Welcome to the
ACNS and NDF user portal
Use this portal to submit merit instrument time proposals for both the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS) and National Deuteration Facility (NDF).
Submission Pipeline
Move through each proposal step with clear prompts, quick checks, and a live preview of what matters next.
Step 1: Main Proposal Details
Start with the basics.
Set the proposal title, round, and type so the draft starts in the right place.
- Use a title that says what the experiment is trying to learn.
- Confirm the round and type before adding the detailed material.
Step 2: Collaborators & Roles
Bring the team together.
Add the researchers involved and show how each person contributes.
- Attach existing users where possible.
- Keep roles simple, accurate, and easy for reviewers to scan.
Principal scientist, co-investigators, instrument scientists, or specialist collaborators.
Step 3: Science Case
Tell the science story.
Explain the research question, why neutron and/or deuteration capability access matters, and what the experiment could unlock.
- Connect aims, methods, and expected outcomes.
- Add details for any deuterated molecule being requested.
- Upload support files and wait until they finish.
Scientific quality, feasibility, novelty, the suitability of neutron techniques for the proposed work, and justification for the use or request of a deuterated molecule.
Step 4: Categorisation
Send it to the right place.
Add the context ACNS and NDF need to route the proposal cleanly.
- Complete required routing fields with plain, direct answers.
- Clarify anything not covered in the science case.
The proposal reaches the right downstream committee and handling workflow with less back-and-forth.
Step 5: Samples & Hazards
Make the safety picture clear.
Describe the materials, hazards, and controls needed for safe handling.
- Include hazards, quantities, storage, and handling notes.
- Be specific for unusual materials or special containment.
Hazard review, operational constraints, and handling suitability before scheduling.
Be specific about quantities, packaging, transport, and any special containment requirements.
Step 6: Instrument Request
Select Instrument and capability set-up.
Choose the neutron beam instrument, NDF deuteration capability, requested instrument time and supporting sample environment or number of deuterated molecules.
- Match requested neutron instrument days and number of deuterated molecules to the experimental plan.
- Add any sample-environment or lab support needs.
Instrument set-up, required time, sample environment, instrument scientists, deuteration scientists, and set-up complexity.
Step 7: Review & Submit
Check once, submit cleanly.
Review the full proposal, fix blockers, and submit when everything lines up.
- Catch missing answers, uploads, or setup details.
- Submit when the summary matches the intended experiment.
A clean handoff into ACNS and NDF review without avoidable administrative or safety follow-up.
Ready to advance your research?
Join thousands of researchers using ACNS and NDF facilities to push the boundaries of science.