Contents
1. What is Budding Researchers Support Program?
2. Research Area
3. Application Requirements
4. Support for Expenses
5. Research Period
6. Beamlines and Beamtime Available to Users
7. Several Bunch Mode Operation in 2011A
8. Proposal Submission
9. Submission Deadline: December 9, 2010, 10:00 am (Japan Time)
10. Proposal Review
11. Notification of Review Results
12. Report Submission
13. Payment of User Fees
14. Contact

1. What is Budding Researchers Support Program?

The Budding Researchers Support Program intends to encourage budding researchers who will shape the future of synchrotron radiation research. Under the program, we will provide support for doctoral students with an exploratory and original research proposal or research theme. Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Please prepare your proposal application using the following guidelines and instructions. Please also refer to the "Call for 2011A SPring-8 Research Proposals - Overview -."

2. Research Area

Research using synchrotron radiation (same as general proposals).

3. Application Requirements

Applicants must be either
a) Ph.D. students, or
b) masters students, who will be Ph.D. students at the time of experiment at SPring-8.
In either case, applicants are required to show initiative, work independently, and be self-reliant when conducting research. All applicants must obtain permission to apply from their Ph.D. advisors, who can be responsible for the experiment at SPring-8. If you are unsure if you are eligible, please contact the SPring-8 Users Office at sp8jasri@spring8.or.jp.

4. Support for Expenses

In principle, we will cover the domestic travel expenses including the SPring-8 Guest House lodging expenses for two people (the project leader and a student/project team member). At this point, however, it is uncertain if we will be able to obtain the necessary funding for 2011A.

5. Research Period

2011A (From April through July 2011)

6. Beamlines and Beamtime Available to Users

Public Beamlines

RIKEN Beamlines

Please contact the Beamline Scientist of the desired beamline before applying for beamtime.

Please note that user beamtime for BL37XU and BL39XU is scheduled to start in late May 2011. For details, please read the "Call for 2011A SPring-8 Research Proposals - Overview -."

For the specifications and status of experimental stations, please check with the Beamline List. To see what kind of experiments have been performed at SPring-8, please check with the SPring-8 Solution Database.

7. Several Bunch Mode Operation in 2011A

If you have a preference for a particular operating mode, choose from the pull-down menu on the Basic Information page of the online application form, and explain the difference in efficiency between your first- and second-choice modes in the box provided for "Others."

For several bunch modes, click here.

8. Proposal Submission

Applicants/project leaders are required to submit proposals online through the web-based proposal submission system. Before starting the application process, please first carefully read the "Call for 2011A SPring-8 Research Proposals -Overview-."

User Information Website (UI site) > Log in to My Page > Proposal Submission > New > Non-Proprietary Research > Budding Researchers Support Proposal

It is possible that the web browser crashes while working on an application, so you are strongly encouraged to draft your application offline first using a MS Word template.

For step-by-step instructions on how to submit proposals, please see this page.

9. Submission Deadline

Thursday, December 9, 2010, 10:00 am (Japan time)

To avoid last minute technical problems and possible network congestion caused by heavy traffic, you are strongly encouraged to complete and submit your application well in advance of the deadline. If you have trouble completing/submitting your application online, please contact the SPring-8 Users Office (see 14. Contact) before the deadline.

Upon successful submission, you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of Agreement (Rules for Users) in PDF format attached to it. If you do not receive the confirmation email, please log in to the system and check if your proposal has been submitted successfully.

Please make sure to print out the Agreement* , have it signed by the project leader and the Ph.D. advisor, and send it to the Users Office by post no later than December 16, 2010.

* Important Note for Ph.D. Advisors:
By signing the agreement, you agree to register as a project team member, to bear equal responsibility with the project leader, and to come to SPring-8 (if at all possible) to provide support, advice, and guidance to the project leader at the time of experiment.

Deadline for 2011B Proposals (next half-year research term):
Deadline for 2011B proposals (second half of fiscal 2011) is scheduled for late June 2011.

10. Proposal Review

Submitted budding researchers support proposals are subject to review as general proposals at the Proposal Review Committee.

11. Notification of Review Results

Applicants will be notified of the review results in writing mid-February 2011.

12. Report Submission

In addition to the SPring-8 Experiment Report required to be submitted online within 60 days after the experiment, project leaders are also required to submit a Budding Researchers Support Program Report (paper size: A4, length: about 5 pages); or related research paper or doctoral dissertation to the SPring-8 Users Office.

13. User Fees

We have requested a budget to cover the user fees. At this point, however, it is uncertain if we will be able to obtain the necessary funding for 2011A.

14. Contact:

SPring-8 Users Office/User Administration Division, JASRI
1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun
Hyogo 679-5198 Japan
Fax: +81-(0)791-58-0965
email: sp8jasri@spring8.or.jp