WANDA misses you! We look forward to training all the future Skripka lab students on WANDA!

glad you found it useful! I would be happy to chat about future Foundry user proposals whenever you have a potential project in mind.

That's it! For more information on submitting a @molecularfoundry.lbl.gov, follow the post below!

bsky.app/profile/mole...

#10) If your proposal is on the bubble for a bin, you have a better chance of sneaking in if your proposal has: low staff effort, large benefit to @molecularfoundry.lbl.gov, or is a project that a staff member is really excited to work on.

#9) Although you get a score for your proposal, you are really only competing with other proposals in your "bin." Basically this correlates to a specific instrument or staff member's available time. The bin is filled up with the top-ranked proposals until it's full.

#8) Each of the 7 @molecularfoundry.lbl.gov facilities reviews proposals a little differently, so make sure to talk to Staff in the lead facility to understand what their review boards want to see in a proposal.

#7) Use attractive figures that crystallize your proposed work. Reviewers read a ton of these proposals, so graphics will help you stand out and break up big blocks of text.

#6) Make sure to list all the equipment that you need -- you won't be able to add high demand tools like TEM, robots, later. You may need separate proposals for those. Don't pile on random capabilities for fun... The buffet strategy is a red flag for a proposal.

#5) Show how you will contribute to the @molecularfoundry.lbl.gov community! That's what makes us great! Helping to develop new workflows/capabilities, training users, participating in committees -- those all reduce staff effort <-- major brownie points.

#4) Show how your project is feasible! Cite specific processes/reactions, walk reviewers through the important steps, e.g., synthesis, characterization, data analysis. Show preliminary data. Don't say you're going to use water in a glovebox. Show that you've done your homework!

#3) Have a clear project plan that has specific metrics for success that can be achieved in 1 year. Reviewers are very wary of fishing expeditions and never-ending projects. State your longer-term objectives in the background section, and add "if time permits" to extra plans.

#2) Emphasize why your project NEEDS the Molecular Foundry. Say things like you need unique instrumentation & staff expertise, co-localization w/ other LBNL facilities. Synergies with staff research and LBNL/DOE initiatives are major brownie points.

#1) Always discuss your proposal with a Foundry staff member and have them review a draft! There's a huge correlation between proposals that rejected and ones that have never been reviewed by staff.