• Access to SLAC
• Computing environment at SSRL
  • Laptops and remote access
  • Running software tutorials
  • Transferring data sets to SSRL
• Preparing samples for RapiData
• Shipping samples
• Shipping samples to SSRL
• Shipping samples from SSRL

Access to SLAC

• Participants traveling from foreign countries must obtain a temporary non immigrant visa for business purposes (B-1 visa). Citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program must obtain a WB (waiver business) upon entry in the USA. Tourist visas are not valid to obtain unescorted access to SLAC.
• All the registered participants will receive an e-mail asking to register in the SSRL User Portal and fill up the Personal Information, and for non-USA citizens, passport and visa documentation. Participants who are SSRL users and have registered previously, should also log in and verify that their information is up to date.
• Because the course schedule is rather tight, the required training to carry out experiments at SLAC must be completed on-line in advance.

Computing environment at SSRL

The participants will be provided a personal account to store, collect and process data on SSRL macromolecular crystallography computers during the course. While data in personal accounts will be eventually deleted, they can be accessed remotely without restrictions for as long as they remain on disk. Course participants are responsible for backing up diffraction images or processing results generated during the course. There are several options available for data backup, described here

Laptops and remote access

Note that, outside the beamlines, there are very few public terminals or workstations at SSRL. Therefore, it is strongly encouraged that the participants bring a laptop, both for access to the data processing servers during tutorials, to connect to the beamlines for remote data collection (eg, during the night) and personal use. There is a SLAC owned network available via WiFi or a standard wired network (at the beamlines) for internet access for visitors.

To get remote access to beamlines and data and all the software used in the tutorials, the participants must install a NoMachine client on their laptop before or during the course. This page provides instructions to download, install and configure the remote access software.

Running software tutorials

Participants do not need to install any software packages in their own laptops if they use the NoMachine client, since this application allows access to the SSRL beamline computers, where the software will already be installed and data sets stored. The exception is the ATSAS suite to process small angle solution scattering data, which participants in the SAXS tutorial should download and install in advance.

Transferring data sets to SSRL

Participants who want to bring data sets to SSRL can use a USB drive or transfer the data via a secure transfer protocol at any time before the start of the course. Please contact the organizers for more details.

Preparing samples for RapiData

Only non-hazardous samples can be brought to the course.

Participants who would like to use the SSRL SAM robot to mount samples (recommended) should refer to the SSRL User Guide to find out our permitted type and length of pins. Other pin types and lengths may be OK, but they will have to be mounted manually. If in doubt, please contact the course organizers.

Participants who have a standard SSRL cassette or Unipucks may ship their samples already mounted in the container. If not, pre-cryocooled samples can be shipped in cryovials and transferred to a cassette during the course. Note that there are pucks superficially ressembling Uni-pucks with cannot be used with the SAM robot. This page has a diagram showing the differences between the two types of pucks. If not sure about which one is the correct one, please send the organizers a picture of you container to make sure that it is the correct type.

Note: We are unable to supply pins and loops to mount samples directly from crystallization plates or capillaries. Participants must bring their own supplies.

For participants bringing SAXS samples: specific instructions will be e-mailed separately.

Shipping samples

Shipping samples to SSRL

We recommend to ship your samples early. Ideally they should arrive at the latest in the week before the course. We will provide proper storage for samples arriving earlier than that.

• Participants shipping samples in a cryogenic dewar: please use this form and fill up all the required items. Select Beamline Xpress/FCFS as the Type of Access, Proposal Number 8242 and Silvia Russi/RapiData as Proposal Spokesperson's Name. Attach the shipping labels to each dewar container (in addition to other labels from the shipping company) as instructed in the form. Dewars that arrive early will be stored at SSRL and topped up periodically.
• To ship non-cryogenic samples, address them to Silvia Russi/RapiData. The mention to RapiData is necessary to identify the shipment easily. The shipping address is:

       SLAC, SSRL MS: 99
       2575 Sand Hill Rd.
       Menlo Park, CA 94025
  

  If you wish to ship solutions for small angle scattering tutorial, please contact Thomas Weiss.

  Please alert the organizers in advance if the shipment requires special handling (e.g. refrigeration)

• International shipments can involve duty or taxes on items shipped. shipped. For international shipments, we encouraged to work with your international shipping company to prepare a carnet and pay fees directly. Please retain a copy of the carnet and ensure that all shipping documents are accurate and consistent. For FedEx imports, we recommend checking the Broker Select Option (BSO) on the shipping forms and entering the following Broker information:

      JAS, San Francisco Branch 
      800 Airport Blvd, Suite 518. Burlingame, CA 94010, USA
      Email: US-SLAC@jas.com 
      Phone: D: +1 (650) 372 8107, T: +1 650 581 7230
      Fax: +1 650 581 7240
      Contact: Elsa Lee (elsa.lee@jas.com) 
  

Shipping samples from SSRL

Arrangements for shipping samples/dewars back can be done during the course.

• Shipping the dewar dry (non-hazardous): Please make sure that the dewar has no liquid nitrogen in it (once the dewar has been emptied, wait for about 20 minutes and tip it over again); fill up and attach the non-hazardous shipment form, and leave the dewar in the shipping area in building 120.
• Shipping the dewar with liquid nitrogen: Top up the dewar with liquid nitrogen, fill up and attach the cryogenic dewar shipping form and leave the dewar in the shipping area in building 120.
• For shipments outside of the USA, complete a Power Of Attorney to authorize SLAC to ship the dewar.

If you wish to leave samples onsite to collect more data after the course has finished, please talk to the course organizers.