Proposal Submission & Review Process

Only web-based proposal submissions will be accepted. Any other forms will be returned to the PI. (We cannot accept classified proposals.)

CINT is a national user facility for basic and applied research operated by the Department of Energy's Office of Science (SC). Access is available to researchers from academic and national research institutions and industry via the peer-review process. Proprietary use is also available, subject to DOE's full-cost recovery formula. Contact the CINT User Office for details.

Fall 2007 Proposal Cycle

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General Instructions

All proposals MUST be submitted via the Web.

Complete the entire proposal form using the step-by-step proposal form guidelines.

Proposals must be written in English.

Proposals are limited to two pages (~800 words) of text, including graphics.

You should receive confirmation of receipt no later than two weeks after proposal submission. If you do not, contact the CINT User Office at 505-667-9243.

Experiment reports are required after the end of visit.
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CINT Proposal Submission System

1. Java Script must be enabled.
2. Minimum browser requirements are Netscape 6.x and above or Internet Explorer 5.x and above.

Download the newest version of Netscape for Macintosh or Windows. (LANL should use Internet Explorer, if possible, since higher versions of Netscape are not currently available through ESD.)
Download the newest version of Internet Explorer for Macintosh or Windows.

1. Create your proposal text in your preferred software. If created in Microsoft Word, you may upload directly to the proposal form. If the proposal text was created in anything other than Word, create a pdf or rtf file for uploading.
2. Go to the proposal submission site.
3. Create a user name and password. This will allow you to save proposals and edit anytime prior to submission.
4. Before you start, print the proposal form guidelines to help answer questions.
5. Click on Add Proposal.
6. You may Edit, Print, or Delete your proposal anytime prior to submission. Once you select Submit, you will no longer be able to access or edit the proposal on-line. Contact the CINT User Office at 505-667-9243 if you need to make changes after submission.
7. You should receive confirmation of receipt and your assigned Proposal Number within two weeks. If you do not, please call the CINT User Office at 505-667-9243.
8. If you have any technical difficulties or questions, call the CINT User Office
9. Go to Web proposal submission site.

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Forms

Proposal Form Guidelines – step by step instructions for completing the required proposal fields.

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What Your Proposal Should Contain

Describe the scientific problem you want to solve in a manner that would be clear to a scientist who works in the general area of your proposed experiment, but who may be unfamiliar with the details.

Include a well-developed motivation for the research including objectives, relation to theory, scientific or programmatic merit, and relevant references.

Explain how the user project you propose can answer the scientific question you have described.

Give any arguments that support the feasibility of your user proposal, this can include discussions with CINT contacts or Thrust Leaders.

What complimentary experiments or theory will be done to fully develop the science?

Do not assume the Proposal Review Committee members will read references you cite. Include relevant arguments from these references in the proposal.

If your proposal is part of a continuing research program, describe the overall goal of the program.

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Review Process

The Proposal Review Committee (PRC) will use criteria endorsed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics to evaluate user proposals. The principle criteria will be science quality, followed by relevance to CINT themes and programs. Proposals for proprietary use will follow a similar but separate process. PRC members will provide a spread in scores between highest and lowest rated proposals thereby providing the basis for CINT resource allocation. The CINT Management Team will balance PRC recommendations with available center resources to decide on awarding final user access.
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Proposal Approval

You will receive formal notification of the decision regarding your User Proposal.

Upon approval of your proposal, the CINT User Office will contact you to determine and schedule applicable training, assist with travel arrangements, initiate any required foreign national access approvals, and help with other needs you may have.

If you are not a US citizen (or are bringing a non-US citizen team member), please contact the CINT User Office as soon as you receive notice of the visit dates.

All safety and badging rules of the Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories must be followed while on site. Appropriate safety training will be provided.

A DOE user agreement must be completed prior to beginning work on the proposal.

Brief reports of all nanoscience work performed at CINT must be submitted upon completion of the user project.

Reprints of publications resulting from work done at CINT must be sent to the CINT User Office at antonya@lanl.gov or to MS K771, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545 USA. Publications should credit the facility as follows: