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Member Agreement
Consortium members will be required to sign a member cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA).
It is essential that all prospective members read the CRADA entirely before deciding to join. However, as a starting point, we have provided some of the key objectives to which the current CRADA strives to achieve:
- All research within nSoft is considered in the public domain, meaning that data collected from research on nSoft equipment or featuring nSoft researchers is to be made publicly available. In the case of neutron scattering data, for instance, the data is streamed live on the public web and can be downloaded in close to real-time by anyone with a web browser.
- In addition, there is an intention to publish any scientifically significant findings in peer-reviewed high-impact journals. As such, the findings themselves may be held from the public during data analysis and through regular scientific pursuit to preserve the possibility of publishing in a high-impact journal. However, the intention is always to publish the data in publicly available literature and present it at national and international venues and conferences.
- Any member or non-member may pursue proprietary measurements using NIST equipment at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) by executing a proprietary agreement with the NCNR. This agreement is entirely separate from the nSoft agreement, so nSoft staff cannot be involved in measurements performed under this agreement. It is, in fact, the goal of nSoft to train the staff of member companies to a point where they can perform their measurements in a proprietary or non-proprietary environment.
The CRADA terms are shared among all of the members of the consortium. As such, the agreement will not be negotiated except at renewal or extension (currently November 2024). For a copy of the CRADA, any questions regarding the terms of the CRADA, or how to properly execute the agreement, contact Jeff DiVietro (jeff.divietro [at] nist.gov (jeff[dot]divietro[at]nist[dot]gov)) or Jonathan Seppala (jonathan.seppala [at] nist.gov (jonathan[dot]seppala[at]nist[dot]gov)).