This call has been closed.

The Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI) invites applications for power user positions, which were exclusively for designated power users until FY2007. Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Please prepare your application using the following guidelines and instructions.

I. Power User Scheme
1. Eligibility Requirements
Eligible individuals are those who have a thorough knowledge of public beamlines and measurement techniques, and those who are expected to contribute to developing academic fields of SR science and technology. In addition, applicants are required to:
a) Aim to produce high-quality results in the field of cutting-edge SR research,
b) Cooperate in the development and upgrading of experimental stations, and
c) Expand/promote areas of new research and provide support for general users.

2. Application Opportunities and Designation Period
Screening of applicants is conducted once a year and successful applicants are added to the list of power users every fiscal year. Generally, the designation period is five years. Depending on the interim review results, however, the period may be reduced to three years.

3. Available Beamtime and Type of Research for Power User Proposal
A maximum of 20% of total beamtime is allocated to beamlines accepting power user proposals. Note that only non-proprietary research can be performed.

4. Interim Review and Post Implementation Review
Power users are subject to an interim review of research achievements, equipment development and user support by the Power User Review Committee at the end of the third year and whether to continue or discontinue the research is determined. When the designation period is completed, a post implementation review of the research results is conducted by the Power User Review Committee.

[In the Case of Power User Proposal]
Expense Support:
In principle, we will cover the domestic travel and SPring-8 Guest House lodging expenses and the expense for consumables necessary for experiments.

Report Submission:
Please submit a "SPring-8 Experiment Report" online within 60 days of the completion of the experiment. Two weeks after the deadline for all Experiment Report submissions (60 days + two weeks after the end of each half-year research term), experiment reports with database search functions are made available to the public on the User Information Website. The submission of the experiment report is required for your research to be considered non-proprietary. Unless you submit your experiment report by the deadline, you will be charged beamtime fees. Please note, even in this case, you are not exempt from submitting the experiment report. You are strongly encouraged to publish results obtained through the use of the SPring-8 and enter the information of publications into the SPring-8 Publications Database as soon as they are published.

In addition to the experiment report, you are also required to submit activity reports for the interim and post implementation reviews.

[In the Case of Development/Upgrading of Beamline and User Support]
User Support:
Please provide support on measurement techniques and data analyses for other users from closely related areas of your work.

Expense Support:
The domestic travel and SPring-8 Guest House expenses are covered.

Report Submission:
Please submit an activity report for each half-year research term. You are also required to submit another activity reports for the interim and post implementation reviews.

II. Application Guidelines
1. Designation Period
The power user designation period is five years starting from April 2009. If you wish to be on the list of power users for FY2009, please apply this time.

2. Application Method
Please contact the SPring-8 Users Office in advance to have your account activated for online application from the User Information Website. Since some item names do not correspond to the information required, please follow the instructions to prepare your application.

3. Submission Deadline

Wednesday, November 5, 2008, 10:00 am (Japan Standard 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 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.

4. Proposal Review
Applicants will go through a two-step review process; application forms are reviewed initially and applicants who passed the first step of the review process will proceed to the interview.

The interview (30-min presentation and 30-min question-and-answer session) is scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, 2008; please prepare your presentation on your power user proposal and the development/upgrading of beamline and user support well in advance.

5. Notification of Review Results
Applicants will be notified of screening/interview results in writing as scheduled below.

Screening result: November 7, 2008
(Only those selected for an interview will be notified of the time for the interview.)

Interview result: At the end of November 2008.

Contact:
Shizu HIRANO (Ms.)
SPring-8 Users Office/User Administration Divison, JASRI
1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun
Hyogo 679-5198 Japan
email: sp8jasri@spring8.or.jp