Researchers can submit proposals between September 25 and October 29, 2023
The Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano) informs the opening of the call for the use of its open facilities. The LNNano electron microscopy facilities cover a broad range of capabilities focused in, but not limited to, Materials Science and Structural Biology. Researchers with approved proposals can request financial assistance for travel and lodging to perform their experiments. See details on financial assistance.
Submission process
Access to LNNano’s microscope facilities is offered free of charge to academic users, and proposals for Electron Microscopy facilities must be submitted via the SAU Online platform, choosing the facility that matches the subject of the research:
- SEM-FIB (Scanning Electron and Dual Beam Microscopes);
- TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopes for hard and soft materials);
- CRYO-EM (Cell and Biologia Estrutural).
Also on SAU Online, the next step is to choose the appropriate external committee (C1, C2 or C3) that will evaluate the research proposal. The committees for each open facility are:
| Facilities | Committees |
| SEM-FIB (Scanning Electron and Dual Beam Microscopes | C1 – Materials Science and
C3 – Soft Matter |
| TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopes for hard and soft materials) | C1 – Materials Science and
C3 – Soft Matter |
| CRYO-EM (Cell and Structural Biology) | C2 – Cell and Structural Biology |
Submission criteria
The inclusion of students (masters, doctorate, etc.) in the proposals is encouraged. However, students cannot submit a proposal without a senior investigator as the principal investigator. If a doctoral student submits the proposal, it must contain a senior researcher, preferably the student’s advisor as principal investigator.
SAU Online is also the interface for giving feedback on infrastructure and services, as well as to update publications related to research developed with the use of the LNNano electron microscopy facilities. Updating the published results is mandatory since it is an important criterion of the proposals evaluation. It is worth highlighting the importance of updating the research curriculum at Lattes platform 24 hours prior to the submission of the proposals.
Important dates
- Submission period: 25 de setembro de 2023 a 29 de outubro de 2023
- Notification of the results: janeiro de 2024
- Execution of proposals: fevereiro a dezembro de 2024
About CNPEM
AA sophisticated and effervescent environment for research and development, unique in Brazil and present in few scientific centers in the world, the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is a private non-profit organization, under the supervision of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI). The Center operates four National Laboratories and is the birthplace of the most complex project in Brazilian science – Sirius – one of the most advanced synchrotron light sources in the world. CNPEM brings together highly specialized multi-thematic teams, globally competitive laboratory infrastructures open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects in partnership with the productive sector and training of researchers and students. The Center is an environment driven by the search for solutions with impact in the areas of Health, Energy and Renewable Materials, Agro-environment, and Quantum Technologies. As of 2022, with the support of the Ministry of Education (MEC), CNPEM expanded its activities with the opening of the Ilum School of Science. The interdisciplinary higher course in Science, Technology and Innovation adopts innovative proposals with the aim of offering excellent, free, full-time training with immersion in the CNPEM research environment. Through the CNPEM 360 Platform, it is possible to explore, in a virtual and immersive way, the main environments and activities of the Center, visit: https://pages.cnpem.br/cnpem360/.