Recent progress in the development of new spectroscopic techniques promises to elucidate the structure of deformed superheavy nuclei in the region of ²⁵⁴No. In-beam \gamma -ray spectroscopy has revealed the yrast structure of ^{252, 254}No and conversion electron studies have been made of ^253,254No. Knowledge of the collective and single particle structure of nuclei in this mid-shell region provides important data to mean field models that are used to predict the properties of superheavy spherical nuclei.

PACS numbers: 21.10.--k, 23.20.Lv, 23.20.Nx, 23.60.+e