Checklist for introducing new users to the MPI-CBG Light Microscopy Facility

Revision as of 12:44, 1 February 2010 (view source) Anonymous (Talk) m ← Older edit

Revision as of 14:29, 3 February 2010 (view source) Anonymous (Talk) m (moved Checklist for introducing new users to the facility to Checklist for introducing new users to the MPI-CBG LMF/IPF facility: distinguish different facility pages) Newer edit →

---

Revision as of 14:29, 3 February 2010

Contents 1 First Contact 2 Administration (no system time needed) 2.1 Booking Database 2.2 Booking Rules And Responsibilities 3 Theoretical Background (might be possible without system time) 4 On The System 4.1 First Introduction 4.2 Follow Up Introduction

First Contact

• Send user link to New user project questions. Ask the user to send all relevant answers to lmf(at)mpi-cbg.de ideally before the first face to face meeting. (It might not make sense for every user to answer every single question).
• Arrange a personal meeting with the new user and one or more members of the lmf team: discussion about imaging project and agreement on the most suitable system(s) using info from new user questions.
• Point out main contact details: lmf(at)mpi-cbg.de or lmf-helpline phone 210-2345.
• Avoid situations where a new user books a system at short notice and expects to get an introduction all done in 1 or 2 hours with no prior meeting/discussion about their project.

Administration (no system time needed)

Estimated time: about 30 minutes

Booking Database

• General structure of database.
• Booking budgets, costs.
• How to book systems and assistance (combined and separately).
• How do blockings work. When and why might the LMF ask users to give up their slot. Make user be aware of and respect the student's system checks!
• How to use the "Report" function.

Booking Rules And Responsibilities

• Delete and Cancel: the 24h rule.
• The SIFFY procedure: how to offer and take a free slot.
• At the end of each session, check booking database: last user / not the last user --> what are the responsibilities?
• Consequences for failing to switch off a system: extended booking + 15/30min assistant time

• AND: "END OF SESSION" means: data saved, sample removed, objectives cleaned, software closed ... system is free for the next user!!!

• Sign the user into the lmf-user mailing list

Theoretical Background (might be possible without system time)

• Background to the techniques that will be used with the system, eg. contrasting techniques, fluorescence, beampath, pinhole, detector etc.

On The System

First Introduction

Usually WITHOUT own sample!!!

Estimated time: system dependent, but usually around 2hours

• Introduction to hardware: how to switch on/off.
• Introduction to software: how to properly acquire an image, z-stack, time series (it might sometimes not be possible to cover all of that in the 1st intro).
• Data handling: explain about original file formats and metadata; advantages/disadvantages of storing data on either hard drive or fileserver
• Data safety: Point out that the LMF holds no responsibility for data whatsoever!

Important: in order to keep the disk free for imaging - data stored on hard drives will be deleted on an irregular basis without warning.

• Safety regulations: laser safety, S1 safety, correct use of wastebins.
• How to clean objectives.

Follow Up Introduction

With own sample!!!

Estimated time: strongly project dependent, but 1-2 hours are usually a good estimate

• Recap contents of first intro
• Introduce user to things that couldn't be covered in the first session
• Help user to set up the system for their own imaging experiment.
• Stay with user until he/she feels save to use the system independently.
• Invite user to contact the lmf team about questions / problems / changes in their imaging projects at any time.