Monetary Assistance
University of Maryland Outreach Program

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There is a wide range of neutron scattering techniques that are uniquely suited to solve many problems of current scientific and technological interest. One of the goals of the NCNR is to provide scientists from across the nation with the opportunity to utilize the neutron instrumentation and capabilities at NIST to solve these problems. However, this can represent a significant barrier for scientists who are not already well-versed in neutron scattering, in that they don't have the experience, knowledge, or familiarity to successfully use the facilities. To encourage new users and provide them with this essential educational opportunity, the University of Maryland has developed an outreach program to assist first-time users to come to the neutron facility and carry out an experiment, in close cooperation with NIST scientific staff.

To qualify for this program, a user

Must have a neutron proposal that has been approved by the Beam Time Allocation Committee (BTAC), or a formal request that has been approved by one of the instrument scientists (i.e. you must have beam time).

Must be from a US University. Preference will be given to graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and junior faculty, in that order.

A travel stipend of up to $500 will be paid to the new user to help offset travel and subsistence expenses. The stipend will be processed as a travel reimbursement through the University of Maryland and a U.S. social security number is required to submit the paperwork. Original receipts will be required for all expenses except food (food expenses are based on a per diem which is currently $39/day). Eligible expenses requiring a receipt include: hotel, airfare, car rental, mileage for personal car and parking. Assistance will be provided to an individual one time only.

There is a maximum of two new scientists per experiment that will be funded.

Implementation

To apply for this program, send an email message to Professor Robert Briber at the University of Maryland (neutron_outreach@umd.edu). An application form will be sent to you electronically. This will be evaluated, and you will be notified of the decision.

NEW PROGRAM TO SUPPORT GRADUATE STUDENTS' VISITS TO THE NCNR

As part of its expanding education and outreach effort, the NCNR is pleased to offer university-based research groups planning to come to the NCNR for an experiment approved by its Beam Time Allocation Committee (BTAC), the opportunity to request travel support for an additional graduate student to participate in the experiment. This support is intended to enable prospective thesis students, for example, to acquire some first-hand experience with a technique they may use later in their own research. At the same time, university professors would have the opportunity to evaluate the potential of a prospective thesis student in an actual research situation.

The guidelines for eligibility in this new program are:

1. A request must be associated with a BTAC-approved experiment proposal. Currently the NCNR's Beam Time Allocation Committee (BTAC) reviews proposals for the following instruments:

   30-m SANS - NG-3 and NG-7

   USANS - BT-5

   Neutron Powder Diffractometer - BT-1

   Neutron Imaging Facility - BT-2

   Cold Neutron Triple-Axis Spectrometer (SPINS) - NG-5

   Thermal Neutron Triple-Axis Spectometer - BT-7

   Disk Chopper Spectrometer (DCS) - NG-4

   Neutron Spin Echo Spectrometer (NSE) - NG-5

   High Flux Backscattering Spectrometer - NG-2

   Neutron Reflectometers - NG-7, NG-1, and NG-1 ANDR

2. Only graduate students who are not members of the measurement team listed in the original proposal are eligible.
3. Travel support must be requested for a particular student at least one month in advance of the dates of the experiment.
4. Students whose applications for travel support are approved must make their travel arrangements in accordance with NIST's travel policies. The main requirements are:
   1. ) the cost of transportation to and from the NCNR will be paid by NIST if, and only if, the arrangements are made in advance through NIST's travel office.
   2. ) all local expenses will be reimbursed, usually within 30 days, pending the completion of a signed travel voucher, including all necessary receipts.
5. Professors are encouraged to nominate students from underrepresented groups for this educational opportunity.

Support for this program comes from the National Science Foundation through the NIST/NSF Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering (CHRNS). Requests for travel support should be made directly to:

Dr. Dan Neumann, Director, CHRNS

NIST Center for Neutron Research

100 Bureau Drive, STOP 8562

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8562

Tel: (301) 975-5252

Fax: (301) 921-9847

Email: dan.neumann@nist.gov

Requests should include the following information:

• Student's name
• Email address
• Complete mailing address
• A brief statement as to why this student was selected for this program

Last modified 09-April-2009 by website owner: NCNR (attn: Bill Kamitakahara)