NMR Lab Rules, Access, & Training

Guiding Principles:

This facility contains very delicate and sensitive equipment which may be easily corrupted by inexperienced or careless users.  Failure to follow these rules and/or the spirit of the rules will result in termination of your user privileges and future access to the facility.  Please help us keep this facility in top operating condition by (1) knowing the rules, (2) following the rules, and (3) sharing your knowledge of the rules and operating procedures of this facility with your fellow users.

Training

1. All new users will be trained by NMR Lab staff before being allowed to use the facility.
2. Initial training is included in the new user package.
3. Advanced training in ALL areas of NMR for ALL instruments to be done only by qualified NMR Lab staff. No training by your own group members is allowed, except for casual information exchange.
4. Use of advanced techniques and higher field instruments (i.e. variable temperature control, instrument tuning, probe changes, instruments other than the 300) is only allowed on approval of individual users by NSC staff.  Advanced training will be required for each method.

General Rules for Instrument Usage

1. Do not use cheap, disoposable, or damaged NMR tubes.
2. Use only high quality NMR tubes listed below or equivalent: Wilmad 528PP or 535PP; Norell S-5-500-7 (8)  (same or better than Wilmad)
3. If you are not sure if your NMR tube is good quality, lookup the specifications and compare to those below.  It should be as good or better than these: Norell S-5-500-7: o.d. 4.97 +-0.013mm; i.d. 4.20 +- 0.025mm; camber 0.0130mm; concentricity 0.0050mm.
4. Poor quality or damaged NMR tubes can break inside the instrument probe, causing extensive damage.  If you are responsible for causing such damage by using a poor NMR tube, your group will be charged for repair of the probe (>$10,000!).
5. Disposable NMR tubes are not allowed.

Access Rules

1. Door codes for entry to the NMR Lab are issued individually to approved users.  Non-approved users are not allowed unsupervised in the laboratory, and are not allowed to use the equipment.  
2. Never give your assigned door code or password(s) to any other user, and especially not to anyone who is not an approved user.
3. Letting someone else use your door code is not allowed.  If anything happens due to the person who borrowed your code, YOU will be held responsible.  Violation of this policy will result in suspension or cancellation of your NMR privileges.
4. Door codes will be changed periodically for security reasons.  If you have any problems accessing the NMR Lab contact the NSC.  

Additional Conditions for all NMRC Users

1. Service spectra will be offered to researchers that are not approved to use the NMR Center equipment or for those researchers who want the NMR Center to obtain the data for them. These rates are in addition to the hourly rate for the instrument(s).
2. Samples can be submitted here.
3. Set up charges for non-standard experiments or assistance with plotting of data.
4. Data analysis is defined as structural interpretation of NMR data or the work on pulse sequence design or simulation of data.
5. Any and all experimental design and/or data analysis that results in publication should include the NMR Center personnel involved as co-authors.

Radioactive Samples

Radioactive samples can be run by users that have been trained in when, where, and how to prepare, collect, and look for contamination of radioactive samples and have documented radiation safety training (completion of Radiation Safety Office Training Courses #1-9, 13, & 14 for NMR sample analysis, and completion of Radiation Safety Office Training Courses #1-10, 13, & 14 for X-ray diffraction sample analysis). Users that are approved to analyze radioactive samples must also follow the Standard Operating Procedure for the Analysis of Radioactive NMR Samples and the Standard Operating Procedure for the Analysis of Radioactive X-ray Diffraction Samples. A copy of each procedure is available at the respective instrument used to measure radioactive samples.

Users that have been approved to analyze radioactive samples in the WSU NUCS Core Facility receive approval for one calendar year from their approval date. After the initial calendar year, each user’s approval can be extended for an additional year upon providing the NUCS Core Facility staff with documentation of completion of the Radiation Safety Office Training Course #15 (Annual Refresher).

NUCS Core Facility staff are also capable of analyzing radioactive samples. To submit a radioactive sample for analysis, please fill out the Submit a Sample for Analysis form and indicate that the sample is radioactive in the Notes/Comments section.

To submit your documentation to receive approval for the analysis of radioactive samples in the WSU NUCS Core Faciliity, please fill out the following form and include a screenshot of your Completed Trainings in MyResearch.