Requesting Beam Time
General Users (GUs)
- General User Proposal Submission
The NSLS accepts proposals for programs as well as for single experiments
through the online Proposal, Allocation,
Safety and Scheduling (PASS) system. Principal investigators (PIs) must contact beamline
staff prior to submitting a proposal
to ensure the experiment may be performed on the beamlines requested.
Beamline capabilities, techniques and staff members are listed in the Beamline
Guide.
The same submission
deadlines apply for proposals for proprietary research and general user
research.
- Proposals Review and Ratings
The Proposal Review Panels (PRPs) are responsible for rating General User
Proposals for scientific merit, technical feasibility, capability of the
experimental group, and availability of the resources required. Proposal
ratings are assigned on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the highest rating
and 5 being the lowest). Proposals with ratings between 3 and 5 may wish to
submit a new Proposal that addresses the PRP comments in order to improve the
rating and thus improve chances of receiving beam time. Proposals with ratings
between 4 and 5 are automatically inactivated and should not expect to receive
beam time. The user will receive email notification of the rating.
Facility beamlines at the NSLS are constructed, maintained, staffed
and operated by the NSLS. Others were built by a consortia of users, called
Participating Research Teams (PRTs). General users may apply for beam time on
both facility and PRT beamlines.
The Beam
Time Allocation Committee (BTAC) is charged with allocating beam time to both new
Proposals and Beam Time Requests. The user will receive written notification of the beamline and beam time
allocated.
- Requesting Beam Time in subsequent cycles
A proposal does not automatically receive beam time for every cycle
during its lifetime. A Beam Time Request must be submitted online through
the PASS system on or before the
deadline for each scheduling cycle during which beam time is desired. General users must contact beamline personnel prior to submitting a beam
time request to ensure the experiment may be performed on that beamline. Beam
Time Requests are not rated again, but are routed directly to the Beam Time Allocation
Committee for beam time allocation.
After the allocation process is complete, the Principal Investigator (PI)
will receive an email notification of the beamline assigned and the number
of days allocated for the cycle. The PI will be directed to verify or adjust
the safety information submitted with the proposal and also to schedule beam
time through the PASS system.
Thereafter the PI will receive another email confirming the scheduled beam time.
General Users may withdraw their Proposal or Beam Time Request any time
before the Beam Time Allocation Committee meeting. Please contact the Proposal
Coordinator as soon as possible if a cancellation is necessary. Allocation meetings are held
approximately forty-five (45) days after the deadline date for proposal
submissions. Contact the Proposal
Coordinator for
exact dates.
General questions about procedures, proposal
ratings, or comments from the PRP or the Beam Time Allocation Committee should be addressed
to the Proposal
Coordinator.
Appeals related to proposal ratings should be sent to the Proposal Coordinator via e-mail
immediately after the PI receives the rating so that an appropriate and timely review can be
made by the Proposal Oversight Panel (POP) prior to allocation.
Proposals become inactive upon the first of the following occurrences: (1)
the proposal received a rating between 4 and 5, (2) a new proposal has been submitted
with the same title, or (3) two years have elapsed
There are no charges for beam time under the General User Program.
- Proprietary Research under the General User Program
Proprietary research may be conducted under the General User Program. Refer
to Proprietary Research for information.
Short term laboratory/set up space for general users may be reserved.
Contact the appropriate laboratory
steward prior to arrival at BNL.
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