.

“I continue to be amazed at what you can do with X-rays and neutrons. No other techniques enable us to look inside materials in this way and at such high resolution. That is also why now is the time to discuss how we can use them in the best and least damaging way,” says Mikael Fauvelle.

Read more about the Heritage Science theme

Reflection on the Heritage Science Conference by the Italian Embassy of Sweden

The event was co-sponsored by the Italian Embassy of Sweden. Prof. Augusto Marcelli, the Scientific Attaché at the Italian Embassy, opened the conference at LINXS.

Read the Embassy’s reflection on the conference, published on their website

In our very last newsletter for the spring term, we reflect on the past few months of exciting activity for LINXS! We are so proud over what we have achieved together with all of you - the LINXS community!

Happy summer! See you in August!

Read the newsletter to find out more about our activities, and to stay updated on more opportunities to engage, learn and connect with others.

Subscribe to the Newsletter

He is staying at LINXS from mid-May to mid-June.

What are your research interests and your background?

I am a (palae)oceanographer interested in the biomineralisation of marine calcifying plankton, particularly planktonic foraminifera and coccolithophores, and their role as recorders of past ocean conditions.

My work bridges physical oceanography, palaeoclimate and the carbon cycle, with a focus on biogeochemical proxies and advanced X-ray imaging techniques. I hold a PhD from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and have held fellowships at the University of Oxford (Royal Society Newton and Marie Skłodowska-Curie) and am currently an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research in Bremen.

My key contribution so far has been establishing that planktonic foraminifera regulate their calcification according to ambient seawater density, a discovery with direct implications for how we reconstruct past ocean physics and carbon cycling from deep sea sediment cores.

What will you work on during your stay in Lund, Sweden?

I will be using synchrotron and laboratory X-ray microtomography to characterise the three-dimensional shell architecture of planktonic foraminifera from modern Red Sea sediments at unprecedented resolution, with the aim of extracting proxies that record past changes in seawater physics such as density (i.e. temperature and salinity).

I am also interested in exploring the potential of neutron-based techniques for non-destructive boron analysis of foraminiferal shells, which would open new possibilities for paleo-ocean pH reconstructions using museum collections.

Why did you choose to come to LINXS?

LINXS sits at the heart of a unique concentration of large-scale research infrastructures, and the combination of synchrotron and neutron capabilities in one place is unmatched. The Environment and Climate theme at LINXS is a natural fit for my research, and the opportunity to connect with scientists applying these techniques across disciplines is precisely the kind of cross-pollination my work can benefit from.

What do you hope you'll get out of the visit overall?

I hope to establish new methodological workflows combining X-ray and neutron techniques for the study of microfossils, and to build lasting collaborations with researchers at LINXS and the surrounding institutions.

There is much to gain from techniques that have long been standard in materials science, physics and engineering but remain underutilised in marine sciences, and this visit is an opportunity to bridge that gap and bring these tools into the palaeoceanographic toolkit.

More broadly, I hope the visit will help open a new chapter in how we use biomineral archives to reconstruct past ocean physics, going beyond conventional geochemistry.

Read more about Stergios Zarkogiannis at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT)

What are you currently working on?

I am instrument scientist for polarization analyzed SANS. Mostly I am working with the SKADI team, which is the SANS beamline at ESS which will be equipped with full polarization capabilities. Sometimes I also join activities from e.g. DREAM or ESTIA.

On the instrumentational side, I am working on the polarization capabilities for SKADI (mostly the Flipper, Analyzer, and magnetic field environments for samples).

On the research side, I am performing hard-matter polarized SANS and GISANS experiments. Regarding data analysis, I am working with the DMSC to define workflows for polarized SANS data reduction and analysis.

What first sparked your interest in your field of research?

It was when I started looking for possible PhD-projects near the end of my master thesis. I took part in a neutron labcourse with both theoretical and experimental parts, and especially the week of performing and analyzing neutron experiments was a lot of fun! Afterwards, I asked for the possibility of a PhD in this field.

