The Society for Science at User Research Facilities strives to provide the most up-to-date insights, best practices and connections across the vast network of “Users” – partners and collaborators – who are leveraging the incredible technologies and resources at U.S. federal scientific facilities. All with the goal of ensuring the United States’ global leadership across a spectrum of innovative technologies.
SSURF organizes and participates in a variety of activities that benefit members of the User community including:
• SSURF-sponsored User Facility Tours for elected officials and legislative staff to get updates on the latest research partnerships (on hold in 2021 due to COVID-19 protocols)
• Coordination and sponsorship of facility staff and user visits to Congressional offices
• Issue-engagement coordination between facility management, sponsoring agencies, and Users
• Statements of Support to elected officials on matters of import to user facilities
• Moderated Community Discussions for SSURF-member Users
• SSURF Annual Meeting with thought leaders, trainings and crucial peer insights
• SSURF Newsletter highlighting Users’ scientific discoveries
• Special webinars on User Facility Best Practices
Interested in Joining SSURF to Participate in our Network Activities? Contact Dan Powers at dan.powers@ssurf.org.
A “user” in the context of the U.S. government research laboratory ecosystem can be any person or group – often academics or private sector technologists, from anywhere around the globe. Prospective users may propose independent or collaborative research. Proposals are typically evaluated for scientific merit by independent proposal review committees or panels, and for feasibility and safety by the facility, with those proposals that are most compelling being accepted and allocated time. There is no charge for users who are doing non-proprietary work, with the understanding that they are expected to publish their results. Access is also available on a cost-recovery basis for proprietary research that is not intended for publication.
A User Facility is a federally sponsored research facility available for external use to advance scientific or technical knowledge under the following conditions:
Each user facility provides detailed information for new and returning users on the process of submitting a proposal and gaining access. Some facilities allow for provisional rapid access. However since early 2020 the impacts of COVID-19 on each facility’s access protocols mean it is important to check for the latest information for user options. (Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy Office of Science)
Facility | Host Institution | Getting Started |
---|---|---|
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) | PNNL | User Info |
Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility (ARM) | Global network | User info |
Joint Genome Institute (JGI) | LBNL | User Info |
Facility | Host Institution | Getting Started |
---|---|---|
DIII-D Tokamak | General Atomics | User Info |
National Spherical Torus Experiment – Upgrade (NSTX) | PPPL | User Info |
Facility | Host Institution | Getting Started |
---|---|---|
Fermilab Accelerator Complex | FNAL | User Info |
Facility for Advanced Accelerator Experimental Tests (FACET) | SLAC | User Info |
Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) | BNL | User Info |
Society for Science at User Research Facilities
2770 Arapahoe Rd
Suite 132 – 1085
Lafayette, CO 80026