Fee changes for G2N Lab Access
In recent years, and especially since the pandemic shutdown, G2N has seen an
increase in operating costs and a shift in the types of users who require access to the
facilities. The staff time is being taxed with more demands for user training and
administrative activities to maintain a safe and sustainable operating environment.
Costs for general supplies to maintenance and repair have increased significantly over
the past 3 years while the G2N fees have remained constant.
These changes require resources which are not adequately recovered in the existing
fee structure. To maintain a safe and productive research environment, we have made
the difficult decision to increase the user fees beginning January 1, 2024. The fee
structure will also be streamlined with the elimination of hourly rates.
The new structure consists of three tiers (Levels 1 – 3) of flat-rate charges based on the
expected lab usage per researcher accessing the lab and its equipment.
Industrial/external user access will follow the same fee structure but at 2× the academic
rates.
Users choose from 3 levels of charges ranging from 10 hours (Level 1) to
unlimited access (Level 3). Hours may be topped up for Levels 1 and 2 (at the rate of
the Level), up to a maximum of 40 hours; fees are also capped at 40 hours for these
levels.
1. Academic access categories and fees per user per term:
a. LEVEL 1: Usage of the lab or equipment up to 10 hours: $725 flat rate.
b. LEVEL 2: Usage of the lab or equipment up to 20 hours: $1225 flat rate.
c. LEVEL 3: Unlimited access: $2125 flat rate.
2. External access categories and fees per user per term:
a. LEVEL 1: Usage of the lab or equipment up to 10 hours: $1450 flat rate.
b. LEVEL 2: Usage of the lab or equipment up to 20 hours: $2450 flat rate.
c. LEVEL 3: Unlimited access: $4250 flat rate.
With this new structure, researchers wishing to use the G2N facilities (cleanroom and
3rd Floor instruments) will estimate their expected usage by selecting a category at the
beginning of each term. The user is charged the given flat rate for the number of hours
at that Level. Please allow for training time in this estimation for the equipment you will
need to use.
If your usage exceeds the time for the level you have selected in any given term, your
lab usage may be increased at the rate specified for the Level. Level 3 users will have
unlimited access as per the previous standard user fee.
All new users from January 1, 2024, will also be charged a $200 registration fee. This
fee will cover orientation and safety training sessions along with an initial clean room
suit and storage containers for supplies. Users who have not been active for more than
one year will be required to re-take the safety training sessions.