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Updates & Announcements

Director’s Message on Beamlines

As we are preparing for a transformative upgrade of the ALS, we are also reviewing our beamline portfolio to ready it for our operation after the dark time. To make space for new scientific developments, we have made the difficult decision to not reopen several beamlines and endstations. We have held a series of user forums and look forward to continued engagement with our community for new developments and opportunities. Read more »

January–July 2026 Operating Schedule Announced

The operating schedule for the 2026-1 cycle (January-July 2026) has been posted. The next shutdown will begin in January 2026 and will last approximately four weeks. Afterwards, we will have five months of user beamtime through early July, and then we will shut down for the second half of 2026 for the replacement of the switch station through which all power for the ALS accelerator comes. The most up-to-date information on the current schedule and future outlook can always be found on the Operating Schedule web page. Read more »

Processing Time for On-Site Users

Please remember that all on-site users must register well in advance of their scheduled beamtime. US citizens are required to complete registration at least 21 days before their experiment. Non-US citizens must register at least 60 days in advance due to updated DOE screening requirements. Please plan ahead to ensure timely processing and avoid delays to your access.

UEC Nominations Due October 31, 2025

The Advanced Light Source Users’ Executive Committee (UEC) invites nominations for its upcoming election for five new UEC members (2026–2028 term). Nominations will be accepted through Friday, October 31, 2025. Take a look at what is involved, and remember that self-nominations are welcome! Read more »

Applications due October 31 for Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships

Applications for the next round of ALS Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships are due October 31 for a start date in 2026. Fellows spend a year in residence at the ALS pursuing research projects in teams that include staff and the user community, and are exposed to current scientific challenges that can be tackled using advanced synchrotron radiation tools. Read more »

Call for 2024 and 2025 Publications

All publications resulting from work done in whole or in part at the ALS must be recorded by the User Office for the Department of Energy (DOE). To maintain accurate records and assess the productivity and scientific achievements of our beamlines, please report your ALS publications, especially those published in 2024 and 2025. Read more »

Berkeley Lab Director Witherell Retirement, June 2026

Dr. Michael S. Witherell announced his intention to retire in Spring 2026 from his position as director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory after nearly a decade of service. Witherell’s leadership has strengthened the Lab’s position as a world-leading institution for breakthrough science and energy solutions for the nation. Read more »

2025 ACS Early Investigator Award for Greg Su

Staff Scientist Greg Su has been selected for an Early Investigator award by the American Chemical Society (ACS) Division of Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering (PMSE). Attendees of the 2025 ACS Fall Meeting will be able to hear Su’s award seminar on Wednesday, August 20. Read more »

Changes to Proposals for January–July 2026

The ALS-U project is evaluating a potential schedule shift, including a shutdown for dark time starting summer 2026. Since an earlier dark time is possible, our goal is to ensure active proposals receive needed beamtime and make beamtime requests accessible when possible. Learn more about the September proposal cycle changes. For any questions, contact alsproposals@lbl.gov.  Read more »