What challenge/societal problem are you trying to solve, and why is it important?

My work is on hard-matter systems mostly towards the fundamental physics aspect, e.g. with magnetic / correlated electron systems. It can be applied in different sectors such as data storage based on magnetic materials, energy storage, or quantum technologies, but also e.g. for background substraction or filtering out incoherent scattering contributions.

What has been the most exciting or rewarding part of your work so far? 

Regarding instrumentational work: the improvement of the efficiency of SKADI’s Spin Flipper, as this is a very important improvement to the beamline, which will affect any user working with polarization analysis.

Regarding my scientific work: the paper coming out of my collaboration with a theoretical team working on DFT and micromagnetic modelling, as it combines nicely the measured observables (in this case a magnetic chirality) with theoretical calculations on the origin of such.

Why did you become involved in LINXS?

I am part of the YRI for Hard Matter, which is very motivating as it keeps the younger community connected which could help in learning about general neutron/X-ray scattering techniques and analysis programs. I would have liked to join activities like that during my PhD times!

I am also involved in the Quantum Materials theme.

What advice would you give to early-career researchers?

Stay motivated and keep connected – the basis for a researcher’s future!

Read more about Annika Stellhorn at ESS

Since the start of the RheoMAXESS theme at LINXS in early 2025, applications for advanced rheometry experiments at MAX IV have increased significantly. The targeted efforts to disseminate the techniques, explore their applications, and support users in proposal writing and data analysis have all had positive effect, says theme leader Roland Kádár.

“The theme was conceived based on the early success of new techniques developed within the Advanced Rheological Testing Science Initiative (artSI) at MAX IV. This was fuelled by the fact that rheology can impact a number of disciplines, from materials and medicine to food and sustainability. Now we are seeing proof that more researchers are eager to explore how rheology can support their research questions,” says Roland Kádár, Professor of Rheology at Chalmers University of Technology.

The RheoMAXESS theme aims to unite soft matter science and soft matter processing with the focal point of rheology – the science of flow and deformation of matter – as a uniquely positioned analytical tool that connects both worlds across disciplines.

LINXS was the platform that was needed

Identifying researchers’ needs has been key to the increase in rheometry applications at MAX IV, explains Roland Kádár. The LINXS theme has become the platform that was needed for creating new networks with a shared interest in rheology.

“It is not enough to just have a good technique if no one knows about it, you also need to have the means to reach out,” he says.

Building on previous activities to highlight the capabilities rheology offers for different disciplines, and workshops which focused on how to write beamtime applications, the latest activity in February brought together different research areas that can all benefit from rheology: materials, food and bio/med-tech. In attendance were both researchers and company representatives.

During this workshop, which was organised in collaboration with the AIDA theme at LINXS, the latest research in synchrotron and neutron rheological testing was presented, together with scientific cases from leading researchers in academia and industry.

New open-source software toolset

A new open-source software toolset that allows nearly real-time post-processing of experimental data close to publication-ready levels was also presented. It enables researchers to trouble-shoot, fine-tune and make decisions on how to continue experiments while they are ongoing at the beamline. The interface for the model is available as an open source on the coding platform GitHub and the team is working to implement this into the Data Clinics at LINXS.

“We encourage people to look beyond the technical specifications of our rheological infrastructure when they are deciding on what experiments they would like to perform. Rather, we want them to contact us with a focus on what they would like to ultimately find out. Then we try to make that possible,” says Roland Kádár.

Value of any technique comes from its application

He emphasises that the value of any new technique or software ultimately comes from how it is used, and whether it can support new scientific breakthroughs.

He continues:

“We have found that this combination of scientific method development and community reach-out proof-of-concept works! And this is an aspect that will continue to grow in importance as we have a range of very exciting new developments in the pipeline.”

