Call
C
fo
or prop
posals
s
Nethe
N
erland
ds Ce
entre for Electron Na
anosc
copy
NeCEN
N
2013
The Hague, M
May 2013
Netherlands Organisation
n for Scientific
c Research
Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Available budget
1.3 Validity of the call for proposals
2 Aim
3 Guidelines for applicants
3.1 Who can apply
3.2 What can be applied for
3.3 When can applications be submitted
3.4 Preparing an application
3.5 Specific conditions
3.6 Submitting an application
4 Assessment procedure
4.1 Procedure
4.2 Criteria
5 Contact details and other information
5.1 Contact
5.2 Other information
1 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 7 7 7 1
Chapter 1: Introduction / Netherlands Centre for Electron Nanoscopy
1 Introduction
1.1
Background
This brochure sets out the aims, conditions, selection criteria and review procedures
for bundle time at the Netherlands Centre for Electron Nanoscopy (NeCEN). NeCEN
is the national research facility for high resolution cryo-transmission
electronmicroscopy in the Netherlands.
NWO provides the necessary, independent peer review of research proposals which
require beam time at NeCEN, in order to provide equal access for proposals of the
highest scientific quality.
1.2
Available budget
At least two selection rounds are foreseen each year.
NeCEN provides a subsidised fee of 750 euro/day for excellent scientific research
through peer reviewed access and a full cost, open access fee of 3000 euro/day for
other use.
At least 45% of total beam time is available for peer reviewed access, while a
maximum of 45% is reserved for open access use. 10% is set aside for upgrades
and maintenance.
1.3
Validity of the call for proposals
This call for proposals is valid until the closing date 4-09-2012.
2
Chapter 2: Aim / Netherlands Centre for Electron Nanoscopy
2 Aim
The main aim of NeCEN is to provide the means to resolve and characterise the
detailed structures of life through the use of advanced cryo-electron microscopy.
This ambition can only be realised if NeCEN’s infrastructure and expertise is
continually updated, extended and optimised through excellent scientific
programmes.
NeCEN is a national facility. NWO and EFRO (European Regional Development Fund)
have both contributed to its financing. NWO aims to stimulate high quality scientific
research in the Netherlands. EFRO aims to stimulate industrial use of high quality
scientific facilities. Both organisations aim to stimulate the production,
dissemination, and use of scientific knowledge and other scientific interactions.
This selection procedure is devised to aim for the proposals who can best realize
these aims.
3
Chapter 3: Guidelines for applicants / Netherlands Centre for Electron Nanoscopy
3 Guidelines for applicants
3.1
Who can apply
Researchers from all national and international scientific institutions can submit
proposals.
New users of the facility will gain preferred access, in order to spread the use of the
possibilities of electronmicroscopy.
Young researchers are specifically invited to apply.
3.2
What can be applied for
Researchers can request beam time at the NeCEN facilities.
A reduced fee of 750 euro/day must be paid for excellent scientific research
proposals identified through this review process. This fee does not cover all costs of
NeCEN and is therefore subsidised by NeCEN at a rate of 75%. The fee includes the
use of laboratorium consumables and the assistance of an EM-operator for a prescan and the execution of experiments.
All other costs necessary for the implementation of the research plan (e.g. sample
preparation and data interpretation) must be covered by the applicants.
In order to be able to assess feasibility, associated risks and realisticness, it is
strongly advised that one can show the results of a pilot. NeCEN does provide the
possibility to carry out test-experiments/pilots (non-reviewed) for a maximum of 2
hours beam time, at a rate of 150 euro/hour with a maximum of 8 hours per month.
Requests must be made to NeCEN and are scheduled in applying order.
3.3
When can applications be submitted
Applications for beam time can be submitted throughout the year (there is no
deadline).
3.4
Preparing an application
Your grant application has two parts: a fact sheet and the application form.

The factsheet must be completed directly in NWO’s Iris electronic application
system.

