Science | Jen Hiller

Jen Hiller
Non-Crystalline Diffraction

Jen Hiller is a Beamline Support Scientist on the Non Crystalline Diffraction Beamline I22. Her scientific interests include collagen based biomaterials and forensic, archaeological and fossil specimens.

Email: Jen Hiller
Tel: +44 (0) 1235 778588
Beamline I22: Non-Crystalline Diffraction

Key Research Areas

Microfocus, biomaterials, extracellular matrix biology, forensics, archaeology, cultural heritage

Research Interests

On I22, I am responsible for the design and commissioning of the standalone microfocus end station, currently planned to be in user operations from January 2010. As part of this process, I am working with the Central Laser Facility to design an optical trap, which will function as a micron scale sample holder and manipulation system for the end station.

I work on collagen based biomaterials, primarily with the aim of tissue healing or replacement, or to understand formation of extracellular matrix tissue. I also work across an entire spectrum of timeframes, from mineralising tissues and newly formed systems to forensic, archaeological and fossil specimens. In the case of bone, this has involved everything from osteoblast cells to dinosaurs. I am also interested in how these tissues can change, such as under tension or loading, and in malformation of tissues in model systems.

As an archaeologist by training, I am involved in several of the cultural heritage groups that bring experiments to Diamond, and am trying to expand the use of synchrotron radiation in forensic and archaeological science.

Selected Publications

  1. Etok SE, Valsami-Jones E, Wess T, Hiller JC, Maxwell C, Rogers KD, Manning DAC, White ML, Lopez-Capel E, Collins MJ, Buckley M, Penkman KEH, Woodgate SL. (2007) Structural and chemical changes of thermally treated bone apatite. Journal of Materials Science 42(23): 9807-9816.
  2. Hiller JC, Wess TJ. (2006) The use of small-angle X-ray scattering to study archaeological and experimentally altered bone. Journal of Archaeological Science 33(4): 560-572.
  3. Kennedy CJ, Hiller JC, Lammie D, Drakopoulos M, Vest M, Cooper M, Adderley WP, Wess TJ. (2004) Microfocus X-ray diffraction of historical parchment reveals variations in structural features through parchment cross-sections. NanoLetters 8: 1373-1380.
  4. Burger J, Rosendahl W, Loreille O, Hemmer H, Eriksson T, Gotherstrom A, Hiller J, Collins MJ, Wess T, Alt KW. (2004) Molecular phylogeny of the extinct cave lion Panthera leo spelaea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 30(3): 841-849.
  5. Hiller JC, Thompson TJU, Evison MP, Chamberlain AT, Wess TJ. (2003) Bone mineral change during experimental heating: an X-ray scattering investigation. Biomaterials 24(28): 5091-5097.