Learn About CrystalDirect TM - Online Crystallography & 3DEM Groups - Industry Job Openings - New Metal Cryo Grid Boxes and More

Learn About Our CrystalDirect TM Plates
They Do More Than Grow Crystals 
  • In Situ Data Collection
  • Serial Crystallography
  • Automated Harvesting
  • In Situ Soaking
Designed to bridge crystallization and X-ray data collection, the CrystalDirect™ plate combines a thin, X-ray transparent film bottom with a rigid 96-well frame. Researchers can easily grow, screen XRD in situ, automatically harvest and cryocool crystals for data collection.
(Crystals can be automatically harvested from the plate, with supports being cut from the plate's thin-film bottom)
CrystalDirect TM Plates In Use 
Lab Spotlight: HTX Lab @EMBL
The High Throughput Crystallization Facility at EMBL Grenoble utilizes the CrystalDirect™ plates to offer automated nano-volume crystallization screening. Starting with a purified sample, dedicated operators perform the crystallization experiments, which are followed up through automated imaging systems.

Micro-focus In Situ Beamlines
The intrinsic low background of the CrystalDirect™ plates makes them ideal for in situ serial data collection, such as like that offered at the  ESRF ID30B and the  EMBL@PETRA-III P14 micro-focus beamlines, as well as other beamlines capable of in situ XRD.
CrystalDirect ® Automatic Crystal Harvester
Manufactured by ARINAX, the CrystalDirect ® is able to harvest protein crystals from 96-well CrystalDirect TM plates by means of laser photoablation. The protein crystals are directly mounted on a SPINE compatible sample pin. Then, they are placed into a cryo-stream and made available to be transferred into a cryostorage (manually or via sample changer robot).

CrystalDirect™ Crystallization Plates are manufactured by MiTeGen and developed in partnership with Florent Ciprani (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) & Josan Marquez (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) to enable the next generation of crystal growth, screening, automated harvesting, and data collection.
Recommended Online Groups
Given the new paradigm of social distancing, remote work and no conferences, you might be wondering where you can find other researchers in your field of interest. One option is to join a listserv.

If you are unfamiliar with a listserv, it a place online that allows you to read and discuss topics relevant to your interests. In our case it is structural biology and material sciences with a special interest toward crystallography and cryo-em. We have listed below three of our favorite listservs for your reference.
Topics of general interest to macromolecular crystallographers
Topics of interest to those in the field of molecular & cellular electron microscopy
Topics of interest to those in the field of biological EM
SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Support and Resource
We continue to provide on going support to those conducting SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 research as well as continuing to update and improve our SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Resource Guide.
Receive priority order processing and reduced priority shipping rates for your research
Reference our updated and expanded SARS-Cov-2 / COVID-19 resource guide
Industry Job Openings
Given the importance of structural biology and related fields, there are numerous job openings. Listed below are some of the latest ones we are aware of:

  • Researcher position at the Laboratory of Protein Structure of International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw. Chosen candidate will work on a large multinational consortium project that focuses on the development of antiviral substances for treatment of COVID-19
  • Fully-funded PhD position using serial crystallography for the determination of new hybrid structures at Institut des Materiaux Poreux de Paris (IMAP)
  • Scientist interested in the field of total scattering is being sought by Diamond Light Source. Chosen candidate will contribute to the technical development of the beamline, assist in the installation and commissioning of beamline components, provide user support, and carry out research in areas relevant to the beamline
  • Laboratory scientist position in protein crystallography is available at Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG. Duties will include design and execution of protein crystallisation experiments, establish and perform cryoEM sample preparation and more
  • Postdoc position to apply state-of-the-art cryoEM to ribosome design is available at Cate lab at UC Berkeley (They are using a Google form so you will need to be signed into a Google account to view)
  • Postdoc position in structural biology for pursuing structure determination of a receptor-ligand complex is available at The Institut for Molekylærbiologi og Genetik - Strukturel Biologi
New Product Highlight - Metal Cryo Grid Storage Box
The new metal cryo grid storage box is designed for practical, easy access grid storage in cryogenic conditions. These have an advantage over the standard plastic grid box in that they are more durable and are shatter-proof.

Compatible with auto grid rings and Thermo Fisher Scientific loading system. Also compatible with clipped grids. Optional custom serialization is available.
Industry Resources and News
Here is a small selection of hand picked industry resources and news for your browsing.

  • Crystals MDPI is seeking manuscript submissions for the upcoming special issue Current Challenges of Crystallography Focused on Structures of Intermediate Complexity. "The special issue will survey and critically assess recent trends, advantages, and drawbacks of converging methodological approaches of small-molecule and macromolecular crystallography to improve the efficiency of structural studies as applied to molecular systems of intermediate complexity." Learn More
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is offering an online course on neutron scattering applications in structural biology. This online course is designed for graduate students, post-doctoral researchers and faculty with knowledge of structure and function of biological macromolecules but with limited to no experience with neutron sciences. Learn more
  • CryoEM 101 has released their latest chapter on grid screening. Learn about the best practices in evaluating cryo-EM specimens. Learn more
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