Getting XAFS Beamtime at the NSLS

Much of this tutorial borrows from Matt Newville's presentation from recent APS XAFS Summer Schools on the APS GUP system.

Here is a mock-up of this unit. The page breaks are intended to be the same as this sequence of pages:

1. How do I get access to the NSLS?

2. XAFS Beamlines at the NSLS

3. Proposal contents

4. Hints on writing good beamtime proposals

5. Proposal score and lifetime

6. A quick walk through the PASS system

7. After you've submitted a proposal

Faisal's comments

1. Justify the extent of the experimental time sought.
2. Uniqueness of the experiment
3. Try to impress from the point of view of how important the problem is, and demonstrate a convincing case for why XAS can help solve the problem
4. Provide an experimental plan in fine detail.

Anatoly's comments

1. In XAFS beamlines at the NSLS section, in the table entries for X18b and X19a, the GUP should be 65% for each, and the Operated By should be Synchrotron Catalysis Consortium and NSLS for each.
2. Also, a good advice to new users is to mention the names of experienced synchrotron users who are familiar with their plans and will agree to provide advice in preparation of experiments and data analysis. It is a common practice in grant applications to seek letters of collaboration. I do not see why it would not be a good idea for new users to attach a PDF or two to their GU proposal from people known in the field who will back up their proposal by promising help/advise/mentoring if needed. Currently, all NEXAFS users mention Dan Fischer as a collaborator, but it does not have to be a resident scientist but anyone who is known.

Scott's comments

1. On this point:{{{> A proposal will expire if

> > * it receives a score higher than 4 > * a new proposal is submitted under the same name > * two years have elapsed}}}

• That's a touch confusing, at least to me. How does it "expire" if it receives a score higher than 4? I think there's two ideas being confounded under this heading. While in a strict algorithmic sense it's accurate, many people will be confused by the notion that a proposal which was never really approved can expire.

1. For the "quick walk through the PASS system," we can leave it to our flash developer to see how he wants to format the information (e.g. dissolves between screens).