The NSLS-II Experimental Tools III (NEXT-III) Project is a DOE-funded initiative to develop 8–12 new beamlines and supporting infrastructure at NSLS-II over the next decade. The project is proceeding in phases, with 2–3 beamlines launched every 1–2 years.
• Subproject A (launched in 2023) includes construction of the Quantitative Cellular Tomography (QCT) and High-Resolution X-ray Diffraction (HRD) beamlines, and design of the Tender X-ray Nanoprobe (TXN) and Advanced Nanoscale Imaging (ANI) beamlines.
• Subproject B (launched in 2025) includes construction of the Advanced Materials Processing (AMP), TXN, and ANI beamlines.
We have recently completed a series of ten Scientific Strategic Planning Workshops to generate ideas for future beamlines under NEXT-III. We plan to launch Subproject C in October 2026 and are beginning the process of defining its scope.
The process will follow the same structure used for Subprojects A and B (2022–2023): The process will begin with the submission of one-page pre-proposals. A selected subset of these will be invited to develop full proposals, which will undergo review by external panels and prioritization by the NSLS-II Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). Final decisions will be made by NSLS-II leadership in consultation with the DOE. It is important to note that the current schedule places Subproject D only one year after Subproject C. If this timeline holds, this round of review may also be used to define the scope of Subproject D.
If you have an idea for a new beamline, we strongly encourage you to submit a pre-proposal or discuss your concept with NSLS-II staff. Note that proposals reviewed in 2022–2023 but not selected for Subprojects A or B are considered retired.
The pre-proposal template is available here: https://www.bnl.gov/nsls2/beamline-development.php
Please submit completed pre-proposals by email to Wah-Keat Lee by December 1, 2025. See the NSLS-II Beamline Development page for details.