Confocal Microscopy Facility

Location

B2-159. A unique digital code will be assigned for each eligible user to open the locked door. The time reservation calendar is located on-line, and only trained users will have access to it.

Day-to-day operations

The Confocal Users Committee composed of Dr. Dale Martin (Biology); Dr. Bruce Reed (Biology) and Mishi Groh (Biology), will establish procedures for use of the microscope, schedule training sessions, oversee the daily schedule of the microscope and deal with any problems or issues that arise.

Instrument training

Users are required to prove they meet all University safety training requirements in their home laboratory and be given a user orientation/training session before being allowed to use the confocal facility. Abuses of the instrument/facility may result in suspension of privileges. Any damage to the equipment incurred through negligence of the user must be paid for by the primary investigator (PI) from whose lab the individual responsible is from (e.g. objective damage estimated at $10,000). (Initial: )

Security

The Confocal Users Committee will have keys and maintain primary security of the facility. All users must be trained and demonstrate adequate safety and technical experience. Normal daytime access, namely Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, as well as after hours, will be given by assigning a lock code. Only individuals from a laboratory in good financial standing with the facility will be granted a code. The code must never be given to anyone else and should never be passed on to the next user on the list; they will have their own code. The lock can log entry codes used, time and day; anyone abusing the rules will have confocal privileges removed.

Scheduling

Normally, there will be a limit of use to a maximum of 4 h/day per primary investigator (PI) up to 6 h/week per PI during prime time (8:00 am to 6:00 pm) to a maximum of 16 hours per week per PI, which includes overnight use. It is expected that all trained users will operate the instrument on their own and require only minimal supervision. Normally, undergraduate students will not be allowed to use the microscope. Users must bring their own expendable supplies or replace expendables used at the facility.

See our complete price list (expand the blue bar). Note: All prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD$).