 Read more about the RheoMAXESS theme

“These bacteria are ideal candidates for capacity building in the electron microscopy methods we aim to advance in the SHINE theme – specifically Cryo-ET, Cryogenic Electron Tomography,” says Vasili Hauryliuk, Professor in Molecular Enzymology at the Medical Faculty at Lund University. “They are small, and full of molecular machines that can be efficiently detected by Cryo-ET: ribosomes that are responsible for building proteins, and clusters of enzymes that capture the methane.”

Aim to advance the analyses of clinical samples

An overarching aim of the SHINE theme is to advance the analyses of clinical samples using high-resolution imaging techniques such as Cryo-ET. They make it possible to study proteins within cells, or even in tissue, and can reveal new information about protein behaviour and structure. A stark contrast to how proteins are commonly studied: by purifying them and analysing them in a controlled environment. In time, this knowledge can help researchers understand why diseases develop and cells malfunction.

Technique requires sample preparation

Yet a major difficulty with analysing clinical samples by Cryo-ET is that this method is unsuitable for thick samples. The technique requires a lot of sample preparation, such as slicing the clinical sample into smaller pieces first. Experiments on bacteria can help set up the technique due their small size.

Research on bacteria: a new venture

For Vasili Hauryliuk this research is exciting. Up to a few years ago he had never heard of these bacteria, let alone studied them. It all started when he read about a research group run by Alexander Tosdal Tveit at The Arctic University of Norway, who had managed to capture and farm bacteria that eat atmospheric methane. These bacteria naturally live in melting permafrost in places such as Svalbard.

Now they will collaborate in a research project that also involves Oleg Sitsel, an assistant professor at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan. Their end goal is to make the bacteria consume more methane. If they succeed it can have major potential to mitigate climate change: for example, by using them on cattle farms to capture some of the methane that the animals produce through digestion.

First step: understanding the bacteria

Succeeding requires many steps. To begin with, they need to first understand the bacteria’s inner molecular workings: how can you genetically modify it in the future to eat larger amounts of the gas and grow faster?

“The bacteria’s DNA has already been sequenced, but we need to understand the metabolic processes at play: how do they allocate their resources when they grow fast; and how do they form ribosomes and enzyme clusters? To find this out, we will use Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), combined with proteomics and microbiology,” says Vasili Hauryliuk.

Identify phages that eat the bacteria to learn from them

A long-term goal for Vasili Hauryliuk is to take the research one step further. The main focus of his lab is phages, viruses that infect and kill bacteria. He is interested in identifying phages that kill methane-eating bacteria. Phages are the most abundant biological entities on earth and play an important role in for example the carbon cycle where they kill large amounts of marine bacteria and thus recycle carbon and nutrients.

“If we can isolate the phages that kill these bacteria, we can use these for biotechnology. When phages infect bacteria, they use all kinds of ingenious tricks to take over their metabolism. They have been doing this for billions of years, and it is time we learn from them.”

Vasili Hauryliuk is excited about combining his ongoing research on viruses with this project and the work within the SHINE theme.

“For us this has been a very odd direction for our research. It is a completely different thing, but it is fun to do something outside your comfort zone! I find that these projects are the ones where you also learn the most, when you have a completely open mind!”

About the research

The research project is funded by HFSP Research Grants – a grant that supports innovative basic research into fundamental biological problems with emphasis placed on novel and interdisciplinary approaches that involve scientific exchanges across national and disciplinary boundaries. It gathers Vasili Hauryliuk and colleagues from Lund University, UiT The Arctic University of Norway (Tromsø), Harvard Medical School and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology in Japan.

Read more about the SHINE theme

AMBER has opened its final call for postdoctoral fellowship positions, with a deadline of 24 August 2026. AMBER, Advanced Multiscale Biological imaging using European Research infrastructures, addresses scientific and sectoral gaps in biological imaging ranging from molecular, through cellular, to tissue, organ and organism levels of organisation.

Around four postdocs will be recruited in this call and each postdoc is funded for 36 months. Scientists holding a PhD in the areas of physics, chemistry, medical sciences, biological sciences, or other relevant areas are welcome to apply.

