FICUS Webinar: “Shining a Light: Advanced Photon Source Capabilities for FICUS Research”

February 21, 2024

On February 8, 2024, the DOE Joint Genome Institute and the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory hosted a webinar to showcase how researchers can gain access to the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory when applying to the FY2024 EMSL-JGI FICUS collaborative proposal call. Letters of Intent for the joint call are due March 7, 2024.

The FICUS call allows researchers to combine the power of genomics and molecular characterization from the JGI and EMSL in one proposed research project. In the same proposal, researchers can also request access to the capabilities of the Biological Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (BioSANS) instrument at the Center for Structural Molecular Biology (CSMB) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), and now the APS as well.

Presentations from:

Mary Lipton, EMSL: Introduction to the Facilities Integrating Collaborations for User Science (FICUS) Call
Karolina Michalska, Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory: “Advanced Photon Source Capabilities for FICUS Program”
Sabeeha Merchant, University of California, Berkeley: “Cu economy and luxury in Chlamydomonas”

Q&A from the Webinar

Q(uestion) 1: Can researchers perform suggested treatments in the NEON sampling points?
A(nswer): Michael SanClements would be the person to answer this. Treating in the field may be difficult but EMSL can look at physiological changes after harvest treatment.

Facility Contacts:

JGI: For general questions, contact Christa Pennacchio, Project Management Office. For questions about the appropriateness of projects or experimental design, contact Tanja Woyke, Deputy for User Programs.
EMSL: Contact EMSL User Program Services
Advanced Photon Source (APS): For general questions, contact Karolina Michalska. For specific questions about APS capabilities, contact Zou Finfrock.
Center for Structural Molecular Biology (for Bio-SANS): Contact Hugh O’Neill
National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON): For general questions, contact Michael SanClements.

Q2: Who is eligible to submit a FICUS proposal?
A: We work with people from all around the world and at different career level stages. We work with start-ups and mature companies, as long as the data are not proprietary.

Q3: What are the acceptable budget categories for the FICUS awards?

A: You don’t put a budget together. You request facilities. When you’re putting your LOI together, reach out to the contacts. They can direct you to the right person at each facility that can get your project in the right scope.

Q4: What can I ask for as part of the FICUS call?
A: You are not asking for money. We will not be sending money to your organization. You are requesting access to capabilities, instrumentation, and analytics, and each of the facilities.

Specifically for the APS, the request is for capabilities for a given experiment such as crystallography, full field imaging, the microscopy, and the use of laboratory resources. Capacity for the plant growth chamber is limited so that will have to be planned.

Q5: Is travel covered by the FICUS proposal?
A: Since there’s no money exchanging hands, travel is not something that any of the user facilities would cover.

Q6: How can I maximize my chance for success?
A: Reach out ahead of time and talk to somebody at each of the user facilities you want to use. Don’t go in blind, and don’t wait until the day before the deadline to ask questions. Make sure the science is relevant to the DOE BER mission.

Back to Science Stories