Approved Program Proposals

An Approved Program (AP) enables an investigator or a group of investigators to receive a set percentage of beamtime to partner with ALS staff both to carry out an extended research program and to develop new tools and/or new research protocols that will be made available to the general user population. APs are arranged for a period of up to three years, and are generally collaborations between the proposal investigator and the beamline scientist.

Please note that APs will pause during the dark time associated with the ALS-U project and will restart when collaborative access becomes available at the relevant beamline. For details on how the ALS-U dark time will affect proposal calls and beamtime requests, refer to this page.

Intent Form deadlines: December 8 and June 16

AP Proposal Submission Deadlines: January 15 and July 15. (If the AP Proposal deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, including Martin Luther King, Jr. Day observed on the third Monday of January, the deadline is moved to the first business day that follows.)

AP Proposal Submission Guidelines

Step 1: Submit an Intent Form

The Intent Form facilitates communication between Approved Program proposal PIs and ALS management in advance of AP proposal submission. The primary goals of the form are to establish the feasibility of the proposed AP work and ensure that the proposed work and collaborations are aligned with ALS strategic directions. The content in your responses is understood to be preliminary. This form is required and must be completed one month before the AP submission date.

Step 2: Submit a Proposal

Refer to the New Criteria for Evaluating Approved Programs section below for guidelines on writing the scientific case.

Log in to ALSHub and follow the links to submit an AP. Please ensure that all publications resulting from previous work at the ALS are added to our Publications Database before completing the AP form, so that they will be appended to your proposal. Upload a PDF file of the scientific case in the proposal submission form. The scientific case may not exceed 10 pages in length, written in 12-point font or larger, and it should include the following sections:

Title of the proposal
Abstract
Justification for AP status, including resources to be contributed, and the plan for collaboration with ALS staff
The amount of beamtime requested on the ALS beamline(s), including minimum number of shifts required each cycle for the AP to be successful
Narrative description of the collaborative tool development and/or research program to be pursued and new capabilities to be developed and made available to the user community once they are commissioned
Previous related scientific accomplishments
Synchrotron track record
Synchrotron-related publications

Requests for multiple beamlines: We generally discourage submitting Approved Program proposals that request time on multiple beamlines. If access to more than one beamline is needed, we advise submitting a single AP proposal focused on the primary technique and where resources will be focused; additional access should be sought through General User proposals. APs that request access to multiple beamlines—or multiple related AP proposals—may be appropriate for large-scale efforts associated with centers and hubs. For guidance on the best approach for your project, please contact the Deputy for Science.

Renewal proposals: Renewals should address accomplishments from previous AP projects, but the proposal emphasis should be on the plans for the new project.

Policy for Granting an Approved Program

The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) has established that the following aspects will be evaluated when granting an AP:

The quality of the proposed research, which should be well above that of a typical General User proposal.
The importance of the resources, including personnel and equipment, that the AP will bring to achieve its goals.
The value of the proposed collaboration between the AP and ALS staff.

AP status is not an entitlement based solely on the historical success of a group, but rather is intended to create a direct partnership with the ALS staff, and to support its strategic mission of performing world-class science. As only a limited number of APs can be accommodated on a particular beamline, it is anticipated that relatively few proposals will be approved.

In general, members of an AP are not entitled to submit additional General User Proposals for beamtime on the beamline where they have AP time.

Review of AP proposals

Proposals will be sent out for external review and will also be evaluated by the Proposal Study Panel (PSP), which will provide their evaluation to the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). The SAC then forwards its recommendations to the ALS division director, who makes the final decision.

Successful PI applicants will receive a letter specifying the percentage of beamtime and the period of the AP. The AP will terminate at the end of the prescribed period, but an additional period can be requested with another full AP proposal. Proposals that are not accepted as an AP may be considered as General User Proposals and assigned a score by the PSP for consideration of beamtime allocation along with other General User Proposals.

New Criteria for Evaluating Approved Programs

Scientific and Technical Impact

Describe the scientific motivation behind your proposal and the potential impact the methods and techniques developed may have on your field of study. Write a brief introduction that can be understood by non-experts to ensure that members of the Proposal Study Panel, who may not do research in your field, will understand the importance of your work. Clearly state the goals of your project and what the outcome could mean for your research field.

Reviewer questions will include:

Will the techniques/capabilities developed help produce high-impact science?
Will the proposed work enhance capabilities at the requested beamline(s)?
Will the AP advance understanding or capabilities in the field of study?

Research Plan

Clearly outline the research plan needed to achieve your research goals. This plan may include details on the development of software, equipment, techniques, etc.

Reviewers questions will include:

Is the project plan clearly described, well conceived, and organized?
Are the project goals achievable under the plan as written?
Is it clear how knowledge of the developed capabilities will be transferred to ALS staff upon completion of the AP?
Is the requested beamtime reasonable and well justified?

Resources Offered

Describe the resources being offered under the AP, including both materials and the staff/students who will be available to ensure the program’s success.