AMBER is coordinated by LINXS Institute of advanced Neutron and X-ray Science.

The postdocs will be recruited under the following topic areas

• Biological and biomedical imaging

• Lipids, lipid-based therapeutics and partially ordered systems

• Protein structure in health and pathology

AMBER has the following partner organisations: Lund University/MAX IV, Sweden, the European Spallation Source (ESS), Sweden, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), France, the International Institute of Molecular Mechanisms and Machines, (IMOL), Poland, the Leicester Institute of Structural and Chemical Biology, United Kingdom, and Aarhus University, Denmark.

As a postdoc ,your work may include clinical and biomedical projects. It may also include technique development work aimed at combining imaging techniques and data analysis to provide a more integrated picture of life processes in the context of health and disease.

The call closes on 24 August 2026.

AMBER is an EU research programme funded by the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) COFUND scheme.

In this newsletter, we share our upcoming events, and news from our thematic activities. We also highlight interviews and initiatives from our different theme leaders.

Read the newsletter to find out more about our activities, and to stay updated on more opportunities to engage, learn and connect with others.

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The new board members are:

• Professor Per Persson (Board Chair), Dean at the Faculty of Science, Lund University

• Professor Margaret McNamee, Deputy Dean at the Faculty of Engineering, Lund University

• Professor Jonas Larsson, Deputy Dean at the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University

• Professor Lars Kloo, KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm

• Professor Olof Karis, Director of MAX IV Laboratory

• Professor Helmut Schober, Director General of the European Spallation Source ERIC

• Akshat Mishra (PhD Representative), PhD Student in Mathematical Physics, Lund University

The LINXS Semiconductors theme aims to combine semiconductor device development with advanced characterisation using X-rays and neutrons. In February, the theme had its first event at LINXS to plan its future work.

“It was a very good experience,“ says theme leader Rainer Timm, Professor at the Department of Physics, Lund University. “We had many people in attendance and lively discussions right from the start.”

During the event, they had two parallel workshops to identify key needs and focus areas for the different working groups. The intention is to focus on the most pressing questions for developing semiconductor technologies.

“We want to improve what is well established within the field with new functionalities. We can never replace silicon, but we need to develop alternative technologies for more energy-efficient AI systems, and we need to ensure that novel semiconductor materials can support the green transition through improved electrification,” says Rainer Timm.

Bridging device development and beamline expertise

Many new materials are already being developed, emphasises Rainer Timm. Through advanced X-ray and neutron characterisation, their functionalities can be understood, refined and tested in ways that have not been possible before. Yet this will require experiments that produce data on how semiconductors operate in devices in real time – so-called operando studies.

During the kick-off, the theme members began to discuss how one can prepare, plan, and perform such experiments, which include developing methods to go from characterisation of simple model structures to characterisation of more complex models, such as full devices.

“What we learnt in our initial discussion is that we need to have good interaction between those involved in developing semiconductors and instrument scientists to make this work since it is quite a challenge.”

Building a broad network across academia and industry

Involving instrument scientists right from the start, as they will do in the theme, is one way forward, emphasises Rainer Timm. Through collaboration, one can ensure that the devices fit the requirements of the beamlines, for example, making experiments more successful and increasing the chances of producing correct and usable data.

“There are a lot of things to think about when you go from simple models to more complex systems involving not just semiconductors, but multiple materials requiring measurements at different length scales,” says Rainer Timm.

To really make a difference in developing new semiconductor technologies, one needs to involve a range of different organisations – spanning from basic research to more applied science, explains Rainer Timm. Therefore, one of the aims with the theme is to build a broad network with researchers from academia, industry and larger research institutes.

Already two of the companies attending the kick-off are interested in joining the theme. To Rainer Timm, this suggests that the theme’s focus is seen as something of value to the industry.

“We are delighted with this early interest! It is great to have companies on board at this early stage as it opens possibilities for deeper collaboration!”

Exploring neuromorphic materials and advanced techniques

Regina Dittmann, Director at the Forschungszentrum Jülich, GmbH, in Germany, is co-leader for one of the theme’s working groups: Neuromorphic Materials for Deep Learning and AI. Her research is focused on how to use synchrotron techniques to measure microscopic processes in devices – with an aim to develop materials that can serve as vehicles in neuromorphic computing systems. Neuromorphic computing is an engineering approach that mimics neural and synaptic structures in hardware and software to create highly energy-efficient, fast, and intelligent systems.

She is excited about being part of the Semiconductors theme.

“For me, it is very valuable and interesting to have a community to exchange knowledge with. Within the theme, we can engage in new approaches, learn about new techniques, and discuss new aspects of the devices,” says Regina Dittmann.

Bringing researchers and instrument scientists together during the kick-off proved very successful, she says.

“At MAX IV, they are involved in instrument development, something I, and many others, are highly interested in. It was great to hear about what is going on at the forefront of this work, in terms of the development of new techniques and methods.”

Learning across fields and expanding expertise

Judith Knabe is also involved in the theme. She is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Electrical and Information Technology at Lund University. In her research, she is interested in developing materials for neuromorphic applications that can be used by industry. From her PhD, which focused on epitaxial films and growth techniques to develop nano-scale electronic and optical devices, she already has experience of X-ray characterisation.

“You are missing out on a lot of opportunities if you are not using these techniques,” says Judith Knabe.

She is excited about learning more about other fields and approaches as part of the theme’s work.

“There is so much more to learn! The theme is a great opportunity to benefit from other people who are experts, and to gain more knowledge of data analysis and different aspects of X-ray and neutron characterisation!”

Kick-off presented new opportunities

Paul Hurley is a Professor at the Tyndall National Institute, at the University College Cork in Ireland. Applying his research expertise in 2D materials and compound semiconductors, he works with developing red microLEDs for next generation of augmented reality (AR)-glasses. Paul and the team are working to characterise, understand and passivate non-radiative defects in the vicinity of the mesa edge of the red microLEDs which are limiting the optical output power. These defects are distributed into the semiconductor (InGaP) over just a few nanometers and  remain one of the main challenges for this type of optical AR-technology.

Attending the theme kick-off was an eye opener for Paul Hurley. Learning more about what facilities like MAX IV and ESS can offer was especially valuable.

“I have never been at a synchrotron source before. I found out capabilities I didn’t even know existed!”

“I also learnt about new techniques and approaches we can try in our own research. We have a very specific, but very challenging problem, as the defects on the glasses are only distributed over a few nanometres.”

That the theme brings together different groups of researchers is something he highly commends.

“For collaborations and projects to have a larger impact it is better to gather people that don’t know each other’s work from beforehand. The chance for innovation and breakthrough is much higher. Take me as an example: I am from an electrical engineering background, and I have learnt so many new things from just one visit to LINXS!”

Read more about the Semiconductors theme

Read more about the kick-off for the Semiconductors theme

The two keynote lectures are from Ken Andersen, Director at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, and Michael Sattler, Professor at Helmholtz Zentrum, in Munich, Germany. There will also be presentations from the early career scientists involved in the young researcher initiatives for hard matter, soft matter, and life sciences.

The day will end with an informal interactive session including posters, and various demonstration sessions including sessions highlighting the Crafoord data analysis clinics that have recently gone into action at LINXS.

“It will be a lively day showcasing the breadth of science ongoing within the LINXS communities and emphasising the developing potential in the Science Village environment as well as its powerful international connectivity” says Trevor Forsyth, LINXS Director.

Read more and register for LINXS Science Day

Bouthayna Rabhi and Hagar Abdalla are two of the organisers of the upcoming early-career researcher symposium taking place at LINXS in May. They are both PhD students at the University of Leicester, focusing on molecular cell biology.

Why are you organising this event?

