The spring 2021 call for standard proposals opens on March 1, 2021, with a submission deadline of April 1, 2021 (We close at 11:59:59 pm, Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time). Applicants will be notified of review outcomes in May, 2021.
How does COVID-19 impact this proposal call?
The Molecular Foundry is currently open with limited access for on-site research. Berkeley Lab and the Foundry are resuming operations gradually, subject to COVID-19 safety policies that limit our ability to work together. However, the Foundry remains committed to working with users on active proposals, within the limitations of the pandemic context, and we have found a number of creative solutions that make us optimistic about our ability to facilitate your research. The Foundry will maintain communication with users as the situation evolves and we welcome your questions and ideas on how we might be able better work with you.
Approved standard proposals have up to one year for activation of the project. Then, these active projects have one year to complete. Some approved proposals from the 2020 proposal cycles have experienced significant delays in start date due to restrictions impacting travel, in-person training, and more complex, team oriented efforts. We hope that 2021 brings a gradual return to normalcy for activation of spring 2021 proposals within the one-year window, and while lower than normal acceptance rates may result, we encourage all users to submit their ideas for consideration. The Foundry remains committed to working with research teams to review requests for extensions to activation deadlines, on a case by case basis, for proposals in the 2020 and 2021 proposal cycles.
Read more about the Foundry’s response to COVID-19
Go to Berkeley Lab’s COVID-19 website for more information
Spring 2021 Proposal Call Emphasis
In light of the restrictions mentioned above, for the spring 2021 call, the Molecular Foundry encourages the submission of user research proposals for nanoscale science, with an emphasis on:
- Collaborative research to fight COVID-19
- Proposals that emphasize theoretical and computational work
- Projects requesting remote access to instruments or collection of data to be analyzed remotely
- Sample-only proposals (submit anytime)
As is normally the case, the Molecular Foundry will also consider standard user research proposals for nanoscale science including:
- Synthesis of inorganic, organic, biological, and hybrid nanostructures
- High-resolution electron, optical, and scanning-probe microscopy
- Theory and simulation of nanostructured materials
- Advanced nano-fabrication
All projects will be subject to any COVID-19 safety limitations.
Create a proposal through the User Portal
The Molecular Foundry at Berkeley Lab is a national nanoscience research facility available to researchers from around the world through a competitive proposal process — free of charge for non-proprietary work. Foundry users may come from industry, academia, or government institutions.
Looking for tips on writing a good proposal? Check out the recording of our recent information session on Foundry user proposals.
