HOW TO ACCESS THE FACILITY
Contact EMF staff at ww.tjiu@nus.edu.sg. We will work to arrange a project meeting with you.
Please provide us with the following:
- Project descriptions
- Scientific background
- Sample information
- Expected results
- Required techniques
After the project meeting is complete, we will provide you instructions for registering for a PPMS account. Your account will be validated by EMF staff within 1 working day.
After your PPMS account has been approved, go to 'Request training' to submit the forms specified below, depending on if you require training or service.
For training:
- Laboratory and Safety Induction
- Training [for required instrument]
For service:
- EMF Facility Service Request
Once the required forms and documents are submitted, you will be assigned a trainer/service staff, who will communicate with you via email to schedule sessions.
Once you are able to use the instrument independently under supervision, your trainer will give approval for assessment. Upon passing the assessment, card access to the facility and PPMS booking rights will be granted.
To maintain the qualification, equipment must be used once every three months. Else, a refresher session will be required.
LAB POLICIES
Users must comply with the following safety rules, as well as any additional rules conveyed during their training.
- Dress in appropriate clothing for laboratory tasks.
- Do not bring food and drinks into laboratory.
- Do not perform any unauthorized experiments within laboratory.
- Do not bring unauthorized persons into laboratory without prior approval from facility staff.
- Schedule laboratory equipment usage in advance and adhere to permitted hours unless arranged with facility staff.
- Only operate equipment for which you have received proper training.
- In event of equipment malfunction or failure, promptly contact facility staff and prohibited to repair the equipment on your own or seek assistance from other users.
- Maintain focus during sample preparation and microscope imaging; refrain from listerning to music or engaging in extended phone calls.
- Return all tools to their designated locations after use.
- Use safety gears when handling brittle materials and dangerous chemicals.
- Do not leave chemicals unlabelled in fume hoods, workbenches and wash sinks. Exercise caution and follow instruction for proper disposal of chemicals.
- Ensure cleanliness in laboratory and clean up after yourself.
- When uncertain about laboratory practice, always seek assistance.
- Report all incidents to facility staff (no matter how minor).
- Non-compliance with facility regulations may result in temporary suspension from assessing laboratory equipment.
All incident reports must be submitted online to Office of Safety, Health and Environment (OSHE) within 24 hours. Contact numbers, evacuation plan and emergency assembly point can be found in the laboratory (notice board).
An incident form for reporting dangerous incidents or accidents to OSHE is available here.
Reservation and use (independent user) of EMF facilities requires proper education and training. Users are categorized into one of the three User Levels on particular pieces of equipment.
Level 1: Users are only permitted to work together with facility staff and/or superusers.
Level 2: Users are only permitted to work in the facility between 0900-1900; Monday to Friday (excludes public holidays).
Level 3: Users are permitted 24-7 access to work independently in the facility. Presence of a laboratory buddy is required after working hours, weekends and public holidays.
It is the user's responsibility to make a permanent copy of their data. EMF will not be liable for the loss, corruption, and modifications of any data. Data stored on EMF systems will be held for 6 months, after which they may be deleted without notification.
Please also abide to the NUS Research Data Management Policy.
Please recognize the significant contribution of our facility and expertise to your research. Acknowledgement in written communications and oral presentations emphasizes the importance of investing in state-of-the-art equipment and highly skilled personnel. Users are asked to include the following statement in their paper:
“The authors acknowledge the technical and scientific support provided by the Electron Microscopy Facility (EMF @NUS).”