The nmRC has received approval to move into Phase Two of its re-opening where we will start to allow experience, autonomous internal users to access the instruments again. The process to carry out work for either novice or experienced, autonomous internal users is outlined in the flow charts that are available on the PPMS booking website under Documents > Forms. Please follow the instructions on the flowcharts if you need research carried out at the nmRC. As you may expect (and probably have experience of this by now) there is a lot more paperwork involved!
A couple of additional notes:
- We will gradually be increasing the number of users in the building over the next couple of weeks by staggering access to instruments. Please note, therefore, that not all instruments will be ready to use straightaway. To start with, if you have already made a member of staff aware of your intention to work autonomously within the building, then they will contact you with further details.
- Given the restrictions on social distancing and occupancy in our labs, our main form of assistance and support to users on instruments will be provided remotely. Due to this limited support, staff will use their discretion as to whether a user has enough experience to operate and shut down the instrument safely. Therefore, even if you were considered an autonomous user before the lockdown on an instrument, it will be up to the nmRC staff member to decide if you have enough experience to operate instruments under these new circumstances.
If you have not used the nmRC before but need (high priority) work performed at the Centre, please contact the relevant member of nmRC staff listed below (abbreviations at the bottom of this message):
Please note that the team will need information regarding the sample material, how it is prepared, how many samples there are, when will it be ready for analysis and a description of why and when the work needs to be completed so that they can make a decision regarding prioritisation.
EBL = Electron Beam Lithography, FEG = Field Emission Gun (high resolution), SEM = Scanning Electron Microscopy, TEM = Transmission Electron Microscopy, FIB = Focussed Ion Beam, HPF = High Pressure Freezer, SIMS = Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (either Time of Flight or OrbiTrap Mass Spectrometers), EPMA = Electron Probe Micro Analysis, MLA = Mineral Liberation Analysis, ESEM = Environmental SEM, XPS = X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Cryo = work performed under cryogenic conditions
Posted on Thursday 27th August 2020