The annual symposium in Lund on 21 - 22 May allows early-career researchers from the University of Leicester and other universities to share their research in a similar field, allowing for growing collaborative work and ideas. It enables the generation of new ideas while creating new connections, which is essential for researchers. 

What would you like to see as outcomes?

We would love to see an interdisciplinary dialogue between the young researchers in Leicester, Lund and any other participating Scandinavian institution. This should be an opportunity for a multi-diverse networking for early career researchers to meet up, discuss science and interlink the different disciplines as well as open opportunities for facility use and potential collaboration!

What scientific questions will you focus on, and why are they interesting?

Structural, biophysical and molecular interactions, chemical biology approaches to target therapy, and regulation of cellular and biological systems. These are the three topics we will focus on. These subjects allow us to better understand existing research gaps while generating new questions for the future of science. 

What challenges do you think are most important to tackle within your research field?

The challenges are many in our research field, but one of the most important is the interdisciplinary aspect of it (hence why the symposium can be a good opportunity to be inspired!).

Having access to the tools and the techniques that are not available in the lab we work in, as well as collaborators who can help with their expertise in this regard, is important.

Why organise activities especially for early-career researchers?

Attending symposiums such as this one allows researchers to begin networking from early on in their research careers. Connections and collaborations, such as those that will be developed in Lund, are an essential tool for any academic. Through these, young researchers can seek mentoring and advice from more experienced individuals.  

What motivates you in your work?

Our research allows us to work passionately about something we are very interested in. The problem-solving and troubleshooting that come with exploring our research question encourage us to work to the fullest of our ability. This, coupled with a happy and healthy work environment, makes work something to look forward to. 

 Read more about the symposium and register 

The biennial school FASEM, the French Swedish Academy for Scattering Experiments and Modeling, aims to train early-career researchers in neutron and photon techniques, combining experimental approaches with modelling. This year, it was hosted by the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble for the first time.

At the ILL, Peter Fouquet, instrument scientist and Head of the ILL Graduate School, acted as the main organiser of the event. The FASEM school itself is coordinated and co-organised by Christine Darve, senior scientist at the European Spallation Source (ESS).

One of the goals with FASEM is to develop and strengthen sustainable scientific exchanges between the French and Swedish communities on the use of large-scale facilities like ESS/MAXIV and ILL/ESRF/SOLEIL, with the support of the Ambassade de France and Institut français.

More than 150 applications

The 2026 school attracted strong international interest: more than 150 students applied for the one-week programme. Of these, 30 were selected for on-site participation and a further 50 attended online. The number of applications, including many from developing regions, highlights the growing global reach of the programme, emphasise Christine Darve and Peter Fouquet.

“Since the first edition, we have added several components, like modelling, and industry engagement, as well as online capacity to reach out to developing communities. Through FASEM, we can support knowledge transfer, build networks, and ensure continuity for future users of neutron and photon sources, complementing the well-established HERCULES school,” says Christine Darve.

“Our collaboration has proven very successful in attracting participants not just from Sweden and France, but from many other countries. This is particularly valuable, as we aim to bring together a diverse group of students with different perspectives and backgrounds, while helping them develop the skills needed to prepare strong and competitive grant applications. Personally, it is also an opportunity to meet, and to mentor younger researchers, which I greatly enjoy,” says Peter Fouquet.

Materials for Energy Applications

This school rotates across three key thematic areas: Scattering Techniques for Environment & Materials, Life Sciences, and Energy Applications. This time, the focus was on materials for energy applications. The programme covered a wide range of neutron and photon techniques (imaging, diffractometry, spectroscopy, small-angle scattering) along with their applications, data processing, and AI-enhanced analysis. Sessions also addressed industry engagement, career opportunities and socio-economic impact of neutron and photon research.

Participants visited both the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), taking part in guided tours of the facilities and exchanges with local scientists.

FASEM also featured prizes for best research poster and best research presentation (clips) funded by LightSources.org, while the European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN) supported the attendance of 10 Swedish students.

