Neutron Sciences Directorate

What is the Neutron Nexus?

The Neutron Nexus is an intentional and sustained initiative to foster personal relationships, educational opportunities, in-person visits, and other outreach opportunities between NScD and “Key Universities” as well as surrounding regional universities, community colleges, and technical colleges.   A Key University is a selected R1 University that will play a pivotal role in neutron scattering outreach to the surrounding regional universities.

Goal 1:  Lower the barriers to access neutron scattering and create a sustained outreach effort at a Nexus site by providing increased awareness, educational resources, and support from proposal submission to publication. 

Goal 2:  Foster collaborative relationships 1) between ORNL staff and Nexus faculty, 2) between Key Universities and regional colleges, and 3) between researchers at different Nexus sites. 

Goal 3:  Enhance workforce development opportunities to create a pipeline of long-term neutron scattering users and provide opportunities for students and postdocs to learn about National Lab career options. 

Does your University want to be a Neutron Nexus site?

The Neutron Sciences Directorate (NScD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is pleased to announce an open call for R1 universities interested in joining the Neutron Nexus — a strategic partnership program connecting ORNL with academic institutions to grow the neutron scattering user community, advance collaborative research, and develop the next generation of scientists.

Selected Nexus sites will serve as regional hubs for neutron science outreach and education. We welcome applications from universities at all levels of familiarity with neutron scattering — what matters most is engaged faculty and a commitment to sustained collaboration.

Please review the attached documents for full details: 

• Neutron Nexus Guidelines — program goals, expectations, and benefits

• Open Call Criteria — how sites are evaluated

• Request for Interest — submission requirements and instructions

 Applications should be submitted as a single PDF to Michelle R. Dolgos (dolgosmr@ornl.gov).  Applications will remain open with rolling admissions.  

Florida State University serves as the first Neutron Nexus site. 

FSU became the first Neutron Nexus site in Fall of 2024.   During that time, NScD and FSU have partnered in a variety of activities with the aim of building collaboration and utilizing the SNS/HFIR neutron scattering facilities.  See the news highlight here.

We have formed fruitful collaborations and participated in activities such as co-sponsored workshops in 1) Soft matter and 2) Quantum Materials, hosted a visit of new FSU faculty to form new collaborations with NScD staff, incorporated neutron scattering into courses at FSU, hosted interns, and more.