Shirish Chodankar
Structural Biology, National Synchrotron Light Source II
Brookhaven National Laboratory
National Synchrotron Light Source II
Bldg. 745
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000
(631) 344-2731
schodankar@bnl.gov
Shirish Chodankar is a scientist specializing in small- and wide-angle scattering techniques for investigating the structure and dynamics of biological and soft-matter systems. He began his research career using small-angle neutron scattering to examine structural evolution and interactions in protein solutions, later expanding his work to X-ray studies of confined fluids and complex materials.
Since 2014, Shirish has played an integral role in the design, construction, commissioning, and continued advancement of the Life Science X-ray Scattering (LiX) beamline at NSLS-II. His current work encompasses beamline instrumentation and upgrades, experimental method development, automation, user support, and advanced scattering-data analysis. His research interests include proteins, macromolecular assemblies, colloids, and other soft condensed-matter systems, with an emphasis on extracting meaningful structural information across multiple length scales.
Expertise | Research | Education
Expertise
- Small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS)
- Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS)
- Synchrotron beamline instrumentation and development
- Scattering-data reduction, analysis, and interpretation
- Protein solutions and macromolecular assemblies
- Soft condensed matter, colloids, and confined fluids
- Automated and high-throughput X-ray scattering measurements
Research Activities
Shirish’s research focuses on developing and applying small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering methods to investigate proteins, macromolecular assemblies, colloids, and soft condensed-matter systems. His work includes experimental design, high-throughput and automated measurements, data-reduction workflows, and quantitative modeling of scattering data.
At the LiX beamline, he contributes to instrumentation development, commissioning, automation, and ongoing upgrades that expand the beamline’s scientific capabilities. He also supports user experiments from planning and data collection through analysis and interpretation, collaborating with researchers across structural biology, biophysics, biomaterials, and materials science. His broader interests include improving scattering methodologies and integrating complementary experimental and computational approaches to understand hierarchical structures across multiple length scales.
Education
- PhD in Physics Jointly with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Mumbai University, India. Reserach topic: Structural evoluion in protein solution studied using scattering techniques.
- Master Degree in Physics, Mumbai University, India.
- Bachelor Degree in Physics, Mumbai University, India.
Brookhaven National Laboratory
National Synchrotron Light Source II
Bldg. 745
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000
(631) 344-2731
schodankar@bnl.gov
