Call for Proposals

Proposals for access to the National Deuteration Facility and Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering

Deadline 15 February 2022, for the period July to December 2022.

For proposal submission, the user portal has been transitioned to the ANSTO Research Portal (ARP) and you will need to create a new account if you do not already have an account in the ARP.

There are 4 proposal types available in the portal:

Deuteration: merit access proposal for NDF capabilities within a 6-month round. This proposal type is for overseas neutron experiments or for non-neutron applications (e.g. NMR, MS).
Deuteration/Neutron: merit access proposal for ACNS instruments and NDF capabilities where deuterated molecule/s are required for the proposed neutron experiments at ACNS.
Program – Deuteration: merit access proposal for a program of research of up to 3 years for access to NDF capabilities of biological and/or chemical deuteration or multiple isotopic labelling. This program proposal type is for overseas neutron experiments or non-neutron applications (e.g. NMR, MS).
Program – Deuteration/Neutron: Merit access proposal for a program of research of up to 3 years for access to both ACNS instruments and NDF capabilities, where deuterated molecule/s are required for the proposed program of research utilising ACNS neutron instruments.

Further information about NDF access modes available can be found here. To discuss User Pays/Collaboration or Commercial access modes, please contact the NDF via ndf-enquiries@ansto.gov.au

Important notes:

The ACNS & NDF 2022-1 round deadline was extended due to the significant backlog that was created due to the COVID lockdown in Sydney in 2021. It is estimated that the backlog will be cleared by June 2022.
For NDF users who wish to receive their deuterated or isotopically labelled molecules prior to July to December 2022 for experiments scheduled outside Australia or for non-neutron experiments such as NMR or mass spectrometry that can be performed during this period, please contact NDF via ndf-enquiries@ansto.gov.au to discuss further. Discretionary access may be considered and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
ANSTO is undertaking an Anonymised Review Trial which requires users to comply for some proposal types with the requirements outlined on the anonymised review trial webpage. The only proposal type involving NDF access for this trial is Deuteration/Neutron. We encourage you to participate in one of the information sessions scheduled (see the Anonymised Review Trial webpage for full details).

ARP Guide Deuteration and Programs

Download PDF (1.4 MB)

ARP Guide ACNS/NDF Combined Proposal

Download PDF (2.1 MB)

Any questions?

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Neutron scattering instruments

Fifteen neutron beam instruments are either operational or being commissioned at the new OPAL reactor. ANSTO expects to add more instruments in future. Other instruments and a suite of sample-environment equipment allows studies at different temperatures, pressures and magnetic fields. Scientific references are available for most instruments.

Chemical Deuteration

Chemical deuteration involves deuterating whole molecules or building blocks for the synthesis of a desired molecule by exposing them to heavy water (deuterium oxide) at high temperatures and pressures in the presence of a catalyst. If required, compounds can then be synthesised from the deuterated building blocks using organic chemistry techniques.

Biodeuteration

Biodeuteration involves the growth of microorganisms in a heavy water (deuterium oxide) culture medium supplemented with either a deuterated or hydrogenated carbon substrate, depending on the level of deuteration required. The biomass is harvested and the deuterated molecule (e.g. protein) is purified and characterised.