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 research community;

• 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 review committee of a synchrotron facility.

• The experiment cannot be performed at the Australian Synchrotron, and 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 community; IPAC includes scientific excellence as one of its strategic priorities.

ISAP will not, in general, accept oversubscription at an AS beamline as justification for the provision of support for international access.

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. 

• 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.

Funding application cut-off dates are as follows:
5pm Monday November 30, 2009 for beamtime scheduled from 1 September 2009 onwards
5pm Monday March 1, 2010 for beamtime scheduled from 1 December 2009 onwards
5pm Monday May 31, 2010 for beamtime scheduled from 1 March 2010 onwards
5pm Monday August 30, 2010 for beamtime scheduled from 31 May 2010 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 fill in the application for funding form. The 'international funding request' application form must be filled in completely and signed by all relevant parties before it can be processed.

• 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 additional items are also required when submitting the application:

• The application form including a one page justification for support via ISAP, making the case for strategic importance and outlining why the work cannot be completed at the Australian Synchrotron

•  A copy of the proposal to which the funding request relates

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

• Experimental reports from any prior funded visits.    

The complete application including the above items is then to be returned to the Australian Synchrotron User Office by email (This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it).

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).

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.

An application for a particular scheduled beamtime will only be considered once and will not be considered for funding in future application rounds.

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.


Upon receiving approval for funding the process is as follows:

1. User/User Organisation books and funds the required flights and accommodation for the trip approved as per the approval letter.  Please adhere strictly to the funding amount approved.
2. User Group Spokesperson upon incurring all expenses completes the funding acquittal form (download below).
3. The funding acquittal form is then taken to the User Group Spokesperson's research office or equivalent with all necessary receipts and authorized by an appropriate party (as outlined on the acquittal form).
4. User Group Spokesperson's research office or equivalent then raises a tax invoice to the Australian Synchrotron for the exact amount spent (up to the approved amount).
5. User Group Spokesperson completes the post experiment report (download below).
6. User Group Spokesperson then submits the funding acquittal form, tax invoice and post experiment report to the Australian Synchrotron user office. Do NOT include copies of the receipts when sending these to the Australian Synchrotron.
7. Australian Synchrotron User Office will send confirmation of receipt  email to User Group Spokesperson and organize payment on the invoice

Click here to download the Funding Acquittal Form
Click here to download the Post Experiment Report Form

***Please note that the above process is to be completed within 4 weeks of returning from the allocated beamtime.

Publications resulting from travel funded by the International Synchrotron Access Program require the following acknowledgement of the funding provided:

"We acknowledge travel funding provided by the International Synchrotron Access Program (ISAP) managed by the Australian Synchrotron.  The ISAP is an initiative of the Australian Government being conducted as part of the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy."