Alerts

Dear SEA Users:

In cooperation with the Office of Research and the Crisis Management Team, effective Mar 1 2021, SEA will be returning to RS3 status and implementing the following protocols:

All Users must follow Rice protocols with regard to PCR COVID testing. For most users, guidelines specify 1 negative PCR test per week.

All Users are required to wear masks at all times, as well as some other PPE dependent on facility, and to disinfect shared surfaces before and after use.

Users must observe physical distancing. There will also be restricted instrument availability to enable that distancing.

SEA instruments hosted in PI labs may have limited or no access, as determined by the PI host. See chart below:

Instrument PI Lab Access allowed If yes, requirement, if any
Fluorometer Xiao BRC 330C Yes No change
Nanosight, zetasizer Segatori BRC 350 Yes Trained users only. Cleaning protocols as instructed in the summer.
LSM800 Bao BRC 440D Yes No change
Axioimager Z2 Tao BRC 640B Yes No change and very little usage
RNA/DNA analyzer Hilton BRC 660D Yes Trained users only
Freeze Dryer Bennett, G BRC 810C Yes Trained users only maintain soc dist
IVIS, vibr microtome Miller BRC420D Yes
Centrifuges, shaker McNew BRC710 Yes Trained users only
Centrifuge, LAS4000, Scint counter McNew BRC730B Yes Trained users only
Cell sorter Tabor BRC840 Yes Pis must contact Dr Tabor about access to students using SEA space
Qsense Biswal GBRE 255 Yes No new trainings
CD Silberg Keck 201 No
POM, ARES Rheometer Pasqualli Keck 232 Yes No change, lab limit set up in FOM
Potentiostat Ajo-Franklin Keck 309 Yes any User will need to contact the super-user 5 business days in advance to arrange training etc.
Tecan plate reader Chappell Keck 327 Yes Ask users to use new PRs in Keck 328, if want to use, notify Chappell lab
Various Silberg Keck 328 Yes Lab limits. Sign on lab door. Flow instruments restricted on FOM

Users are encouraged to include a 30 minute buffer time between reservations to minimize the chances of close proximity to other users.

Training will still be challenging to manage while maintaining physical separation. New trainings will continue to be a lower priority than getting existing qualified users back into the labs. As safe training practices are developed, SEA staff will offer more trainings to new users. If you have a training emergency, please discuss it with the SEA scientist in charge of that instrument.

EXTERNAL USER POLICY

All External Users must follow Rice guidelines above on PPE and physical distancing, as well as any lab-specific guidelines.

All External Users must submit either proof of having completed a COVID vaccination course (two shots for many vaccines, plus a two-week waiting period post vaccination) or a negative PCR COVID test result from within the last week before they can use any instrument. PCR swab tests are specifically required. Results may be scanned and emailed to Meri Dix (meri.c.dix@rice.edu) or Angelo Benedetto (angelo@rice.edu) along with the specific instruments needed; FOM accounts will be reactivated accordingly. A single test result will be valid for up to 1 week for all SEA instruments.

These guidelines are a minimum – any work must be approved by the instrument manager first, who might require further restrictions.

SEA Facilities and their general availability to External Users are as follows:

Instrument Suite

Open for External Users?

Open for Fee-for-Service?

NMR

200 MHz - No

500 MHz - Yes

Yes

Mass Spec

Yes, for currently trained users

Yes

Cleanroom and SST 020

Yes

Yes, but limited capacity

XRD

DMax, SmartLab, SQUID - Yes

SCX - No

Yes

SEM, AFM, Raman, TGA, Denton Sputterer, FTIR

Yes

Yes

TEM

Yes

Yes

TOF-SIMS

Yes

Yes

Bio NMR

Yes

Yes

Optical Microscopes

Nikon A1 - Yes

Others - No

Yes

Nanodrop, qPCR, Thermal Cyclers

Yes

Yes

Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorters

Yes

Yes

XPS, BET, L80XP Centrifuge, Plasma Cleaner

Yes

Yes

Auto CPD, Ultramicrotome

Yes

Yes

EMC (Electron Microscopy)

Yes

Yes

Biomaterials Lab

Yes

Yes

Already trained users will take precedence. New trainings will be done as possible, but will be a low priority. Fee-for-service work will continue to be an option for many instruments.

In general, Super-User managed instruments may not be available. Exceptions might be made by arrangement with the PI instrument host on a case-by-case basis.

Please remember that while we try to accommodate external users, our primary mission is to support Rice research and keep our community safe. During these extraordinary times, we must take all reasonable steps to protect the health and safety of our Rice community.

We anticipate that there may be a higher than usual volume of users needing SEA resources once they are available. As such, users may experience delays in accessing SEA tools. SEA appreciates your cooperation and understanding.

Questions or concerns about these policies should be directed to Angelo Benedetto (angelo@rice.edu).

Thank you,

Angelo Benedetto, Ph.D.
Rice University - Shared Equipment Authority
Director of Operations
(713) 348-8207 (w)
(281) 686-4924 (c)