SPARC Visitor Program

The LANL Michigan SPARC Visitor Program is intended to promote collaboration by bringing LANL scientists to Michigan, and U-M faculty to LANL. Visits can be short or long, and can serve many purposes, including:

• Engaging in research projects with a limited scope
• Access to unique facilities and equipments
• Technical meetings aimed at establishing new research partnerships
• Getting to know research collaborator through in-person interaction

Why a Visitor Program?

Can't I just travel without a formal program? Yes, you can, but by going through our Visitor Program we can help you have a more productive visit. The Visitor Program will take care of drop-in office space, help with paperwork, and assist in setting up meetings or if you would like to give a seminar. We can also help with networking, especially if you have a topic and are not sure who to speak to.

Duration

Visits can be as short as a day or as long as a year, depending on the purpose of the visit. Especially for longer visits, we can help make sure you are able to continue working on your regular projects during your stay. Short visits (a week or less) are useful for in-person meetings, establishing new collaborative projects, and, for LANL staff, getting a flavor what life is like at the U-M duty station. Longer visits (up to 3 months) are more appropriate for performing a specific scope of work on a project that is better done at the other institution. Sabbaticals for a semester or more are also possible.

Funding

Limited funding may be available to cover travel and time spent on program development. Preference will be given to requests with a high likelihood of obtaining research funding leading to a successful new collaboration.

How to Apply

Please apply online via this form.

Visitor Information

The LANL Michigan SPARC is located eastern edge of the University of Michigan North campus (map). We are close to the College of Engineering and the North Campus Research Complex, and a 15 minute drive from main campus.

For Michigan faculty

• Unless the visitor would prefer to make other arrangements, Michigan faculty will be hosted courtesy of the CNLS Visitor Program.

For LANL staff

• Visits of up to 3 months can be done as normal travel. For longer periods, it may be necessary to use Extended Business Travel or a temporary change of station.

Getting to Ann Arbor

The Detroit airport (DTW) is located half-way between Ann Arbor and Detroit, about a 30 minute drive from our office. DTW is a Delta hub, and there are multiple options per day to get to New Mexico, however, there is currently no direct flight from Albuquerque to Detroit.

Rental cars are easily available from DTW; however, the Michigan Flyer bus system runs from the airport to Downtown Ann Arbor frequently.

Hotels

There are three hotels within walking distance of our offices. There are also several hotels downtown if you'd prefer to stay near main campus, restaurants, and night life.

Getting around Ann Arbor

Walking

The U-M campus is divided into four parts: main campus, north campus, the medical campus, and the athletic campus. Main and medical campus and downtown Ann Arbor are all within walking distance of each other. Getting between them and north campus would be about an hour walk, depending on the specific locations, so most people prefer to drive or take a bus.

Buses

Ann Arbor has two bus systems, one provided by the city and one by U-M. City buses do require a fare, but U-M buses are free, even without a university ID.

If you’d like to use the bus when staying in Ann Arbor, the closest stop to our office is the Green Road Park&Ride, which is across the street. City bus routes that use this stop are the 65, 66, and intermittently the 23. The UM bus that uses this stop is the North-East Shuttle (NES). Google Maps is usually best for tracking city buses, Magic Bus can be used to track UM buses.

Parking

There is a lot of parking on campus and downtown (although not quite enough at peak times when classes are in session), however most campus parking requires a permit. There are visitor lots (parking maps here). Both U-M visitor and Ann Arbor street parking can be paid for using an app.

Parking in the front of our offices at Green Court (the west side of the building) is free, but the back (east) side is a U-M permit-only lot.

Things to do

There are lots of things to do in Ann Arbor. Here are a few:

• Self-guided campus tour
• Pure Michigan guide to Ann Arbor