Summer student with a passion for neutron science returns to ISIS after encouraging her university supervisor to explore the technique
03 Mar 2025 - Rosie de Laune
Sian Pritchard came to ISIS for a summer placement as part of her integrated Masters Biochemistry degree at the University of Southampton and has now returned as a user as part of her final year project researching proteins relevant to degenerative diseases. During her summer placement in 2024, Sian worked in the ISIS BioLabs, supervised by Dr Ludmila Mee, who is currently in the process of establishing reliable methods to produce deuterated biomolecules such as proteins for ISIS users.
Deuteration is the replacement of hydrogen with its isotope deuterium and is a valuable tool for neutron studies, as the two interact differently with neutrons. The field of biodeuteration expands this to living systems, using innate cell processes to incorporate deuterium. This enables the production of the large quantities of deuterated biomolecules needed for neutron research.
“Sian was working to establish a production pipeline for deuterate proteins, using material supplied to us by our partner and collaborator Zoe Fisher from ESS,” explains Ludmila. “She really hit the ground running and was able to express the proteins, but didn’t get as far as being able to test them on the beamline during a neutron experiment.”
When Sian returned to university, she was keen to continue working in neutron science. “I enjoyed the freedom and independence of working in the ISIS lab,” Sian says, adding, “Having Ludmila and interacting with the other Support Labs placement students was an invaluable experience.”
“The placement helped me consolidate a range of new micro and molecular biology techniques,” says Sian. “It not only built my confidence in protocol optimisation and data analysis, but also in discussing and trusting my own scientific knowledge.”
The placement helped me consolidate a range of new micro and molecular biology techniques. It not only built my confidence in protocol optimisation and data analysis, but also in discussing and trusting my own scientific knowledge.
Sian Pritchard
She contacted the Head of School, Professor Phil Williamson, to ask if it would be possible to do her final year research project in this area. “My research is in biophysics, using techniques such as NMR to study proteins that are relevant to degenerative diseases,” he explains. “When Sian told me about what she had been doing on her placement, I realised that neutrons could be a useful technique to study these proteins.”
After discussions with Ludmila, Sian was able to join Phil’s group and continue the work of her summer placement for her master’s year project. She was successfully able to deuterate the proteins of interest and, after a successful beamtime application, came to use Sans2D in February 2025, to carry out small angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments with beamline scientist Najet Mahmoudi.
When studying these proteins, different techniques such as NMR and Circular Dichroism have shown conflicting results, probably due to the timescales of the measurements involved. Phil is hoping that the information from SANS can help to resolve some of these questions. As part of their visit to Harwell, they were also able to do small angle X-ray scattering measurements at Diamond Light Source.
The collaboration between facilities across campus was also something that Sian benefitted from during her placement. “I was able to work with Professor Stan Botchway from the Central Laser Facility at the Research Complex at Harwell. This introduced me to more experimental techniques, such as advanced fluorescent microscopy, and possible avenues for future research.”
Now in her final year at Southampton, Sian is looking to begin a career in research. “Before my placement I was unsure about my future career path, but my placement consolidated my interest in research and I’m now applying for PhD positions.”
Sian’s summer project helped to establish the basics of the deuterated protein production pipeline at the ISIS BioLabs. This work will be continued by an industrial placement student, due to start this summer.
