University Instrumentation Center, UNH
W123 Parsons Hall 23 Academic Way
Durham, NH 03824
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F: 603.862.4104
www.unh.edu/uic
To:
Imaging User Group Members
From:
Shawn Banker
Subject:
09-21-2015 User Group Meeting Notes
Date:
09-24-2015
Attendees:
S. Banker, T. Bennett, N. Cherim, L. Deravi, E. Hrabak, M. Knezevic, J.
Krzanowski, D. Plachetzki, S. Sower, M. Townley, J. Tsavalas, J. Wilderman
The following is a summary of the discussion and points discussed during the 09-21-2015
Imaging User Group meeting. A copy of the presentation is also available in the BOX folder
for viewing and sharing.
The UIC team led the meeting with a presentation with the following basic agenda:
1. UIC Initiatives and Report Out
2. User Feedback Solicitation
3. Plans for future meeting(s)
Key discussion and points are as follows:
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New faculty member, Brian Barth will likely be a high throughput user. The UIC is
already working with Brian on the new flow cytometer MRI pre-proposal and
demonstrations.
John Tsavalas suggested breaking out user data by which labs use the instruments
and how many users from each lab are using them.
Many commented that the use of the confocal by the users in Rudman and it makes
sense to keep it located where most of the users reside.
John Tsavalas asked why the focus is on increasing internal users first, then
externally. Rationale was that the main reason for the instruments is to support
researchers and that the external client income helps offset costs.
Jim Krzanowski asked why the TEM rates are as high as the new SEM when the TEM
is not as useful as the new SEM. The rationale was that these rates are based on
costs incurred to maintain and operate the instruments and rates are set using a
specific format in concert with the VPFA office.
Estelle asked if the outside users are from the region or across the country. The
response was they are mostly from the region but we have capabilities that can be
further reaching (remote access or ship samples to the UIC).
Stacia Sower provided feedback on the new Ideal Elan laboratory software that it
was another software she needed to learn and that more administration activities
cut into her research time. She and others understood the reason for the software.
John Tsavalas commented that the TEM does not have the capabilities needed and is
sometimes difficult to get access to. A new TEM was considered but we need faculty
that have TEM demand and are willing to lead an NSF MRI or other proposal. The
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access issue stems from sample loading criticality. 24/7 access will be available for
fully trained users.
A discussion on the use of the imaging instruments in course work took place. Jim
Krzanowski uses the facility in the following courses: ME 761/861 and ME 561 and
781. It is believed that the EM course taught by Wayne Fagerberg will discontinue
after he retires.
John Tsavalas is in the planning stages of a chemistry microscopy course he plans to
teach that would utilize many of the UIC techniques.
A new flow cytometer was discussed and at this point, we need to gather a group
including David Plachetzki, Brian Barth, Mark Townley and others already identified
and prepare the NSF MRI pre-proposal, due October 16. David agreed to help get
this going with the expectation that Brian would likely be the lead PI.
The subject of centralized microscopy areas was discussed and all were very
interested and positive about where this can go. Some faculty members like David
Plachetzki and Jim Haney have sophisticated microscopes (dissecting, fluorescence,
light microscopes with digital cameras, micro injection and micro manipulators)
that are underutilized of which they are responsible to maintain and provide
operators for. In this case, they may limit access and use due to concerns of mis-use
or lack of training. Consideration for creating a microscopy core where someone
like Mark Townley can oversee many microscopes, train new users, and keep them
operational was brought forward as something the group would like the UIC to
pursue further.
It was suggested by Stacia Sower that having a good inventory of who will share
what instruments is important. The Scientific Instrument Inventory (SII) in CEMS is
set up to do this but faculty do not have time to keep in updated and accurate.
Improving on the accuracy and use of the SII is a possible method to capture this
information and a concerted inventory update process was discussed.
Inventorying instruments and disposing of ones that should no longer be in
operation was discussed. Stacia suggested that Bob Mooney might be a person to
help with this as he has been doing this for years and was tasked with doing this
over the past year for COLSA.
Chuck Walker and Wayne Fagerberg will be retiring and it was unclear what will
happen with their sophisticated microscopes. This may tie back to the bullet on a
microscopy core mentioned above.
John Tsavalas suggested that a useful service the UIC could provide in addition to
helping to locate and facilitate use on campus would be to understand high end
instrumentation capabilities at other universities and industrial companies and help
facilitate this access or knowledge.
The subject of recognizing the UIC in publications was discussed and clearly there is
no standard practice or consistency across campus users. It was suggested that the
UIC require this either through an annual request or other method to help promote
the UIC.
All were asked to consider who else should be included in these meetings and a
recommendation for the frequency for future meetings. It was agreed that the team
was appropriate and a meeting once per semester was adequate.
This served as the first of three user group meetings for the UIC. The plan will be to
respond to this input with actions upon conclusion of the other two meetings.
Thank you all for the valuable input and participation.