Becoming a User
The Nanoscale Science Research Center (NSRC) user program is designed to provide the international scientific community access to world-class centers operating as U. S. Department of Energy National User Facilities. The program provides access to equipment and technical expertise for nanoscale research that defines state of the art. The program is open to users from academia, the private sector, and research institutes worldwide. Users join a vibrant research community that brings together NSRC research staff, technical support staff, students, postdoctoral fellows, and collaborating guest scientists. The program accommodates both short-term and long-term collaborative research partners. Access is obtained through a brief peer-reviewed proposal with no charge for users who intend to publish their results. Access is available on a cost-recovery basis for research that is not intended for publication. Prospective users are encouraged to consult with NSRC staff members to learn more about the Center’s science and capabilities.
Users of the facilities include academic, industrial and government scientists and engineers. While the vast majority of user research should be in the public domain, and so must be disseminated by publication in the open literature, there may be access for proprietary research that utilizes these unique facilities to benefit the national economy. Users conducting proprietary research may access the facility as either General Users or as Partners. Full cost recovery will be obtained for proprietary research, and efforts will be made to secure appropriate intellectual property control for proprietary users to permit them to exploit their experimental results. Specific information about user agreements can be found at each Center’s website.
Modes of Access
General Users are individual researchers or groups who need access to the facility to carry out their research, using existing equipment in the NSRCs. General Users apply for access by submission of a proposal that is evaluated by an external Proposal Review Panel (PRP). The scope of a General User proposal can vary from a single experiment proposal to a program proposal (valid for multiple visits and substantial access to a range of equipment extended over multiple years).
Partner Users are General users who also enhance the facility capabilities and/or contribute to the Center operation. They typically help develop instrumentation in some manner, either by bringing external financial and/or intellectual capital into the development of the facility. These contributions must be made available to the General Users and, therefore, benefit the overall User Program as well as the facility. In recognition of their investment, Partner Users are provided negotiated access to one or more capabilities over a period of several years.
Rapid Access: Time-critical research opportunities may justify access to a NSRC between user proposal cycles. Rapid Access user proposals that clearly demonstrate a need for immediate access to conduct well-focused, short-term work with extremely high-impact potential are considered at each Center.
Upcoming Proposal Calls
| NSRC | Call Dates | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) | May 2014 Call for Proposals | 1-May-2014 | 31-May-2014 |
| September 2014 Call for Proposals | 29-Aug-2014 | 30-Sep-2014 | |
| Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT) | Fall 2014 Call for Proposals | 1-Sep-2014 | 30-Sep-2014 |
| Spring 2015 Call for Proposals | 1-Mar-2015 | 31-Mar-2015 | |
| Spring 2022 Call for Proposals | 1-Mar-2022 | 31-Mar-2022 | |
| CINT's 2023 Spring Call for Proposals is open March 1–31. | 6-Mar-2023 | 31-Mar-2023 | |
| Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS) | Fall 2014 Call for Proposals | 1-May-2014 | 22-Oct-2014 |
| Spring 2015 Call for Proposals | 1-Jan-2015 | 6-May-2015 | |
| Spring 2022 Call for Proposals | 21-Oct-2021 | 1-May-2022 | |
| Fall 2022 Call for Proposals | 5-May-2022 | 19-Oct-2022 | |
| Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM) | 2024 February CNM Call for Proposals | 2-Feb-2024 | 1-Mar-2024 |
| 2024 June CNM Call for Proposals | 7-Jun-2024 | 5-Jul-2024 | |
| 2024 October CNM Call for Proposals | 4-Oct-2024 | 1-Nov-2024 | |
| The Molecular Foundry (TMF) | Spring 2014 Call for Proposals | 1-Jan-2014 | 30-Apr-2014 |
| Fall 2014 Call for Proposals | 1-May-2014 | 30-Sep-2014 |