I am not a crystallographer but collaborate with a crystallographer who uses the synchrotron periodically. I am most interested in rapid techniques to observe enzyme-substrate intermediates. Too many of the current beamlines have sub-optimal MAD facilities. I'll soon have access to the ALS as a PRT member, which will improve my own situation drastically. Rapid access for routine MAD experiments as a phasing tool cannot be overemphasized.
Location is extremely important.
Access by car relative to plane reduces travel costs and facilitates transport of equipment and biological samples. At the present time our synchrotron use is initiated by our collaborator in macromolecular crystallography. In the future, this use will be initiated by us. Need to coordinate availability of 2-4 expert collaborators from US, UK, Germany. My main research goal is time-resolved snapshots of the motor molecule.