New Users

  • Interested new users are encouraged to contact the Director of听the Shared Instruments Pool听to discuss their planned project/experiment during the planning phase.听
  • This听will allow the prospective user to determine听if听the chosen instrument(s)/method(s)听are听suitable to achieve听their听goals听and听what kind of experimental or instrumental听constrains have to be considered听during experiment design.听听

Training

  • Prospective users must receive hands on training from听facility staff听before they are allowed to use the instrument independently.听This includes specialized instruments, as well as, shared 鈥渉ousehold鈥� instruments like centrifuges.听

  • Training听can not听be done by another lab member, colleague, etc. unless听this was authorized by facility personnel.听听

  • When possible and appropriate training will be听done with actual user samples听so that users might gain preliminary data during the training and the facility personnel can help with troubleshooting and optimization, if necessary.

  • An initial meeting prior to training is required to discuss sample听 preparation, requirements, and constraints.

Instrument Access and Scheduling

  • Some instruments are available听on a听walk-up听basis.听This includes the centrifuges, autoclaves,听sonicators, gel imaging systems and other 鈥渟hort-use鈥� instruments.
  • More specialized听instruments听 requiring听 longer time periods for use can be scheduled through Google calendars. Users will be given access to specific calendars once they have completed the training and are approved to use听that听instrument听independent.
  • Users should only book the time they will need and if their听plans听change,听they must听update听their booking as听early as听possible听as other people may be waiting for free instrument time.听

Cost of Usage

The following is an outline for university users. Outside users should contact the facility director for information.听

听

  • Initial听Consulting and听the听First听Test听Experiment听

  1. The initial consult with facility personnel is free of charge. In most cases we will be able to perform a test experiment with the prospective user which includes听training for first time users of the pool free of charge.

  • 听

  • Buying into the Pool听

  1. If new users听become regular users of the instrument(s)听in the pool,听the user group听is expected听to buy into the pool. Regular users听are sorted into 3 categories (high, intermediate, low) once per year based on the usage in the previous year. This designation may change year to year.听The idea is everyone contributes, everyone benefits.听

  2. In return,听we will听keep all the instruments in excellent running order听by听performing听preventative听maintenance, calibration, performance test听and听repairs (if possible)听as well as听coordinate service visits when听needed.听

  3. In addition,听we provide听expertise听and help听with听project planning,听data collection,听troubleshooting, optimization and听data evaluation听as needed/wanted by user.听

  4. There is no limit to the number of users from each group or to the number of instruments that can be used in the pool.听

  • 听

  • Consumables, Repairs and听Service听Visits听

  1. 听User groups are expected to provide or pay for all consumables (pipette tips, LN2, tubes, reagents etc.).听

  2. User groups are expected to pay for parts and repairs that become necessary because of neglect or carelessness.听(You break it you bought it)听

  3. User groups are expected听to contribute to parts/repairs needed due to normal wear and tear听as needed.听The costs are split between user groups according to the % of overall use of the instrument over the last two years.听Consequently,听cost for repairs may come quite some time after use. Minimal users are not included in cost.

Safety

In addition听to听all听safety听requirements听from听EH&S for general work in research labs and for听specific听work involving biohazards, radiation hazards,听ect.,听the following is an outline of safety requirements.听
听
Please see the for detailed information and trainings modules.
听
  1. Required Safety Training听
    • All users must complete听the offered by EH&S and the听required听.听
    • All users working with radioisotopes must complete offered by EH&S and wear radiation badges when appropriate. The training has to be refreshed according to EH&S regulations.
    • All users working with听bio hazards including听recombinant DNA have to听complete听the .听
      听
  2. General Safety Rules and Considerations
    • Food or drink is听not听allowed in the labs听or听around any of the instruments.听
    • Closed toed shoes and long pants are strictly听required.听Shorts听and听sandals/flip-flops or bare feet听are prohibited.听
    • Safety glasses and lab coats听are听required.听
    • Disposable gloves should be used听when听appropriate.听
    • All waste must be disposed of according to EH&S regulations.听
    • If users are at any point unsure about safety during experiments they听can听ask for help anytime. Facility personnel听can be contacted any time by email, text,听call or by visiting the office C316 in JSCBB. If听they are听not in the office,听they will leave a note saying where in the building they听are听or they will post their phone number on the door so that they can be easily contact.听听
    • Users planning on working after regular hours should make sure that they are not alone, that someone close by knows that they are around and that they check in with the other person regularly.听
      听
  3. Contact Information In Case of Emergency
    • Dr. Annette Erbse; Director of Shared Instruments Pool In Biochemistry
      • Phone: 303-492-0528 (regular hours), when applicable private cell phone number is posted on office door and听at the听instruments
      • Office: JSCBB, C316
    • UCB Police Dispatch (After Campus Hours): 911 or (303) 492-6666听
    • EH&S Health Physics (Campus Hours): (303) 492-6523听
    • Environmental Health & Safety (Campus Hours): (303) 492-6025听

Housekeeping

  • If users are at any point unsure about听the correct operation of one of the instruments, they should听ask for help.听Facility personnel can be contacted any time by email, text,听call or by visiting the office C316 in JSCBB. If not in the office,听they will leave a note saying where in the building they are, or they will post their phone number on the door so that they can be easily contacted.听
  • Users are expected to leave the instruments and workspaces in good and clean conditions. That includes all听parts听of听the听workspace (instruments, computers, keyboards, desks, etc.)听as well as the proper disposal of any samples or waste products.听Samples and waste should be disposed in the lab of the user.听
  • Users are听expected to wipe down the parts of the instrument they touched as听well as any keyboard, mouse, touchpad, desk etc.听with a paper towel sprayed with 70%听EtOH or 75% IPA (provided in spray bottles at the instruments) after they have completed their experiments.