The application must be attached to the Iris factsheet in the form of a PDF file.
The application form can be downloaded from the NWO website (go to the
Subsidy Guide/Use of Large-Scale Facilities/NeCEN).
It is advised that you visit the NeCEN website (www.necen.nl) for full information
about experiments at NeCEN. There you can also find the link for applications, which
leads you to the NWO website.
4
Chapter 3: Guidelines for applicants / Netherlands Centre for Electron Nanoscopy
3.5
Specific conditions
Beam time requirements
Beam time hours are determined by NeCEN and measured as 24 subsequent hours
starting at 8.00am, CET. Use of the microscope will require a minimum take of 1 day
(24 hours). Further use will rounded up to full hours, with minimum increments of 4
hours, unless otherwise agreed. Project duration is maximised at 3 years.
Scientific and technical restrictions
Only plans which aim at research in the field of life sciences (biological and
biomedical research) can be applied for. This entails that e.g. research in the field of
materials science is not eligible.
Technical feasibility (i.e. the technical possibilities to make use of the equipment) is
determined by NeCEN and is a precondition for the assignment of beam time. It is
advisable to contact NeCEN beforehand if there are doubts about the technical
feasibility.
Publication of results
A precondition of using peer reviewed access is that the results will be publicly
available. In scientific publications the participating NeCEN-personnel will only be
coauthored if he/she ostensibly contributed creative, scientific input.
In the acknowledgements of the relevant publications the following should be stated
explicitly: “This research has been executed with support of NeCEN, the Netherlands
Centre for Electron Nanoscopy, Leiden, NL and NWO, the Netherlands Organisation
for Scientific Research and is partly financed by the European Regional Development
Fund of the European Commission.”
3.6
Submitting an application
The applicant is requested to visit the NeCEN-website for the application form
(https://necen.leidenuniv.nl/). The resulting pdf must be uploaded via the link to the
NWO Iris-system.
Applications not submitted via the specified link will not be admitted to the selection
procedure. A main applicant is obliged to submit his/her application via his/her own
Iris account. Applicants from abroad are requested to register as their institute of
origin: “NWO-NeCEN”, location: “ ‘S-GRAVENHAGE”.
If the applicant does not have an Iris account yet then this should be created at
least one day before the submission so that any possible registration problems can
still be solved on time. If the applicant already has an Iris account then he/she does
not need to create a new account to submit a new application.
For technical questions, please contact the Iris helpdesk (see section 5.1.2.)
5
Chapter 4: Assessment procedure / Netherlands Centre for Electron Nanoscopy
4 Assessment procedure
4.1
Procedure
The first step in the assessment procedure is to determine the admissibility of the
application. This is done using the conditions stated in Chapter 3 of this call for
proposals.
The NWO Code of Conduct on Conflicts of Interest applies to all persons and NWO
staff involved in the assessment and/or decision-making process.
The second step will be the assessment of the proposals by members of a broadly
composed, independent committee of at least 4 experts in the field of
electronmicroscopy. The members will individually assess and score the proposals.
NWO draws up a ranking order based on these scores and provides the results to the
Scientific Board of NeCEN.
NeCEN will respect the outcome of the peer review process (priority list) and will
determine the amount of beam time allotted to each proposal. Necen will inform the
applicants about the outcome of the peer review process and subsequent decisions
about beam time allotment.
The review process does not entail the possibility for a rebuttal nor can it lead to a
redress of the proposal or legal complaints.
Proposals which receive a positive recommendation will be scheduled for beam time
at the NeCEN facilities after contact with the applicants.
Proposals which receive a negative recommendation have the possibility to file again
to the NWO peer review process or to use the full cost, open access option (3000
euro/day). They have to file their application directly with NeCEN (see
www.necen.nl).
4.2
Criteria
a. Scientific quality of the research proposal (40%)

The importance and urgency of the proposed research in the relevant field;

The feasibility and realisticness of the proposed research;

The effectiveness of the approach;

The quality and competence of the principal investigators or the research
team.
b. Scientific innovation (30%)

The originality and innovative nature of the research proposal.
c. Broader use of scientific knowledge (10%)

The extent to which the proposal will contribute to technological or other
innovation in industry or society at large;

The extent to which the results achieved through the proposal will contribute
to major scientific or technological advances or to major social change.
6
Chapter 4: Assessment procedure / Netherlands Centre for Electron Nanoscopy
d. Technical criteria (20%)

Detailed motivation of the requested beam time;

Availability of a good risk analysis including proposals for possible solutions.
The criteria will be weighed as indicated. The sum of the highest scores on all criteria
is 100 points. This sum can be increased by NeCEN for a new user (10 points) or a
young user (5 points) or decreased in case of overrequests for beam time (10
points).
7
Chapter 5: Contact details and other information / Netherlands Centre for Electron Nanoscopy
5 Contact details and other
information
5.1
Contact
5.1.1
Specific questions
For specific questions and technical information about the Netherlands Centre for
Electron Nanoscopy please contact:
Prof.dr. H. (Hans) Tanke
Tel. +31 71 526 9201
[email protected]
For specific questions about this call for proposal please contact:
Mr. Anko Wiegel
Tel. + 31 70 3440 644
[email protected]
5.1.2
Technical questions about the electronic application system Iris
For technical questions about the use of Iris please contact the Iris helpdesk. Please
read the Iris manual before consulting the helpdesk.
The Iris helpdesk is available from Monday to Friday from 11.00 to 17.00 hours on
+31 900 696 4747. Unfortunately not all foreign phone companies allow you to
phone to a 0900 number in the Netherlands. You can also send your question by email to [email protected].
5.2
Other information
See www.necen.nl.
Pu
ublished by:
Ne
etherlands Orga
anisation
for Scientific Rese
earch
Visitor’s address:
La
aan van Nieuw O
Oost-Indië 300
25
593 CE The Hag
gue
Th
he Netherlands
ay 2013
Ma