The process of beamtime allocation and scheduling starts with a proposal for experimentation. Questions regarding the safety of a proposal are addressed by the CHESS Safety Committee. CHESS accepts several types of proposals from users seeking a beamtime allocation on one of the CHESS x-ray stations. User Administrator Kathy Dedrick (607-255-0920), is the primary contact for users who wish to use CHESS facilities.
Bringing Materials to CHESS - This applies to all CHESS users. As a prerequisite for work at CHESS it must be established whether or not hazardous materials are involved. All proposals must have an up-to-date Materials Declaration Form for either Hazardous Materials, Non-Hazardous Materials, Viral Materials, or Heavy Atom Compounds Materials.
Express-Mode proposals are for a single visit of limited duration to CHESS to perform a straight-forward experiment. Express-Mode proposals undergo a rapid on-line review process to enable users to quickly gain access to beam time.
-
On-line proposals may be printed and mailed, if preferred, to Kathy Dedrick (kd73@cornell.edu).
- Users may use Express-Mode to request beam time at any CHESS station.
- Up to 48 hours may be obtained for protein crystallography measurements at the F1, F2 and A1 stations for single wavelength oscillation experiments.
- Up to 96 hours may be obtained at the tunable F2 station for protein crystallography MAD phasing, optimized anomalous, and short wavelength experiments.
***NOTE***
For MAD studies, users must also submit a standard non-hazardous materials declaration form, as well as a heavy atoms declaration, if appropriate. Work involving hazardous materials cannot be performed under Express Mode. The CHESS Safety Committee will determine if a particular heavy atom experiment is hazardous.
- Up to 96 hours may be obtained at stations A2, B1, B2, C1, D1, F3, G1, G2 & G3.
Feasibility Study proposals are to test an idea or procedure at one of the CHESS stations.
-
Feasibility proposal forms should be downloaded, along with the appropriate hazardous or non-hazardous declaration form. Filled forms should be sent to Kathy Dedrick (kd73@cornell.edu) for on-line reviewing.
-
A single visit of up to 96 hours may be requested.
-
Users are strongly urged to discuss feasibility experiments with an appropriate CHESS staff scientist before submitting a proposal. Kathy Dedrick can help identify an appropriate CHESS staff scientist.
Standard proposals are for repeated allocations of beamtime over a period of up to two years.
-
Standard proposal forms should be downloaded, along with the appropriate hazardous or non-hazardous declaration form. Filled forms should be sent to Kathy Dedrick (kd73@cornell.edu) for on-line reviewing.
-
It is not essential to fill the limit of 10 pages; the more concise the proposal, the better it will be received.
Program proposals address larger experimental programs than would be possible with a few visits. They typically involve many repeated visits to CHESS.
-
The Program Proposal form must be requested from Kathy Dedrick. She is also in a position to advise if a particular program is better served by a Standard or a Program proposal. Proposals that address a single experiment, or several unrelated experiments, or that do not address specific broad goals are not suitable for Program Proposals.
-
The Program Proposal form, along with the appropriate hazardous or non-hazardous declaration form must be filled out and sent to Kathy Dedrick (kd73@cornell.edu) for on-line reviewing.
-
Program Proposals are normally active for two years, or, in certain cases, the duration of the associated CHESS program. Program proposals may be renewed by submitting a CHESS Program Extension Request Form.
