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INSTRUCTIONS FOR NCNR PROPOSAL FORM

  1. Proposal types:
    • A New Proposal is one whose essential content has not been approved in any prior proposal cycle. New proposals will be reviewed by experts in the subject matter of the proposal, as well as by the Beam Time Allocation Committee (BTAC). This category now includes resubmissions. The latter category has been eliminated, since such proposals are no longer handled differently from other regular proposals.
    • A Continuation Proposal is a request for additional beam time to continue an experiment which was started in an allotment made to a new proposal in a prior proposal cycle. Continuation proposals may also be sent out for mail review, but occasionally will be evaluated only by the Beam Time Allocation Committee (BTAC). A continuation proposal MUST be accompanied by an experimental report on the results of the previous beam time allotment. Only ONE continuation allotment will be made to complete the work stemming from a successful new proposal. No extensions of the scope of the original proposal are allowed.
    • A Quick Access Proposal asks for beam time in the very near future for measurements that cannot be delayed. Such a proposal will be reviewed by the PAC and held to a higher standard than regular proposals.
  2. Preferred dates for the performance of an experiment, and/or impossible dates, should be indicated.
  3. Please indicate the name of the person to be contacted in all future communication regarding the proposal, who will be assumed to be the first name on the list of proposers, unless otherwise indicated.
  4. Identify graduate students and indicate whether the proposed work is an essential part of a student's thesis.
  5. If a proposal is successful, and no suggested local contact has been identified, the NCNR will choose one.
  6. Standard sample environments will vary according to instrument. Please examine the instrument descriptions and the ancillary equipment pages for more information. If you believe that you will require a non-standard sample environment, please contact the appropriate instrument scientist to discuss the feasibility of providing it.
  7. Safety is a consideration of prime importance at NIST. All safety rules and standard practices observed at NIST and the NCNR must be followed by gust researchers. Your proposal will receive a review for safety by NIST staff. If you are aware of any possible hazards associated with your proposed experiment, please describe these in detail, appending extra sheets if necessary. Failure to do so may delay or cancel your experiment.
  8. Please consult more detailed instructions and the proposal help page for in-depth information on how to access the form and fill it out line by line.

TIPS ON PROPOSAL WRITING

Proposals are evaluated on the basis of scientific merit and technical soundness by external reviewers and BTAC members. Bear in mind that the external reviewers may sometimes not be experts in neutron beam methods, although they will always be experts on the scientific areas of the proposals they are asked to review. The BTAC members, on the other hand, will be generally knowledgeable about neutron methods but may be less familiar with your scientific area. A review of technical feasibility by a NCNR staff member will also be carried out, and discussions between BTAC members and our staff about technical points may occur.

In view of the above, we offer the following advice.

  1. Place your proposal in a reasonably broad scientific context. Do not assume that the reviewers and BTAC members will appreciate the significance of your proposed experiment if you do not state what it is. On the other hand, the presentation is being judged by scientists and overstatements are inadvisable.
  2. Indicate clearly what is to be measured and how. If some or all of your samples have already been prepared, make this clear. Otherwise, it will be assumed that the your samples are not yet ready. Proposals should contain enough detail about the measurements to justify the requested beam time.
  3. New proposals should be reasonably self-contained. Do not rely on cited references as an essential part of your case. While mail reviewers may look up some references if they are so inclined, BTAC members are unlikely to do so.
  4. Continuation proposals, on the other hand, must explain why the proposed measurements are needed to complete the originally proposed work, e.g., equipment malfunction, insufficient time, etc. Extensions or variations on the theme of the prior experiment are not permitted in a continuation, but require a new proposal. Continuation proposals are considered by the BTAC, but are not sent out for peer review by mail. A copy of the experimental report for the last beam time allotment MUST be provided by the applicant. Please use our Web page form for experimental reports

The SANS subcommittee of the BTAC wishes to emphasize that, if possible, proposals should include the following information in the appropriate fields on the proposal form:

Proceed to Proposal Form



Last modified 23-July-2007