Technical skills and collaboration for large-scale science

“We strive for students to gain a solid understanding of both the technical concepts and the collaborative skills needed for executing large-scale research projects,” says Ken Andersen, ILL General Director, and lecturer at FASEM2019.

“By training students early in their career, we also strengthen the whole neutron and photon community’s scientific and operational expertise for the future,” adds Jean Daillant, ESRF General Director and lecturer at FASEM2019.

Since the start, LINXS has been a long-standing partner to FASEM, hosting the two earlier schools, in 2019, FASEM2019, and in 2024, FASEM2024. Those schools specifically highlighted the development of ESS and the expertise of its scientific community.

Positive feedback from participating students

Alongside the scientific programme, FASEM also placed strong emphasis on interaction and community building. The feedback from participants reflects both the quality of the training and the collaborative atmosphere of the school.

Juliana Avtarovski is a PhD Student at the School of Physics at the University of Wollongong, Australia, currently spending time at ILL. Her research topic is in condensed matter physics, focusing on copper-based frustrated magnets, such as clinoatacamite, at ANSTO:

“It was an incredible week meeting many new peers from abroad and learning plenty.”

She can see many benefits for her continued research:

“It was great to be given an introduction to many techniques that I will be making use of in the future and also seeing them applied for different applications. The atmosphere of the event was so warm and inviting, making networking with PhD and early-career researchers in related fields fun and insightful.”

“I now have a better idea of why my research team applies certain techniques rather than others and the need to consolidate a range of techniques for reliable, meaningful results. With the lectures being accessible as recordings and PDFs, I am able to come back to these resources when I eventually implement what I have learnt at this school,” says Juliana Avtarovski.

Marcus Liljenberg is an industrial PhD student at KTH and PowerCell in Sweden. His research topic is intermediate temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells, with special focus on optimizing the catalyst layers.

He also found the contents of the school very valuable for his PhD studies. He commends the broad introduction to many techniques which he now hopes to incorporate in his own research.

“Many of the papers I've been reading include methods using Small Angle Scattering techniques. Interpreting these results is not trivial and I've been looking for some course to study these methods. I was lucky to find FASEM, and that the focus this year was on energy materials is a happy coincidence!”

Going forward, he says he will have a better understanding of interpreting research based on these techniques.

“I'm also hoping to design my own experiments that can complement other methods that I'm currently using. I'll try to keep in contact with others that attended, perhaps we can continue with collaborations.”

Erika Magnusson is a PhD student at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. She researches structure-dynamics relationships in various ion-conducting solids. Her previous background is in nanomaterials, where she has mainly worked with lab-scale X-rays and electron characterization techniques. She is now in the process of translating this knowledge into using neutron-based methods at large-scale facilities.

She also highlights how FASEM was a great introduction to neutrons and photons.

“Attending FASEM was a truly inspiring experience, the possibilities with neutrons and X-rays feel endless!”

“At this early stage of my PhD, the broad yet technical lectures and discussions not only prepared me for my first experiments but expanded my perspective on how to approach situations where I need to rethink my strategy and consider other experimental methods. I am also deeply grateful for the engagement from all the participants, which made this experience truly unforgettable.”

She is now looking forward to attempting her own first experiments.

“Thanks to FASEM, I now feel well equipped to approach my own first neutron experiments, from writing the initial proposal to conducting experiments and analysing the data. I am now excited to put everything I have learnt into action in my own research!”

Further reading about FASEM2026

• All the material from FASEM: FASEM2026 Indico

• “Early career scientists celebrate their success in Lightsources.org sponsored awards", April 2026

• “FASEM school at ILL: training on neutron and photon science for energy materials”, May 5th, 2026

The workstations will also be used for targeted Data Clinics, where invited experts can provide support for specific techniques and methods, or give advice on how to prepare or further analyse different research data.

“The idea is that these workstations will provide a ready set-up environment where people can come in, load up their data, and start looking at it with the same tools that they would have used at the beamline,” says Martin Stankovski Clark, senior strategist at LINXS.

