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- Structural Biology Rolling Proposal - (MX or SSX) Crystallography and BioSAXS beamtime
Structural Biology Rolling Proposal - (MX or SSX) Crystallography and BioSAXS beamtime
Beamtime Application for a Structural Biology Rolling Proposal
Guidelines for preparing a
(MX or SSX) Crystallography proposal or a BioSAXS proposal
Useful links:
Find a Beamline
Status of the beamlines for the 1st March 2022 deadline
This type of proposal must ONLY be used:
- by scientists who are NOT already members of a MX BAG Proposal,
- to apply for Structural Biology beamtime on the Structural Biology beamlines (ID23 - ID29 - BM29 - ID30A (MASSIF) - ID30B - BM07):
- for Crystallography experiments on the beamlines ID23 - ID30A (MASSIF) - ID30B - BM07
- for Serial Synchrotron Crystallography (SSX) and Time Resolved SSX (TR-SSX) experiments on the beamline ID29
- for Biological SAXS (BioSAXS) experiments on the beamline BM29
For Applications for beamtime on OTHER BEAMLINES than the Structural Biology beamlines mentioned above:
- the STANDARD Proposal Form must be used
- "Life Science" (LS) must be selected as research area.
For Rolling applications for beamtime to use the Cryo-Electron Microscope CM01 (SPA / Cryo-ET beamtime):
- consult the specific Guidelines for preparing a Cryo-EM (SPA / Cryo-ET) Proposal and the Cryo-EM information web pages.
SANS-SAXS Experiments (Joint ESRF/ILL Experiments)
In order to improve access to the complementary techniques of SAXS and SANS, users submitting a SANS proposal to the ILL have the option to ask (on the proposal form) for complementary SAXS measurements on the instrument BM29 through the PSB SANS Platform. If the proposal is awarded beam time at the ILL, the proposers are invited to submit a "Rolling Access" proposal to the ESRF for BioSAXS time and the related ILL proposal number is given on the proposal form and in the email notification of submission, thereby identifying it as a "Joint Proposal
If the proposals are awarded beam time at both the ILL and the ESRF, every effort will be made to schedule the experiments in such a way that SAXS and SANS data can be collected on the same samples during one visit to the EPN site.
Consult our document "Advice on writing a good proposal"
An Application for beam-time for a Rolling Proposal has two parts:
- the electronic "Standard Beamtime Application Form"
- the "Experimental Method form" (word document to be downloaded)
Important:
- Proposals must be written in English.
- All sections of the form must be filled in. Particular attention should be given to the safety aspects, and the name and characteristics of the substance(s) completed carefully. Please respect the space available on the form.
- An experimental report on previous measurements - including experiments on CRG beamlines - must be submitted electronically before subsequent requests for beam time are made, using the Experimental Report Form. Please mention on your new beamtime application form the experiment(s) for which you have submitted report(s);
- Requests for beam time are based on shifts of 8 hours. Allocations of beam time will usually be made in multiples of 3 shifts.
- Multiple Requests: Fill in a separate beamtime application form for each experiment or project.
This document (template.docx - updated January 2023) should consist of a maximum of two A4 pages, including references, with a minimal font size of 12 pt. The submission application does not accept an experimental details form that exceeds two pages.
1. Aim of the experiment and scientific background
State clearly the aim of the proposed experiment together with the general and specific scientific background; give results of preliminary work carried out with synchrotron radiation and/or other methods.
2. Experimental method
Describe the arrangements which will be made for the reception, preparation, use and disposal of the sample.
Describe the experimental set-up and requirements, in some detail. Queries concerning the feasibility (technical or safety aspects) of an experiment should be clarified with ESRF staff before the proposal is submitted. The User Office can assist you to find the most appropriate person.
3. Results expected
Describe the results expected from the measurements, their scientific (or technical) relevance, and how they relate to existing work on the topic.
4. Concluding remarks
Justify the beam time you request and give technical reasons which make the ESRF necessary for your experiment.
Include REFERENCES where these are relevant, but do not assume that they will be systematically consulted for essential details.
