INTERNATIONAL SYNCHROTRON ACCESS PROGRAM

Purpose

The International Synchrotron Access Program (ISAP) is a program administered by the Australian Synchrotron (AS) that is designed to assist Australian-based synchrotron users holding an appointment at an Australian institution or company to access overseas synchrotrons.  The objectives of the program are:

• To provide funding for access to international synchrotron facilities by Australian researchers;

• To ensure that the funding produces the greatest benefit for the Australian community, and strategically enhances synchrotron and research capabilities;

• To develop Australian awareness and expertise in emerging synchrotron methodologies and ideas.

Access Principles

The following principles are designed to ensure that maximum benefit is obtained for the Australian user community.  Travel and accommodation funding will be provided where the IPAC determines that:

• A proposal has been recommended for beamtime through a competitive process by the appropriate peer review committee of a synchrotron facility.

• A strong scientific case has been made for the work.

• Sufficient funds are available for the 3-month period in which the experiment will be performed.  Where the demand exceeds the available funds, the IPAC shall rank proposals and determine which will be supported for that quarter.
        

Priority will be given to projects that are deemed by IPAC to be of strategic importance to the development of Australian research and benefit to the broader community; IPAC includes scientific excellence as one of its strategic priorities.

This program does not provide funding for travel to the AS facilities at the Photon Factory in Japan, as this is currently available through another mechanism.

Application Procedure

• Applications will be accepted at any time; IPAC will meet quarterly to allocate funding. 

• Applicants should discuss the possibility of conducting their experiment at the Australian Synchrotron with the relevant AS beamline scientist before submitting a funding application.

• Applications should be submitted as early as possible and does not need to have already been allocated time at a facility; funding for approved projects will be released on the provision of evidence that the experimental time has been allocated.

• Applications can be made to cover expenses associated with overseas beamtime that has already taken place.

Funding application cut-off dates are as follows:

11.59pm Tuesday 30 August, 2011 (Melbourne time) for beamtime scheduled from 31 May 2011 onwards
11.59pm Tuesday 29 November, 2011 (Melbourne time) for beamtime scheduled from 30 August 2011 onwards
11.59pm Tuesday 28 February, 2012 (Melbourne time) for beamtime scheduled from 29 November 2011 onwards
11.59pm Tuesday 29 May, 2012 (Melbourne time) for beamtime scheduled from 28 February 2012 onwards
11.59pm Tuesday 28 August, 2012 (Melbourne time) for beamtime scheduled from 29 May 2012 onwards
 

• Applications submitted by these cut-off dates will be considered for travel funding within 3 weeks and applicants notified of the outcome within 4 weeks.

• To apply for access funding for an overseas synchrotron facility, you will need to submit a proposal via the online proposal system (portal.synchrotron.org.au). Please ensure that all Users requiring funding are listed as attending on the 'Researchers' page of the proposal.

• The IPAC will accept resubmission of previously unsuccessful funding applications as long as the scheduled beamtime dates of the experiment for which funding is being sought comply with the dates given above for each application cut-off date.

Please click here to download 'international funding request form'

The following items are required when submitting the application:

• The signed 1 page application form 

•  A copy of the proposal submitted to the overseas facility to which the funding request relates - all proposals must be submitted in English

•  A copy of the official beamtime notification letter (if beamtime has already been scheduled)

The complete application including the above items must be submitted by the proposal deadline in order for the application to be considered.

The process, once the application has been submitted in full, is that confirmation of the submission will be emailed and later notification of the outcome will be sent.  If successful you are to make necessary arrangements and once all expenses have been incurred raise a tax invoice to the Australian Synchrotron for the exact amount (up to the approved amount). The funding will be valid for 1 year from the date of approved funding notification.

This program does not provide funding for travel to the AS facilities at the Photon Factory in Japan, as this is currently available through another mechanism.


Level of Funding

• ISAP is intended to cover the majority of the cost of travel and living, but under some circumstances the actual cost of travel may be higher than the maximum available.  

• The maximum level of support provided will be determined by reference to one of following funding tables which take into account the location of the overseas facility, the number of people travelling and the number of days of beamtime awarded.  These figures will be reviewed by the AS twice annually.

•  Funding will be provided as a single-line budget and variation is allowable between the amounts determined for airfares, living and accommodation and ground transport.  However, if fewer people travel than the number in the application, the maximum funding level will be reduced.

Region: North America
Updated on: 7th April 2009

Region: Europe 
Updated on: 7th April 2009

 Region: Asia 
Updated on: 7th April 2009

Invoicing and acquittals- after receiving approval letters

The applicant will also be required to acquit this funding and return the acquittal form to the Australian Synchrotron User Office.  A post-experiment report must also be filled out and sent back to us within four weeks of return from the overseas facility. This report will be consulted when IPAC considers subsequent requests for travel funding.

Please click here for Invoice, Post Experiment form and Acquittal information.