Each year during the ALS User Meeting, the Users’ Executive Committee (UEC) recognizes outstanding scientific research, technical achievements, and user support through the ALS User Meeting Awards. Everyone is encouraged to submit nominations, which can be resubmitted in subsequent years. A complete list of previous recipients is available here.
Descriptions of the awards are provided below, along with links to the respective nomination forms and instructions. For more information, contact the UEC Awards Committee: Sharon Bone, Lenny Sheps, and Grant Shoffner.
Additionally, students presenting in the poster session at the User Meeting are eligible for the Neville Smith Student Poster Award, named after the former Scientific Director for the ALS (1994–2006). See Posters for more information.
David A. Shirley Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement at the ALS
Recognize the ALS-based science of fellow users or colleagues. David Shirley was a Professor of Chemistry at UC Berkeley and Director of LBNL from 1980 to 1989, and was instrumental in having the Advanced Light Source built. He passed away in 2021. The winner of the Shirley Award must be available to deliver a scientific talk on their work at the plenary session of the User Meeting.
Eligibility Criteria
- The nominees may be affiliated with any organization.
- Individuals or teams can be nominated.
- The nominees are expected to be at least mid-career researchers.
- Members of the ALS Users’ Executive Committee are not eligible while serving on the committee.
Judging Criteria
The winner will be selected by the UEC with input from individuals outside the committee based on the following criteria:
- Significance of the scientific impact of the research based at the ALS on the research community: What impact has the work had on advancing the science of the broader (not only synchrotron-based) research community?
- Significance of the scientific impact of the research based at the ALS on the global user community: How the work impacted research at the ALS and at other light sources around the world? The contribution broad (e.g., the entire user community) or deep (e.g., focused on one beamline/technique).
- Significance of the candidate’s specific role on the project: How deep and/or novel is the contribution?
Nominations can be made by anyone: users, students, PIs, or LBNL staff. To nominate someone, complete the nomination form, highlighting how the candidate’s contribution to the ALS user community fits the criteria above and providing contact information for two references who can support the nomination. Letters of support may be requested following an initial review of the nominations. Nominations for 2023 User Meeting Awards are now closed.
Klaus Halbach Award for Innovative Instrumentation at the ALS
Nominate the person or team who designed and built the instruments that enable your research. Klaus Halbach was a senior staff scientist at LBNL who pioneered the development of undulators using permanent magnets, and other innovations in accelerator physics. Even though he retired from LBNL in 1991, he remained active in lab projects and student training until his death in 2000.
Eligibility Criteria
- The nominees may be affiliated with any organization.
- Individuals or teams can be nominated.
- Members of the ALS Users’ Executive Committee are not eligible while serving on the committee.
Judging Criteria
The winner will be selected by the UEC with input from individuals outside the committee based on the following criteria:
- Scientific impact on the user community: Does the instrument or software serve a lot of users? Or, equally qualifying, was the innovation something more specific that was not possible before?
- Significance of the candidate’s specific role on the project: How deep and/or novel was the contribution?
Nominations can be made by anyone: users, students, PIs, or LBNL staff. To nominate someone, complete the nomination form, highlighting how the candidate’s contribution to the ALS user community fits the criteria above and providing contact information for two references who can support the nomination. Letters of support may be requested following an initial review of the nominations. Nominations for 2023 User Meeting Awards are now closed.
Tim Renner User Services Award for Outstanding Support to the ALS User Community
Nominate a particularly helpful staff member who made your experience at the ALS better. Tim Renner was a beamline scientist at the ALS who died at an early age, and who during his career touched everyone that knew him with his caring attitude to others and his larger-than-life personality. This award recognizes the services of others across the ALS organization who, like Tim, have made outstanding contributions to the ALS user community.
Eligibility Criteria
- The nominees must be LBNL employees.
- Only individuals can be nominated.
- Members of the ALS Users’ Executive Committee are not eligible while serving on the committee.
Judging Criteria
The winner will be selected by the UEC with input from individuals outside the committee based on the following criteria:
- Impact on the user community: How impactful was the nominee’s contribution? Please consider that contributions could be broad (e.g., the entire user community) or deep (e.g., focused on one beamline).
- Significance of the candidate’s specific role on the user project: Did the nominee go above and beyond the usual expectation for user support?
Nominations can be made by anyone: users, students, PIs, or LBNL staff. To nominate someone, complete the nomination form, highlighting how the candidate’s contribution to the ALS user community fits the criteria above. Letters of support may be requested following an initial review of the nominations. Nominations for 2023 User Meeting Awards are now closed.