**COMING SOON** LSF Xpress Access
08 May 2026
Yes
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LSF Xpress Access is a new call that replaces 'proof of concept' access for Octopus and adds a new route to Ultra and Artemis (and soon HiLUX)

Yes

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This call is not yet open, we are in the final stages of reviewing guidance. This webpage is a placeholder for the eventual release.​

This call is for “Xpress" access to the CLF OctopusUltra or Artemis facilities. Xpress is a limited access mechanism (1-2 days per applicant per period) and the call is open all year round until the allocation of days is used up. Please see the main call page for details of the regular access mechanisms.

To justify Xpress access, your proposal must meet one of the following justification criteria: ​​

  1. Obtaining supporting information for a proposal prior to submission to the Facility Access Panel (FAP). This will typically follow a recommendation from the FAP regarding a previously unsuccessful proposal that was submitted through either the standard FAP route or an EU call.
  2. Additional data collection to support the publication of data from a previous access. The previous access will have been approved either through the standard FAP route or an EU call.
  3. A standalone experiment that can be completely delivered for publication in the Xpress access visit. UK-based academics ONLY.
​​​NOTE: Only UK travel and subsistence expenses will be funded.

The duration of access is limited (1-2 days) and depends on staff and instrument set-up schedules. At present each facility has a limited allocation of days for Xpress access, e.g. Octopus has 25 days every 6 months, so please be aware that your application may be declined once this allocation is used.

Applications are reviewed swiftly by the relevant group leaders and division head.

Eligibility​​​

The main applicant eligibility criteria are:

  • Applicants must hold an academic position, which includes postdoctoral researcher positions
  • The academic position must last for the duration of the scheduling period
  • Only UK applicants can apply for option 3 of the justification criteria
  • EU applicants can apply to options 1 and 2 of the justification criteria and must have submitted a full proposal for LSF facility access previously
  • PhD students can be co-investigators, but not the main applicant

Guidelines​

Please contact a facility st​aff member or Andy Ward​ to discuss timescales and feasibility before writing a proposal. See the web page​s for Octopus st​aff and techniques, and Ultra staff and techniques to find an appropriate contact for your proposal. ​

Please use the Xpress access template fo​r your science case. 

Submission

Please submit all applications to LSF Xpress Access. If it is the first time you've used the online submission system, you may find it useful to read the documentationher​e.

​For any queries about using the proposal system that are not answered by the documentation above, contact fase-support@stfc.ac.uk​.

Contact: Lees, Robert (STFC,RAL,CLF)