Programme Access
A new scheme, in addition to the 6-monthly time allocation process (TAP) that has existed since the start of facility operation in 2010, is being introduced in autumn 2026 – see context below.
Apply onlineLink opens in a new window
The first deadline to apply for Programme Access (PA) is 30th September 2026, 5 p.m. UK time. (Note that this is one month before the deadline for the normal established time allocation processLink opens in a new window that, as before, has a deadline of 31st October 2026, 5 p.m. UK time.) It is envisaged that there will be future PA calls one-month before future 6-monthly TAP calls.
A PA application applies for 2 years, i.e., four 6-monthly time-allocation periods, i.e., from 1st January 2027 to 31st December 2028 (subject to the award of funding for the NRF for the submitted NMR UNITY proposal).
Applications are invited from UK academics who are eligible to apply for Research Council funding or researchers of similar standing based in industry.
Principal Investigators (PIs) are asked to collect their whole portfolio of work into a single PA application (there are no restrictions on being a coI on other applications) indicating the range of other applicants it is covering, both co-workers and other associated PIs (the latter, if it applies). There will be no exclusion for PIs applying via the normal 6-monthly TAP round, but an explanation will be needed as to why it could not be included in their PA request.
A PI is limited to requesting up to a maximum of 70 days鈥� time per 6-month time-allocation period, with a limit of 28 days (if the applicant chooses to do so) on a specific instrument, i.e., each of 850 MHz or 1 GHz or 1.2 GHz. Where there are associated PIs on a PA application, the PI can make a case (e.g., based on summed total allocation days over recent TAP calls) in their application to request more than these stated maximum numbers of days.
To apply for PA access, the applicant completes the webform, attaching the Case. In addition, the applicant must also upload an Excel spreadsheet with the information by which the NRF is evaluated and which is included in the NRF annual reportsLink opens in a new window, i.e., where NRF data was used in papers, PhD theses completed, conference presentations, number of grant-funded days applied for and awarded, support for the wider community, or facilitating paid-for industry access. Information is requested from January of the year before the application date, i.e., from January 2025 for the September 2026 deadline. These metrics are intended to simply provide some qualitative context for the contribution of the researcher and the relevance of PA NRF access, but they will not formally be scored as part of the process. It is also hoped that users through being part of PA are incentivised to increase the number of grant-funded daysLink opens in a new window (which will be allocated on top of access via these schemes) which are critical for the sustainability of the NRF.
For projects with an industry coI or industrial funding, to be suitable for running under PA, it must be stated that the measured results can be delivered in public fora such as the UK High-Field Solid-State NMR National Research Facility SymposiumLink opens in a new window, where, although it is acceptable for specific chemical compositions not to be divulged, a general description of the material must be provided. If this is not possible, then such research needs to be undertaken as paid-for confidential contract work.
Apply onlineLink opens in a new window
A two-page (please respect usual UKRI minimum font size, 11 point sans-serif, e.g., Arial, and margins, 2 cm) case is expected, but with flexibility to provide a third page if the applicant wants to provide more information given the range of work covered by the PA.
The Case must contain five sections:
- (1) Introduction and scientific background
- (2) An overview (that likely focuses on specific representative examples) of previously obtained solid-state NMR data obtained at the NRF to contextualise the proposed programme of PA research, and to justify the need for high-field (or other specialised facility probe capabilities).
- (3) The likely team of researchers. List and give brief details (in particular funding sources) of the research team, i.e., PhD students, PDRAs, other staff, industry coIs, and associated PIs (the latter, if it applies).
- (4) Number of days requested IN BOLD for each time allocation period, including those which must be on a specific instrument.
- (5) Outline of the programme of research to be performed.
Applications that are NOT formatted in the above required fashion and do NOT contain the stated information will NOT be considered by the Time Allocation Panel.
Details of the Process and Conditions
Applications will be acknowledged by an automatic email at the time of application, and subsequently within 1 week after the application deadline (if you don't receive either or both of these acknowledgments, please contact the local management team to check safe receipt of your application).
Taking into account the information provided in each application and to ensure optimum use of the available time, the time allocation panel (TAP) will use their scientific judgement to decide how many days are allocated to a PA application, including at a specific magnetic field. In each time allocation period, the number of allocated days may be increased or decreased by a specific small percentage (same for all PA awards, rounding up to an integer number of days) as determined by the FE, considering grant funded days and the total number of days requested at the normal TAP call.
