MX Collaborative Access Program (CAP) Proposal System
Merit Beamtime Access modes
Merit beamtime on the macromolecular crystallography (MX1), microfocus crystallography (MX2) and high performance macromolecular crystallography (MX3) beamlines at the Australian Synchrotron (AS) can be accessed via two methods.
Access Method | Description |
|---|---|
Collaborative Access Program (CAP) | Allows users of the MX community to have regular access to the facility over the period of a year, providing multiple beamtime visits a round. |
Rapid Access (RA) Program | For researchers who are not part of a CAP, MX beamtime can be accessed via this program. |
Features of the Collaborative Access Program (CAP) system
The CAP system is a merit-based system, with all proposals scored on scientific merit and track record on projects within the program.
There is an expectation that beamtime will result in publication.
Successful CAP proposals provide access to beamtime for a 12-month period.
All laboratories that access the MX beamlines regularly are expected to belong to a CAP as it is the standard mode of access.
All CAP proposals must be submitted via the User Portal
CAP Proposal Calls
Calls for CAP requests for beamtime are made once per year in early July.
Calls for proposals for beamtime access via the Rapid Access program are made three times per year, in line with the Merit Access Program across all other beamlines.
CAP Approval and Beamtime Allocation and Usage
Each successful CAP will be allocated a fixed amount of beamtime scheduled over the course of a year.
Allocations of beamtime are shared between the different laboratories within a CAP, allowing them flexibility to optimally utilise their beamtime allocations dependent on sample and team member availability.
It is up to the CAP to decide which PI or group of PIs within a CAP will use which of their allocated days.
CAP approval is via the merit program and requires that certain conditions be met to allocate a Program. CAP proposals are reviewed, approved, and allocated beamtime by the MX Proposal Advisory Committee (PAC).
The minimum size for a CAP to be approved is two or more PIs, and users within that CAP must be able to efficiently use a minimum of beamtime equivalent to six shifts of beamtime per beamline per round, as approved by the PAC.
CAPs unable to meet these conditions will not be approved.
CAP Structure and Membership
Principal Investigators (PIs) from different laboratories group together to form Collaborative Access Programs (CAPs). A PI can belong to only one CAP. The intent is to group all of the beamtime requirements for a group of labs into a single block.
A CAP can be any group of PIs (and must include their associated staff, post-docs and students), not necessarily from the same institution and not necessarily involved in the same projects. Researchers from countries with special beamtime arrangements (Singapore and NZ) must form CAPs exclusively with other researchers from those countries.
Once a PI joins a CAP all of their staff, post-doctoral associates and students are also classed as members of the same CAP. It is not permitted for lab members to belong to different CAPs as all of the laboratory's projects should be bundled together into the PI's single CAP application.
Each CAP drafts one top-level scientific proposal once per year, wherein the science and proposed type of experiments per PI within the CAP are outlined and a total number of days of beamtime required for the year are requested for each of the three MX Beamlines. CAP proposals are submitted to the AS and to the MX PAC for review. The MX PAC recommends to the AS a time allocation for each CAP for three proposal rounds (i.e. for a 12-month period). The allocated beamtime for each project within a CAP derives from the overall requested beamtime but is weighted by the MX PAC based on usage, productivity, and scientific merit.
A CAP proposal requires each PI within the CAP to request beamtime allocation per MX beamline on a project-by-project basis, with each PI completing a project proposal under the main CAP proposal. The total beamtime requested by a CAP equals the sum of its projects. The CAP is expected to allocate beamtime to each project as outlined in the CAP proposal. Organisation of CAP beamtime within the CAP is a responsibility of the CAP. i.e. Coordinators and PIs decide how to allocate time between a CAP’s groups and projects to ensure efficient and productive beamtime use.
The annual CAP renewal reviews beamtime usage from the previous year. The CAP may request additional time for some projects due to experimental needs or track record.
When deciding to group together in a CAP, a key emphasis is on all members of the CAP working together to share beamtime allocations harmoniously, collegially and productively.
All members of a CAP have access to data generated by the members of their own CAP