About EMSL

EMSL Frequently Asked Questions

What is EMSL's Mission?
The Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national scientific user facility located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington, provides integrated experimental and computational resources for discovery and technological innovation in the environmental molecular sciences to support the needs of DOE and the nation.

What is a DOE Scientific User Facility?
The Office of Science oversees the construction and operation of some of the Nation's most advanced scientific research and development user facilities, located at national laboratories and universities. These state-of-the-art facilities are made available to the science community worldwide and offer some instrumentation, computational resources, and other technologies that are available nowhere else. In one location, EMSL operates, maintains and develops a suite of world-class instruments and a high performance computer that enable users to access multiple experimental and computational capabilities to address the complex energy and environmental issues facing DOE and the Nation. In general, all resources housed within EMSL are available at no cost to users if their results are shared in the open literature.

How do I become a user?
Researchers can request User Access to EMSL by submitting a proposal online.

Is EMSL a funding agency?
No. EMSL provides access to the instruments and scientific expertise, but researchers are responsible for their own labor and travel expenses. Learn more about Terms and Conditions.

Can I get an EMSL scientist to work with me to help create a proposal?
Yes. EMSL strongly encourages collaborations with its scientific consultants.

Is it necessary to collaborate? Are my chances of acceptance the same either way?
Collaboration with EMSL scientific consultants is not necessary. Each proposal is reviewed against the same five Proposal Review Criteria. After external review, accepted proposals will be prioritized based upon scientific merit and relevance to the objectives stated in the proposal call and available resources.

Who reviews my proposal?
All proposals are reviewed internally, and the majority are sent for additional, independent review by external reviewers. Over 220 experts in their fields serve as external reviewers.

How long will it take to get my proposal reviewed?
Users whose proposals are accepted will be notified via email from the User Support Office. Notifications for proposals requesting less than one year of access generally take 7-30 days, depending on the resource requested and reviewer response rates. Notifications for proposals submitted in response to specific Calls for Proposals vary and are based on the schedule advertised in the Call.

How many participants can I have on my user proposal?
No minimum or maximum number of participants is required. EMSL does request that you list participants that will be visiting EMSL, sending samples, and/or requiring computer access. The lead professor(s) or advisor(s) of students or post-docs should be listed as the primary author.

How can I find out the status of my proposal?
Contact the User Support Office, (509) 371-6003.

How do I appeal a decision regarding my proposal (approvals, denials, extensions, time awarded, etc.)?
Proposal authors may submit appeals regarding new proposals if they have substantive evidence to show that reviewers made a serious error or there was some flaw in the review process. Appeals of denied proposal extensions may be made if decisions appear to have been based on inadequate or incorrect information or if there are extenuating circumstances not noted in the progress summary or capability request. Appeals to reverse management decisions that are related to resource availability and funding will not be considered.

To submit an appeal, the proposal author should email the User Support Office with a concise (2-3 paragraphs) summary of concerns as well as any supporting arguments for reversing the decision. Authors do not need to resubmit extension summaries or project descriptions. Appeals must be submitted within 30 days from the date on the award decision notice.

All appeals are reviewed by the Appeals Committee, chaired by EMSL's Chief Science Officer, and recommendations are sent to the EMSL Director. All decisions by the EMSL Director are considered final. The User Support Office will coordinate with the committee, and notify the user of the committee's decision within 8 weeks from receipt of the appeal for Call for Proposal awards and within 4 weeks from receipt of the appeal for off-cycle proposal awards.

How and when is my time for EMSL resources scheduled?
Scheduling of resources varies based on the resource demand, complexity of the proposed use, and availability of scientific staff. Contact resource scientific consultants about scheduling usage.

What do you do with my publications and annual summaries?
The information you provide is used in reports to the Department of Energy on the productivity of the user facility and the impact of the science being conducted. These reports can be in the form of quantitative performance measurements and in media highlights and user announcements of our science and user accomplishments. It is also used to evaluate the proposal for future extensions and allocations of time. In addition, the publication citations and abstracts will be reported by science theme and made available to users on our website.

What upgrades are planned for EMSL, and when will they be finished?
EMSL has recently undergone a major refreshment of its resources (see the Goldbook and EMSL's acquisitions with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding). Per the refreshment plan and ARRA, dozens of new instruments have been added within EMSL's capability groups.

Who is the point of contact for visits to EMSL?
The User Support Office, (509) 371-6003, is the point of contact for visits to EMSL.

What hours during the day can I access EMSL?
EMSL operates 365 days a year, with core staffing hours between 7:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Users may be granted unescorted access, up to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, depending on the nature of their work and documentation of completed training requirements.

Where can I stay?
Most users stay at the The Guest House at PNNL, which is just 500 yards from EMSL and has reasonable rates.

What airport do I fly into?
Airport options for Visiting EMSL include the nearby Pasco, Washington Airport (20-minute drive) as well as Spokane (2 hrs), Seattle (3.5 hrs), and Portland (3.5 hrs).

Where can I find more information on Richland and the Tri-Cities?
Read about Visitor Information on the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory website.

I'm having issues with the online training links. Who should I contact?
Contact the User Support Office, (509) 371-6003.

How can I sign up to get EMSL announcements via email?
Send a blank e-mail to: subscribe-emsl_announcements@lyris.pnl.gov.

What are the mailing and shipping addresses for EMSL?
EMSL's addresses are below. Do not send equipment, samples, or chemicals, however, without first coordinating with your host or the User Support Office, (509) 371-6003. They will ensure that EMSL and PNNL are following postal and shipping regulations, and that any new hazards are appropriately noted for the workspace. Samples will not be accepted without advance approval.