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FICUS Program

The Facilities Integrating Collaborations for User Science (FICUS) program was created in 2014 to accelerate ambitious user research projects. The program, spearheaded by EMSL and the Joint Genome Institute, provides researchers with access to the world-class resources of multiple user facilities through a single proposal. The program has expanded to include several other user facilities and holds two annual calls for proposals. 

Through the EMSL- and JGI-based FICUS call, users have access to EMSL, JGI, the National Ecological Observatory Network, the Bio-SANS beamline through the Center for Structural Molecular Biology at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the eBERlight program offered by Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. A separate FICUS call provides access to EMSL and the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement user facility. Projects generally last two years and begin in October. 

Joining the FICUS Program 

User facilities interested in partnering with EMSL through a FICUS call are encouraged to contact EMSL User Program Services. 

Past Calls

Past Proposal Call: FICUS Program

Call for FICUS EMSL-JGI Based Research Proposals, FY 2025

RNA

The Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), a Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science user facility at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the Joint Genome Institute (JGI), a…

Letters of Intent Due

Full Proposals Deadline

How
Proposals must be submitted via EMSL User Portal
Submissions open
Past Proposal Call: FICUS Program

Call for FICUS Research Proposals with ARM and EMSL, FY 2025

clouds

The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility and the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) user facility are seeking collaborative research applications through the…

Letters of Intent Due

Full Proposals Deadline

How
Proposals must be submitted via EMSL User Portal
Submissions open

Selected Projects

News

Thirteen Projects Funded through FICUS Program

FICUS: Facilities Integrating Collaborations for User Science
Research teams will have access to multiple Department of Energy user facilities 
Publish Date
Science Areas
Computing, Analytics, and Modeling
Environmental Transformations and Interactions
Functional and Systems Biology
Web Feature

Thirteen Scientists Awarded FICUS Program Funding

FICUS: Facilities Integrating Collaborations for User Science, EMSL, ARM, U.S. Department of Energy
Environmental and biological research to be conducted at DOE user facilities.
Publish Date
News

Fourteen Projects Selected for Fiscal Year 2023 FICUS Awards

FICUS FY23 Awardees
Scientists to investigate some of the world’s grand challenges and topics: climate change, carbon cycling, biofuels, methane hot spots at landfills, soil viruses, and more
Publish Date

Research Highlights

Science Areas
Environmental Transformations and Interactions
Research Highlight

Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Enhance Pine Growth by Promoting Iron Uptake

An aerial photograph above a pine tree forest in the daytime displaying dozens of trees.
Research demonstrates how ectomycorrhizal fungi help pine plants process iron. 
Publish Date
Science Areas
Functional and Systems Biology
Research Highlight

How Tropical Plants Beat Drought with Special Root Tricks

A photograph of Hibiscus rosa sinensis in bloom
Tropical rainforest plants and their associated microbial communities navigate drought challenges through unique root metabolism in the rhizosphere. 
Publish Date
Science Areas
Functional and Systems Biology
Research Highlight

Understanding Nutrient Cycling between Algae and Bacteria Could Lead to Increased Biofuel Production

An aerial photo taken of algae lining the coast
Although key to ocean productivity, the interactions between algae and bacteria aren’t fully understood. A new study adds an important piece to the puzzle.
Publish Date