The LMT will contact all PIs (for PA and the normal TAP call) after the ranking of applications to both calls by the TAP has been completed to ask their availability and then schedule them, using the existing procedures. We expect to contact you end May or early June (for the April 30th call) or end November or early December (for the October 31st call). At this stage, you will be given one week鈥檚 notice to indicate dates when you are not able to use your allocation and also to specify if you prefer to have your time as one slot or broken up into separate slots. (If you know that you will be away at the above specified times, please inform the local management team in advance of your availability.) You will then be informed of your allocated days. At this stage, the facility has little flexibility (and is under no obligation) to change your allocated days, hence we emphasise that you must inform us of your availability at the requested time.
Those not allocated time by the end of the time allocation period will not be able to carry over their time (where a maintenance issue, e.g., with a probe, precluded their carrying out of experiments, compensation days can be awarded as per the Facility鈥檚 existing procedure).
A condition of time being awarded via the PA route is that PIs inform the NRF when papers presenting results obtained at the NRF (including from allocation prior to the introduction of PA) are publishedLink opens in a new window (e.g., so that the papers can then be publicised on the NRF鈥檚 LinkedIn page) and that requests to update information required by the FE to produce annual reports as required by the funding agencies are promptly responded to.
Other Information
Queries to the FMT as to technical capability of different probes at 850 MHz, 1 GHz and 1.2 GHz are encouraged prior to the TAP submission.
For academic users, the NRF covers the costs of travel and accommodation for a maximum of TWO visitors for each time allocation visit. Taking our sustainability responsibilities seriously, the NRF asks all applicants to consider sustainable travel options wherever possible, e.g., using trains rather than flying, public transport, shared transport rather than driving individually. (For the case of international collaborators of UK applicants, note that the NRF only covers travel costs within the UK.)
Applicants are also advised that the provides access for dynamic nuclear polarisation (DNP) experiments at 400 and 600 MHz (note that the management and time allocation procedure of the UK DNP MAS Facility is separate from and independent of the UK High-Field Solid-State NMR Facility).
Context for the introduction of PA (August 2026)
The Facility ExecutiveLink opens in a new window (FE) would like to provide an update on some of our developing thinking around the national research facility (NRF). As a backdrop, the FE is looking to meet some of the challenges associated with running a key set of scientific infrastructure. These challenges include making our processes as efficient as possible for both users and those running the facility, making the facility more financially sustainable, as well as increasing the accessibility and sustained use of the NRF by new non-expert users. It is important to stress that there is nothing directive about the changes we are going to trial. The NRF has a core grant to allow delivery of world-class research, which funds the running costs to allow 鈥榝ree at the point of access鈥� for a majority, but not all of the time available. (This is also the arrangement for the 5 years of NRF funding from 2027 that has been applied for and that is currently being evaluated.) One of the KPIs to test the competitiveness of science undertaken is can we meet some of our running costs from peer review grant and commercially funded days. To achieve these targets, we need the community to share responsibility with the FE to attract funding from such sources and to support the use of the NRF by the wider research community. Hence, there are two things we are looking to run on a trial basis, initially for two years, namely programme access, as described on this webpage and a scheme to support and incentivise new non-expert usersLink opens in a new window.
Since inception as an NRF, the great majority of facility time has been given to individual projects awarded time by the TAP. The TAP is independent of the FE as a body (with the TAP chair as a member of the FE) and the host institution. Most major facilities around the world, in parallel to access for individual projects, allow users, with a significant range of work making use of a facility, the opportunity to collect their activity together into a single access request where they can have more flexibility between projects. The NRF would now like to trial this approach in parallel with the normal project access. Both elements will be overseen by the same TAP. The advantages for the user are the increased flexibility between different projects and only having to make one application which would initially last two years, with an update towards the end of year one on the use of time and updating the outputs achieved. For the NRF, there should be fewer applications to process and handle.
Amount of time allocated via the TAP route
85% of spectrometer time (minus grant funded days) at the UK High-Field Solid-State NMR facility is allocated by a three-person TAPLink opens in a new window that is independent of the Facility Executive ( following the TAP principlesLink opens in a new window agreed by the FE and EPSRC, in accordance with TAP guidanceLink opens in a new window provided by the FE. The remaining 15% of spectrometer time is reserved for: fast-track applications; to compensate users who were unable to take up their allocated time because of instrument down-time; spectrometer and probe maintenance; industrial usage (paid-for confidential and urgent work); and activities associated with the Facility Manager Team for the development of the facility and their personal research.