Full details of the sample(s) contained in all structural biology proposals should also be provided to the ESRF at the time of submission of the beamtime application form. For each new structural biology proposal submitted, the main proposer (or one of the co-proposers) should complete and submit one Sample Sheet per sample mentioned in the proposal. The electronic Sample Sheet is accessible via the ESRF User Portal (SMIS).
Failure to provide this information in the correct format will mean an application will NOT be accepted.
Further to the completion and submission of Sample Sheets per proposal, a list of Sample Sheets is created for each submitted proposal.
The information is communicated to the Joint Safety Officer for Biology and the Beamline Operation Managers in order to provide them with the maximum of information on new proposals. This will help the Safety Group to define the level of risk associated to each sample, and will aid the Beamline Operation Managers in calculating the amount of beam-time each proposal requires.
- Details on the procedure to submit the electronic Sample Sheet form
Who to contact:
- the Experimental Safety Officer: Martine MORONI
Tel: +33 (0)4 7688.2369
Fax: +33 (0)4 7688.2418
The Electronic Submission is done through the ESRF User Portal (SMIS). You will require your ESRF login (last name) and personal password to login to the application. If you are registered in the ESRF data base but you have forgotten your personal password, kindly contact the User Office by e-mail (user office). If you are not yet in the ESRF data base, you will be able to create your own user account and to access the proposal submission application.
IMPORTANT: Should you run into difficulties submitting your proposal electronically contact the User Office who will give you instructions to proceed with the electronic submission of your proposal.
Access to the electronic application form for beam time:
- tab "Proposals/Experiments"
- >> select: "Proposals" in the drop-down list
- tab "New Proposal"
What to do?
- SELECT "Structural Biology Rolling Proposal": a drop-down list gives the option between:
* a Crystallography proposal
* a SSX & TR-SSX proposal
* a BioSAXS proposal
- COMPLETE and SUBMIT your electronic beamtime application form: data registered in this proposal (details for the main-proposer, the co-proposer(s), proposal title, beamline(s) and shifts requested,...) is submitted directly into an ESRF data base;
Once saved, the recently submitted proposal is given a REFERENCE NUMBER and registered for further process under the tab "Proposals in Progress". It can be modified until the validation by the main proposer.
- COMPLETE the Experimental Method form (template below), and SAVE it in your local folder:
MS Word for WINDOWS (updated January 2023)
The experimental method form should consist of a maximum of two of A4 pages, including references, with a minimal font size of12 pt. The size should not exceed 3 MB. Proposals which do not respect these rules will automatically be rejected by the review Committee. It can be modified until the validation of the proposal by the main proposer.
Via the ESRF User Portal (SMIS) (tab "Proposals/Experiments" -> "Proposals" -> "Proposals in Progress")
- DOWNLOAD the PDF file of your Experimental Method file of your proposal and SUBMIT IT: it will be automatically linked to your electronic beamtime application form.
A PDF file of your complete proposal is issued by the application: please CHECK IT carefully before you validate it. -
COMPLETE and SUBMIT the "Sample Information and Safety Sheet" for your new proposal
The submission of AT LEAST one Sample Sheet is MANDATORY to allow the validation of the proposal by the main proposer
How to modify your proposal?
The proposal can be modified by the main proposer ONLY BEFORE validation. Once validated, the proposal is automatically given a final number and it is not anymore possible to modify it.
Validation of the proposal by the main proposer
-
VALIDATE the PROPOSAL and ASSIGN A FINAL NUMBER
The submission of your new proposal will NOT be complete unless you validate it.
VALIDATION and MX FINAL NUMBER:* with the validation of the proposal by the main proposer, the proposal is given a FINAL NUMBER which is of the type: MX-###. An automatic notification will inform the ESRF staff and the MX BeamTime Allocation Panel (C10) members who will grade the proposal within the 3 weeks following the submission of the proposal.* the proposal will be registered under the tab "Proposals with Final Number / Experiments"WARNING!
Once validated by the main proposer and registered with its FINAL NUMBER, a proposal cannot be anymore modified by the main proposer
Acknowledgement your proposal
The User Office acknowledges the submission of the proposal by e-mail. The proposal is reviewed by the MX BeamTime Allocation Panel (C10).
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