Submitting a proposal is the first step to access beam time at SSRL. Proposals are peer reviewed and rated by the SSRL Proposal Review Panel (PRP) on a scale from 1 (highest) to 3 (lowest). Peer reviewers evaluate proposals based on scientific merit and the value of using synchrotron radiation to accomplish the proposed work.
Ratings Scale
| OUTSTANDING (1.0-1.4): The proposed research is highly original and will significantly influence the development of the field and/or have major societal benefit. The project should be a high priority to receive beam time. The experimental and data analysis plans are very well described, even if the cutting-edge nature of the experiment may carry with it some risk of failure. Please be very clear in your comments as to why this proposal deserves the best possible score. |
| EXCELLENT (1.5-1.7): The research will influence the development of the field and/or have societal benefit, and should be awarded beam time if available. The experimental and data analysis plans are adequately described. Please give feedback as to what would be needed to take this proposal to the highest level. |
| GOOD (1.8-2.0): The research is worthwhile and may be deserving of beam time if available. There may be some weaknesses in the experimental or data analysis plans. Please give feedback as to how to improve the proposal to the point that it has a good chance of being awarded beam time. |
| WEAK (2.1-2.9): The research is of questionable value and/or the experimental and data analysis plans do not suggest confidence in the ability of the team to address the scientific question. Should be given a low priority to receive peer-reviewed beam time. Please give feedback as to how the weaknesses of the proposal could be addressed. |
| POOR/NO BEAM TIM (3.0): The research is of little to no merit and/or the experimental and data analysis plans are either absent or give no confidence in the abilities of the team to address the scientific question. Should NOT be given beam time even if available. Please be very clear in comments as to why this proposal deserves the worst possible score, and give feedback to the team regarding its major faults. |
Review Panels
The work of the PRP is accomplished with five subpanels:
Biology (BIO)- The Biology panel reviews proposals for imaging, x-ray spectroscopic studies, small-angle x-ray scattering experiments, and crystallography of biologically important samples, including bioinorganic systems.
Chemistry and Catalysis (CHEMCAT)- The Chemistry and Catalysis panel reviews proposals for all aspects of chemistry and catalysis. The catalytic science covers heterogeneous, homogeneous and electro-catalysis from model systems to fully formulated catalysts, while the chemical science covers all areas of fundamental and applied chemistry. The techniques include x-ray absorption, x-ray emission, and small angle and wide-angle x-ray scattering, imaging, and transmission x-ray microscopy. Often these studies are conducted in-situ and operando.
Earth and Environmental Science (EES) - The Earth and Environmental Science panel reviews proposals for imaging, spectroscopy, diffraction, and scattering studies of samples from field and laboratory settings relevant to environmental, geological, and soil processes, including those influenced by biological activity. Such samples are often characterized by their high degree of spatial, chemical, or structural heterogeneity and their study may require integration of multiple techniques. Investigations of art, archeological samples, and related culture materials are also reviewed by the EES panel (formerly the MEIS panel).
Materials-1 (MAT1) - The Materials-1 panel reviews proposals for hard x-ray materials science, including soft materials, materials for energy generation and storage, structural studies, complex fluids, synthetic polymers, batteries, and organic electronics. Techniques include diffraction, scattering, small-angle x-ray scattering, microscopy or tomography, and any of the x-ray absorption or emission spectroscopies. Often these studies are conducted in-situ and operando.
Materials-2 (MAT2) - The Materials-2 panel reviews proposals for solid state physics and materials science, including electronic structure of solids, surfaces and interfaces, using UV and soft x-ray sources at SSRL. Examples include angle-resolved and core-level photoelectron spectroscopies, x-ray absorption and x-ray magnetic dichroism, in-situ x-ray absorption, x-ray emission and photoemission.
| BIO | CHEMCAT | MAT1 | MAT2 | EES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Chacon Reed College Chemistry Portland, OR USA | Linxiao Chen University of Akron Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering Faculty Ohio, USA | Mahalingam Balasubramanian Oak Ridge National Laboratory Electrification Section, Oak Ridge, TN USA | John Freeland Argonne National Lab Advanced Photon Source Argonne, IL USA | Jon Chorover University of Arizona Soil Water & Env. Sciences Tucson, AZ USA |
| Thomas Grant University at Buffalo Structural Biology Buffalo, NY USA | Phillip Christopher University of California Santa Barbara Chemical Engineering Santa Barbara, CA USA | Michael Chabinyc (PRP Chair) University of California Santa Barbara College of Engineering Santa Barbara, CA USA | Sujoy Roy Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Scattering Photon Science Operations Berkeley, CA USA | Owen Duckworth North Carolina State University Soil and Environmental Biogeochemistry Raleigh, NC USA |
| Jan Kern Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division Berkeley, CA USA | Ryan Hadt (Co-Chair) California Institute Technology Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Pasadena, CA USA | Guoying Chen Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Energy Technologies Area Berkeley, CA USA | Anthony Van Buuren Lawrence Livermore National Lab Nanoscale Integration Livermore, CA USA | Jonathan Judy University of Florida Soil, Water & Ecosystem Sciences Gainesville, FL USA |
| Tracy Punshon Dartmouth College Department of Biology New Hampshire, USA | Christopher Hahn Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Materials Science Division Livermore, CA USA | Tim Fister Argonne National Lab Chemical Science & Engineering Argonne, IL USA | Inna Vishik University of California Davis Physics and Astronomy Davis, CA USA | Yuanzhi Tang Georgia Institute of Technology Earth & Atmospheric Science Atlanta, GA USA |
| Martina Ralle (Chair) Oregon Health Sciences University Molecular and Medical Genetics Portland, OR USA | Ayman Karim (Co-Chair) Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Chemical Engineering Blacksburg, VA USA | Gaurav Giri University of Virginia Chemical Engineering Charlottesville, VA USA | Alexis Templeton University of Colorado Geological Sciences Boulder, CO USA | |
| Ron Stenkamp University of Washington Biological Structure Seattle, WA USA | Matteo Monai Utrecht University Chemistry Division Utrecht, Netherlands | Yijin Liu University of Texas at Austin Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering Austin, TX USA | ||
| Frank Whitby University of Utah Biochemistry Salt Lake City, Utah USA | Stefan Minasian Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Chemical Sciences Division Berkeley, CA USA | Suchismita Sarker Cornell University CHESS Ithaca, NY USA | ||
| Jason Shearer Trinity University Chemistry Department San Antonio, TX USA | ||||
| Kelsey Stoerzinger University of Minnesota Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Minneapolis, MN USA | ||||
| Alper Uzun Koc University Chemical and Biological Engineering Istanbul, Turkey |