Collaborative Research Visits
Neutron Sciences Career Development Program
Instructions to Apply for a Collaborative Research Visit
The research visits are meant to be collaborative and each application should be prepared jointly with a proposed collaborator from ORNL. If the applicant needs assistance in identifying a collaborator ORNL can provide suggestions. To facilitate this it will generally be necessary for the applicant to supply a short statement describing the intended research.
Please note that any visit to ORNL requires permission from the US Department of Energy. Successful applicants will need to obtain this permission and satisfy all other requirements for visiting ORNL before the visit can begin. For non-US citizens there can be a significant wait time depending on the country of origin.
Application Forms
Please choose an application type and provide the requested additional information.
The required additional information consists of the following:
- A research proposal, maximum two pages, outlining the planned research topic of the visit. If the visitor is a graduate student please attach an additional page with the expected date of graduation, and a short statement explaining what role the visit will play in the student’s thesis research.
- A statement of work, suitable for a subcontract that may be executed between ORNL and the home institution. (Maximum 1 page)
- A one paragraph statement of the “deliverable” for said contract. A typical “deliverable” would be a short report supplied by the visitor after completion of the visit, summarizing the activities and accomplishments.
- A statement of benefit to ORNL is prepared by the ORNL collaborator.
- A detailed budget (see guidance below).
- CV’s of the participants, including the faculty advisor for graduate students or university based postdoctoral fellows.
Budget Guidance
Please note: ORNL is not a funding agency and does not issue research grants. ORNL has initiated the Visitor's Program described herein, providing funds to foster scientific collaboration with the university scientific community.
The typical maximum budgets are: (a) Faculty summer sabbaticals up to $40,000. (b)Postdoctoral researchers up to $30,000 per year, (c) Graduate students up to $20,000 dollars per year. ORNL will generally issue a subcontract for a fixed amount to the home institution. The subcontract can pay for some fraction of the visitor's salary during the research period at ORNL and only time spent on the collaborative research, including fringe benefits and overhead. Amounts for requested travel or local living expenses should be listed explicitly in the budget, and may also be included in the subcontract depending upon circumstances.
EXAMPLE Statement of Work
Not all visits may include using instruments, so individual statements may differ from the example provided below:
This request is for the Collaborative Research Visitor program. Instruments at HFIR and SNS will be used to study the (Scientific Description). (PROFESSOR and/or STUDENT) will spend (length of time) at SNS and HFIR working with (Hosting Scientist) to perform (the above described work) Progress reports will be issued (Specify frequency) spent on-site at NScD. The (time period) periods do not have to be continuous.
Deliverables:
A final progress report shall be submitted at the end of the visiting period.
EXAMPLE Statement of Benefit to ORNL
The proposed work will enhance ORNL's neutron science user programs and research efforts on the application of neutron scattering to the study of materials, in particular (FILL IN). The Research group led by (Professor "") has extensive experience, and an exceptionally good publication track record, in neutron scattering community. This, along with preliminary work (Work Description) indicates a high probability for success. The expected benefits derived from this work will advance our fundamental understanding of ("").
Submission
To submit the proposal please e-mail the form and additional information to nsvisit@ornl.gov as electronic attachments. Acceptable file formats include: PDF or MS-Word.
Extensions/Continuation of Current Visit
Contracts for research can continue up to two years, for one year at a time for students and postdoctoral fellows, upon mutual agreement. The application form must be completed. The required additional information consists of the following:
- A research report, maximum of two pages, outlining the accomplished research of the first visit, as well as the plan of action for the second year's visit. For graduate students, please attach an additional page with the expected date of graduation and a short statement explaining what role the visit will play in the student's thesis research.
- A statement of work, suitable for a subcontract that may be executed between ORNL and the home institution (maximum of 1 page).
- A one paragraph statement of the "deliverable" for said contract. A typical "deliverable" would be a short report supplied by the visitor after completion of the visit summarizing the activities and accomplishments.
- A statement of benefit to ORNL is prepared by the ORNL collaborator.
- A detailed budget (see guidance below).
- CVs of the participants, including the faculty advisor for graduate students or university-based postdoctoral fellows.
