BICF Policy

Instruments in the BICF

Related Facilities

Policy

Training and Facility Access

In order to use any instrument independently in the BICF, each researcher, student and post doctoral fellow must first receive the appropriate training. A training session consists of a detailed, hands-on lesson from the facility manager, provision of the corresponding standard operating procedures and recommended literature reading. Fees for training vary according to intstrument and these rates can be found on our Fee Schedule page.

Staff or students wishing to access the BICF to conduct experiments should have their supervisor contact the Facility Director. Consultation regarding the instruments, and their uses and limitations, may be offered. First time users should then contact the Facility Manager to schedule training on the appropriate instruments.

Instrument Reservations

Most instruments can be reserved on the sign-up calendars kept near the instruments or by contacting the Facility Manager. The level of usage of each instrument varies considerably, and you are advised to reserve the instrument at least 48 hours in advance. In order to allow other possible users the access the instrument, please do not reserve for more than one week without interruption. If you reserve time and decide not to use it, you must cancel at least 24 hours in advance or you will be charged for instrument time.

Responsibility of the Users and Their Supervisors

Log books are provided for each instrument, and it is essential that the user start an entry into the log book before beginning work on the instrument.

Users should not attempt to use instruments for which they have not been trained, or without the appropriate advice from expert users.

Users are responsible for ensuring the safe usage of the equipment, i.e. making certain that the supply of N2 gas to the CD is uninterrupted, and that cells in the analytical ultracentrifuge are properly balanced.

When work is completed, the user must ensure that cells, cuvettes, etc. are left clean and ready for the next user, must shut the instrument down properly, and must complete the log book entry.

Any user who uses an instrument without making appropriate entries into the log book will be denied access to the facility, as will any user who misuses or otherwise abuses the equipment.

In the event of instrument damage due to abuse, misuse, or unauthorized use, the research supervisor will be held financially responsible for the cost of instrument repair.

Also from this web page:

A Note On Learning New Techniques

Before each training session, our clients will be provided with some recommended reading on the topic of interest. Please take the time to read at least one of these papers beforehand; not only will you better understand what you are doing during the training session, but you will also be more likely to retain the information!

Funding

Grants

Established with support of the Canada Foundation for Innovation

and the Ontario Innovation Trust

Maintenance is supported by the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.