Supporting data analysis

The initiative is an effort by LINXS to increase the support for data analysis, and to shorten the time it takes from experiment to publication, and from publication to societal impact.

“Data processing and preparation take a huge amount of time and effort,” says Martin Stankovski Clark. “It is also an aspect that can fall at the edge of the remit of the large-scale research infrastructures, since their main focus is on the actual experiments.”

“Our hope is that this facility will help users analyse their data faster and more efficiently, to ultimately increase their scientific output. Another ambition is to contribute to building analytical competence and skills within different research communities.”

LINXS workstations are preloaded with software for analysing data from imaging, scattering, diffraction and microscopy experiments. Between data clinics, they are available to be used by visitors on a first come, first served basis.

“The computers take advantage of the high-speed university network for data transfer, and can perform many of the most common computations and analyses that you would typically do at a workstation. This includes heavy tasks such as tomographic analysis and 3D rendering. However, they are not meant for very heavy computations or analysis that would require you to use a computational cluster,” says Martin Stankovski Clark.

Data Clinics on different techniques and topics

LINXS is now planning for a number of different Data Clinics. The workstations allow for about ten to twenty people at each Data Clinic.

“We can host up to one clinic a week. We welcome suggestions and ideas for whom to invite,” says Martin Stankovski.

Two Data Clinics have already been organised, one by the AIDA theme in collaboration with QIM - The Center for Quantification of Imaging Data from MAX IV. They used Insegt3D, a software that they have developed themselves, to analyse tomographic data from imaging experiments with different biological samples.

The second clinic, on tomographic and scattering data analysis, was part of a Treesearch organised course in April which included both scanning with tomography and scattering at the ForMAX beamline at MAX IV, followed by data analysis at LINXS. Emanuel Larsson (who is also LINXS Co-Director) and Jonas Ahlstedt from CIPA and InfraVis supported the participating students to analyse their data from cellulose-based samples (including wood, paper and carton).

To book the workstations, or find out more, please contact Josefin Martell, LINXS Science Activities Manager.

josefin.martell@linxs.lu.se

LINXS workstations are funded by the Crafoord Foundation through a grant which LINXS kindly received in 2025.

What are your duties at LINXS? 

My main task is to support Josefin Martell, LINXS Science Activities Manager, and Mia Lindström, LINXS Event Assistant, with upcoming events and ongoing events. Before that, most of my working life has been within logistics, leadership roles, or a combination of both, which has given me a lot of experience in organising, problem solving, and working with people.

Why did you choose to come here? 

A big reason why I chose LINXS was that it seemed like a very flexible workplace. I felt that I wanted to develop certain parts of my studies while also continuing to work with different kinds of tasks that I am already familiar with, and LINXS matched those criteria really well. I’ve also always been told that when choosing an internship, the most important thing is to choose based on the colleagues and especially a mentor that you connect well with. That was definitely something I felt with LINXS.

Which aspects of event management are you most interested in? 

Coming from a logistics background, I’m naturally very interested in the planning side. I really enjoy working with structure, keeping track of details, and making sure all the puzzle pieces fit together, Excel is basically my best friend! At the same time, one thing I felt was missing in logistics was the followthrough, being able to see that all the work you’ve put in actually turns into something real that benefits and creates a good experience for others. That’s something I really like about event management.

What do you hope to achieve during your time at LINXS? 

Graphics, and marketing overall, is what I'm finding the most difficult when it comes to events, although it's very much growing on me. Since I got here, I’ve been working a lot with the website and YouTube videos, which has already helped me develop that side of my skill set and made me more confident in it.

What are your impressions so far?

I’ve had a really good start to my time at LINXS. I’m a little more than halfway through my internship now, and so far it has been a very positive experience. My biggest challenge has probably been keeping up with all the scientific terms and topics, especially since I don’t come from a research background at all. But it has also been fun to learn something completely new and be part of that environment.