Operations and Policies

General Policies

The Cell Imaging Core instruments are shared equipment and must be treated with respect. Users must be trained by facility staff and have their own PPMS login credentials prior to being given access to the microscopes. Users that do not follow the rules will be identified and warned. If after warning this behaviour continues, Facility privileges can be revoked. Users must comply with U of A, provincial, and federal regulations. All laboratory research conducted at U of A must be registered with the Biosafety Division and follow the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Biosafety Guidelines. All users must have an HSE form on file. This form must also be filled out prior to training or starting a new project.

Visit the links below for specific policies and billing information:

No-show Policy Training Policy Data Storage Grants & Purchasing Equipment

 

No-show Policy

We ask that users cancel their booked time as soon as they are aware that they will not be using it. If you are not able to cancel your reservation please email the Facility and we will be happy to cancel it for you.

  • All bookings must be canceled at least 2 hours prior to the scheduled start time.
  • Bookings that are uncanceled and unused will be charged at full price.
  • Bookings that are canceled less than 2 hours prior to the scheduled start time will be charged at $10/ hour.

Training Policy

All users must be trained by Facility staff prior to operating the instruments and before booking privileges will be granted. Users should submit a training request through PPMS-Stratocore at least 4-6 weeks in advance of needing access.

Following submission and validation of the training request, core staff will set up a short consultation meeting to discuss the user's experimental plans and determine access.

Prior to in-person training, users will be required to complete the Light and Fluorescence Microscopy and/or Transmission Electron Microscopy modules, including the assessment(s), through MyScope. Certificates of completion must be provided to core staff.

Fees: In-person training is charged as assisted use. Services & Fees.

Refresher training will be mandatory if a user has not accessed the facility and/or instruments for over a year.

Data Storage

It is the responsibility of the user to ensure that their data is properly backed up. The Facility will maintain temporary backups of data on the instrument computers. The Cell Imaging Core is not responsible for any loss of data. Image data will be routinely archived and deleted from instrument computers to ensure smooth operation of the acquisition software. The faculty cores provide access to shared network drive accessible from within MedIT's network:

Connecting to the server

To access the storage space from a computer in your lab, your computer must be connected via an ethernet connection, not wifi. Follow these steps to access your data:

Macintosh

  1. Choose "Connect to server" from the "Go" menu (⌘ -K).
  2. In the window that pops up, enter the following in the server address field:
    - smb://storeit.med.ualberta.ca/Shares/Cell Imaging Centre
  3. Optional :click on the "+" icon to add this server to your list of favourites so you don't have to remember this address every time you wish to connect.
  4. Click "connect" and enter your domain credentials in the window that pop up (MED\yourname)
  5. Click "connect" again after entering your username and password.
  6. This will mount the disk, then you can navigate to your personal folder via this path:
    "Personal Data->YourFirstName YourLastName"

Windows:XP & Vista

  1. Open a "Windows Explorer" window (NOT an internet explorer window). For example, from the "Start" menu, select "computer".
  2. Choose "Map Network Drive…" from the "Computer" menu (Computer->Map Network Drive…).
  3. In the "Map Network Drive" window that appears, enter any drive letter into the "Drive:" Field. Just make sure the letter is not in use by another device on your computer already (e.g. don't use "C:").
  4. In the "Folder:" field, enter the following address: \\storeit.med.ualberta.ca\Shares\Cell Imaging Centre
  5. Click on the link that says "Connect using a different credentials".
  6. In the "Connect As…" window that pops up, enter your credentials. You must enter your username in the following format: MED\yourname
  7. Enter your password and click on the "OK" button.
  8. Click "Finish" on the "Map Network Drive…" window.

Windows 7

As in XP, but the "Map Network Drive" command is available directly after opening your "computer" via the "start menu"

Linux

Open a window, in the navigation bar type "smb://storeit.med.ualberta.ca/Shares/Cell Imaging Centre" and then authenticate with your domain credentials as above. That is use "MED\username" as your username and your domain password as the password.

Grants & Purchasing Equipment

Descriptions of the Cell Imaging Core and letters of support can be provided for grant applications.
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry investigators who wish to purchase their own microscope should contact the Academic Lead (Dr. Andrew Simmonds).