SESAME is committed to providing broad and equitable access to its scientific facilities. In accordance with the SESAME User Policy, researchers from SESAME Members and, under specific conditions, from the international scientific community, may apply for beamtime through open scientific calls.
General Users are research teams awarded beamtime at SESAME through the independent peer-review process based on the scientific merit, technical feasibility and safety of their proposals . Access is provided free of charge for non-proprietary research, provided that the results are published in the open scientific literature.
SESAME encourages the widest possible participation in its scientific programme and recognises that travel costs may present a barrier for many researchers. Through dedicated partnership programmes, financial support is available for eligible users to facilitate participation in experiments and training activities.
General Users who receive beamtime at SESAME are expected to:
- Publish the scientific results obtained through the use of SESAME facilities in a timely manner;
- Acknowledge SESAME in all resulting publications;
- Acknowledge any travel or subsistence support received through SESAME or one of its partner programmes;
- Notify the SESAME Users Office of publications resulting from the awarded beamtime.
Failure to comply with these requirements may affect future beamtime allocations, as specified in the SESAME User Policy.
The travel support programmes currently available are outlined below.
COMSTECH Travel Support Programme
The COMSTECH–SESAME Joint Programme supports researchers from Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) who wish to conduct experiments at SESAME.
The programme promotes scientific excellence while strengthening scientific cooperation among OIC countries through shared access to SESAME's beamlines.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Have an accepted SESAME proposal with allocated beamtime;
- Be citizens of an OIC Member State;
- Hold a valid passport.
Support provided
Subject to programme rules and the availability of funding, COMSTECH provides:
- One economy-class return airfare to Jordan per applicant per calendar year;
- Support for up to two researchers participating in the same proposal, while maintaining a balanced geographical distribution among beneficiary countries.
Visa costs remain the responsibility of the applicant.
Application procedure
Researchers should first submit their scientific proposal through the SESAME Users Office.
Following scientific acceptance and beamtime allocation, eligible users are nominated by SESAME to COMSTECH for travel support.
TENMAK Support Programme
The Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency (TENMAK) supports researchers from Türkiye participating in research and training activities at SESAME.
The programme aims to strengthen Turkish expertise in synchrotron science, promote international collaboration and facilitate access to advanced light-source facilities.
Research Activities
Support is available for researchers conducting experiments at SESAME. Where a suitable beamline is not available at SESAME, TENMAK may also support access to selected international synchrotron facilities, subject to programme rules.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be member of a research group led by a qualified principal investigator;
- Be affiliated with a Turkish university or public research institution, or be enrolled as a graduate student at a Turkish university;
- Have an accepted proposal with confirmed beamtime;
- satisfy TENMAK's English language requirements.
Up to four researchers may receive support for each research activity.
Each researcher may receive support for a maximum of three research activities per budget year.
Financial support
Subject to approval and budget availability, TENMAK may cover:
- Economy-class international airfare;
- Daily subsistence allowance in accordance with applicable Turkish regulations.
Accommodation, local transportation, visa fees and other personal expenses are not covered.
Training Activities
TENMAK also supports participation in activities that enhance users' expertise in synchrotron science, including:
- Summer schools;
- Workshops;
- Hands-on training courses;
- User meetings;
- Other training activities related to SESAME beamline applications.
Training activities of up to one month’s duration may be supported.
Each researcher may receive support for a maximum of two training activities per budget year.
Application procedure
Applications should be submitted directly to TENMAK at least 20 days before the planned travel date.
For research activities, applicants must first obtain confirmation of accepted beamtime at SESAME (or another eligible facility, where applicable).
Following completion of the supported activity, participants are required to submit the reports and documentation requested by TENMAK.
Further details, application forms and the complete rules are available at:
https://www.tenmak.gov.tr/haberler/sesame-faaliyetlerinin-desteklenmesine-iliskin-usul-ve-esaslar-revize-edilerek-yururluge-girdi