Proposal Submittal and Scheduling Procedures for Research at SSRL
New Proposals
Forms - submit through User Portal
SSRL proposals are peer reviewed and competitively rated by the SSRL Proposal Review Panel (PRP). Proposals are rated on a scale from 1 (highest) to 5 (lowest). Proposals rated better than 1.4 are most likely to receive their optimal number of shifts on their first choice beam line; other requests are accommodated as beam time is available. Peer review is a key element in appropriately allocating scarce resources here at SSRL, and proposal spokespersons will periodically be asked to assist in reviewing proposals in their field.
SSRL proposals are active for a limited amount of time to ensure that experiments conducted here represent the most current technology and best science. New proposals and beam time requests for active proposals can be submitted three times a year. SSRL proposals are generally valid for two years or six scheduling periods. We strongly advise proposers to submit early to avoid overloading the system on the last eligible date.
Proposal Extension Requests
Extension Forms - send via email attachment
- X-ray/VUV (download form)
- Macromolecular Crystallography (download form)
Requests for a one-time proposal extension (download forms from links
provided above) may be submitted to SSRL before the initial two-year beam time
eligibility period expires. Extension requests are reviewed by the PRP on the
same schedule as new proposals submitted for the June 1, September 1,
and December 1 deadlines (X-ray/VUV) or April 1, July 1 and
December 1 (Macromolecular Crystallography). For example, if your
X-ray/VUV proposal expires July 31, submit an extension request by June 1. If
it's a macromolecular crystallography proposal expiring July 31, submit the
extension request by July 1.
Extension requests must summarize:
- progress accomplished to date
- new elements
- future plans to be pursued under the existing proposal
- an updated list of collaborators
- a summary of how previous beam time at SSRL and other facilities was used
- and a list of publications related to work conducted at SSRL on the proposal. Based on the extension material, the PRP may extend the proposal for up to two years, change the rating, or terminate the proposal.
When submitting new proposals or extensions, keep in mind that attention will be given to proposals that have published results from experiments utilizing SSRL's unique facilities and that have appropriately acknowledged SSRL and funding agencies on all related publications. Updated publications and acknowledgements help to demonstrate the scientific achievements and productivity of users and of this facility. Contact us when exciting results are about to be published so that we can work with user's institutions to develop the story and to communicate user research findings to a broader audience through our newsletters and science highlights.
