Any academic research group from Spain or France can apply for beam time at BM16 using the standard CRG beamtime application procedure at the ESRF (SMIS).

When applying for beam time please follow the instructions carefully. In case of doubt, send an e-mail to the contacts shown in the proposal application system (SMIS), or to Ana Labrador.

Deadline

We have no deadlines for Macromolecular Crystallography proposals, so you can apply at any time. However, from the reception of the completed proposal to the scheduled beamtime there will usually be a minimum delay of 6 weeks. This is due to the standard administrative and safety procedures of the ESRF.

How to Apply

A quick guideline of how to apply to BM16 is given below. The steps required are described in greater detail along with other useful information in the ESRF Applying for beamtime pages.

1. In the ESRF home click on Applying for beamtime in the main menu then either select the Macromolecular Crystallography beamtime option or click on the online interface for SMIS then Submit Proposal Online.
2. Type your Username and Password (if you have never registered as an ESRF user, create a new entry). When your User Information is displayed type NEXT to enter the General Tasks menu, then click on Submit New Proposal.
3. In the following menu, select BM16(-PX or -SAXS) from the CRG proposal list.

   Note: SAXS users please remember to fill out the required resolution range and wavelength on the proposal form. Otherwise feel free to contact BM16 staff here for technical advice before submitting SAXS proposals.

4. Fill out the Application for BM16 Beam Time form. After having successfully filled the form you will receive a temporary reference number (e.g. 6256)
5. Download the standard ESRF Experimental Method or the BM16 Experimental Method forms and describe your experiment.
6. Send an e-mail message with the temporary reference number as Subject and the Experimental Method form as an attachment.
7. Wait about 10 minutes after the e-mail has been sent, then log back into the Application System SMIS. Go to the General Tasks menu, then click on Actions Related to Recently Submitted Proposals.
8. Validate the proposal. After this you will not be able to modify your proposal! Once you have validated, a Proposal Code is assigned to the proposal (e.g. 16-01-625).
9. (ONLY for Macromolecular Crystallography experiments) You still need to "declare" the samples you are going to bring to the ESRF. To do so, in the General Tasks menu, select Submit Sample Information and Safety Sheet, then select the proposal. Fill out a Sample Sheet carefully for every sample you want to measure in the proposal. Please consult the following link for more info on CRG proposal and online form submissions.
10. If your proposal has been approved, the Main Proposer will receive an e-mail announcing it, and requesting that you fill in an A form, to confirm your arrival and give other logistic details.  This form can be filled in by logging back into the SMIS Application System.

 If you run into any problems or have any questions click here for a comprehensive overveiw of the submission process.