Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC)

The role of the LCLS Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) is to advise the LCLS Director on issues relating to the operation and development of LCLS as a preeminent scientific user facility. The scope of the SAC is the entire LCLS facility, covering all aspects of accelerator and FEL systems, instruments, detectors, data systems, support capabilities, and science programs.

The SAC has a broad remit to comment on any aspect of LCLS, including:

  • The scientific direction and strategic plans of LCLS;
  • The planning and delivery of major upgrades to the facility;
  • Options, priorities and facility-wide balance of the introduction of new capabilities (and/or the retirement of older capabilities), as driven by the current and future needs of the user program;
  • Options and priorities for scientific and technical development programs driven by LCLS management on behalf of the user community;
  • Long-term R&D activities;
  • The performance, scientific output, and future plans of the LCLS instruments;
  • The quality of in-house science projects, driven by the LCLS instrument scientists;
  • The positioning of LCLS with respect to the domestic and international landscape of related science facilities;
  • Topical issues raised by the LCLS Director. 

Committee Members 2026-2027

The SAC consists of 12 to 15 regular members, including a Chairperson. In addition there will be up to 2 ex officio members: the chair of the Users’ Executive Committee (UEC) and, when applicable, the retired SAC Chairperson.

The SAC members and Chairperson are appointed by the LCLS Director, and will cover a suitable breadth of scientific and technical areas of competence. Appointments are for a nominal term of 3 years, renewable by mutual consent for up to 1 additional term.

Name

Institution

Matteo Mitrano
SAC Chair

Harvard University

Alec Follmer
UEC Chair

University of California, Davis

Camila Bacellar

PSI/SwissFEL

Mark Dean

BNL

Winni Decking

DESY

Reinhard Doerner

Goethe University Frankfurt

Claudio Masciovecchio

Elettra/FERMI

Keith Nelson

MIT

Hywel Owen

ASTeC/STFC

Arwen Pearson

CFEL

Lois Pollack

Cornell University

Nina Rohringer

DESY

Meetings

The SAC shall meet every 6 months (April and October). The agenda and charge for each meeting will be based on specific topics and questions posed by the LCLS Director in close coordination with the SAC Chairperson.

At the conclusion of each meeting, the SAC Chairperson will address this charge orally in a close-out session, with a formal written response to be sent to the LCLS Director within a month.

The Chairperson shall manage conflicts of interest on the committee, with recourse to the LCLS Director as required. At all times, the SAC shall maintain the highest standards of ethical behavior.