Instrument Users

All University researchers have equal access to the services and instruments provided by the BBC. Instruments are scheduled on a first-come basis. These rules are necessary to maintain equipment in optimal operational conditions and avoid unnecessary downtime. We can only maintain the equipment properly if the users keep Bindley staff informed of potential problems.

1. All instrument users will be trained on the proper use and maintenance of instruments by facility staff only. For training, normal operator fees will apply.
2. All instrument users must receive training certification from the facility manager prior to accessing any instruments unsupervised. Facility managers reserve the right to deny unsupervised usage until all levels of training have been successfully completed.
3. Principal investigators may be financially responsible for damages due to improper use by those users in their labs. This includes cleaning any system due to samples containing contaminates that interfere with instrument performance.
4. Users should not attempt to fix any equipment problems, regardless of how small or insignificant the problem may appear. Facility staff must be informed of any potential operational problems of instruments.
5. Reservation cancellation is required on all instruments that are reserved through the Web-based system. Principal investigators may be financially responsible for reservations that are NOT canceled 24 hours prior to the reserved time. At least one hour of usage time may be charged for "no-shows." Cancellation can be completed by contacting the individual facility manager.
6. Instruments that are reserved through the Web-based system are reserved in the order in which reservations are received. Out of courtesy to other users, long-term experiments should be scheduled for overnight or weekend run times. Equipment must be vacated when the scheduled time has expired, if the next user has arrived.
7. Users must leave all equipment and work areas in a clean and orderly state when work is complete. Microscopes in the Imaging Facility should be turned off if no other users are scheduled within the next hour. If another user is scheduled, the equipment can be left on.
8. The facility managers reserve the right to suspend usage privileges if the users do not adhere to the outlined policies.

Users who have concerns or difficulties with the implementation of this policy should address the issues first with the individual facility manager. If a mutually accepted solution cannot be reached, then the BBC Center operations manager will be recruited to help implement an agreeable resolution.

First-time users, whether affiliated with Purdue, another university or a corporate partner, are asked to contact the facility director to schedule a meeting to discuss the user's project and costs and facility policies. Once researchers have received training on the use of facility instrumentation, they may reserve instrument time.

Facility instruments are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Although the facility does serve multiple projects, adequate management of access to the instruments is in place to serve the needs of projects large and small and all users. This is facilitated by the initial required involvement of the facility director since users are not permitted to operate the instruments without specific training and authorization from the facility director. Users are notified if the requested facility is unavailable and of limitations for use, etc. In the event of a conflict or needed exception, the facility director suggests a mutually agreeable solution. If the scheduling conflict is not resolved at this level, it will be referred for conflict resolution as outlined in the Conflict Resolution section of this website. Requests for urgent attention are considered by facility personnel on an ad hoc basis.