Information for Laboratory Users

Information for Laboratory Users


The Proteomics and Biosciences Centre of Expertise supports the level 6 research laboratories of building 4. This page provides information for users of the facilities and services. Important Documents for Laboratory Users All staff, students and researchers using the Level 6 laboratories need to have watched the "Escape UTS" video and read the following documents and web pages. These documents contain useful information and outline how to comply with Environment Health and Safety in the Laboratories: Laboratory Access and Getting Started Science Researchers Safety Manual 2007 EHS Instructions for researchers Induction Guidelines Most importantly the Operations Manager must be informed when new people are coming into the research labs to ensure that they are inducted officially. The induction will include the items listed in the "Induction Guidelines" document. Inductions are carried out by the Professional officer most closely related to the area you will be working in. At the end you will need to submit a project risk assessment and a signed declaration, both found at the back of the "Science Researchers Safety Manual". Laboratory Space: Research space on the sixth floor laboratories is allocated by the Operations Manager in consultation with the Centre Director. Space is allocated based on the PTCE Space and Lab Usage Policy and the space allocation map. This policy document is currently a draft version and is the basis on which the Centre of Expertise allocates and manages level 6 research space. We aim to have this policy officialised by early 2007. You should forward any concerns on this policy to your Director or Head of Department who will represent your interests on this matter. Bench Charges: A number of basic supplies and consumables are supplied openly in the laboratories. It is expected that lab users will pay a moderate fee for usage of the floor and provision of these basic consumables. These consumables include polished water, wash up consumables, gloves, paper towel, waste bags and bulk ethanol. An additional level of charge includes access to a managed store. Currently this is charged out as a division of total cost evenly across users. It is most suited to heavy users of plastic wares for tissue culture and molecular work. Going forward a matrix type weighted estimate billing system will be used to encourage less heavy users and improve fairness. Ordering for Level 6 Ordering at UTS is primarily done by an electronic ordering system called i-procurement. In most areas, researchers are expected to carry out orders on their own using this system. I-procurement can only be accessed by persons with a staff number, so in some cases, students would normally rely on their supervisor to order for them. To save time in processing orders, Technical officer Yean Wang currently provides an ordering service for level 6 researchers. Yean will process the i-procurement side of the ordering which is approved by the supervisor electronically. To process an order, complete the Order Request Form. Further instructions are on the form. When using the forms, please fill out the forms as completely as you can. You will need to see your supervisor for details on account numbers. Yean has a pigeonhole in the Level 6 tearoom where you can leave your completed forms. When your delivery arrives, Hilary from the Science Store will send you an email and hopefully let Yean know as well. You will need to collect your delivery from the store. You should let Yean know when your delivery arrives to ensure that the supplier gets paid. As an additional convenience, we have a supply centre from Invitrogen in the Faculty Store. Registered users can order directly from the Supply Centre web site with their unique group login. Group heads are emailed when a user places an order. Invoices from this system are sent to Yean Wang to process via i-procurement once per month. This system provides discounted items that can be accessed immediately from the Science Stores area. Invitrogen manage the stock levels and no delivery fee is paid. Their range is quite extensive and you can order items that are not normally stocked without paying delivery. To gain access to the system, use the UTS SC New User Form Who to Ask for Help Proteomics and Biosciences Laboratory staff are allocated "capacity" area responsibilities for specialised equipment, and technologies as well as geographical areas of custodianship. Staff can help you with inquiries within their capacity and custodian areas. Professional officers can provide expert advice in the use of technologies and methods available. Technical officers can help you with basic inquiries and support. If in doubt, ask the Operations Manager. The list below is a quick guide on who to ask: Operations Manager: Philip Lawrence Custodian area: 6.17, 6.46, 6.17B, 6.46A Capacities: Manager of laboratory operations, Policies, EHS, Laboratory Access, Electronics, Electrophysiology, Assets and Online Booking Management Professional Officer: Michael Johnson Custodian area: 6.34, 6.36,6.34A and all Tissue Culture rooms Capacities: Tissue Culture, Parasitology, Microscopy, PCR, Molecular Biology, and Immunoassays. Professional Officer: Matt Padula Custodian area: 6.44, 6.44A Capacities: Mass Spectrometry, Chromatography, FACS, Instrumentation, and Proteomics Professional Officer: Cameron Hill Custodian area: 6.03 (Ultra and Super Centrifuge room) Capacities: Proteomics, 2D gels, Ultra and Super Centrifugation Technical Officer: Yean Wang Custodian area: 6.06, 6.18, 6.20, 6.08(coldroom), store rooms (6.05, 6.07, 6.28) Capacities: General store ordering, Specific ordering, i-Procurement support, Booking system support, and General lab support Technical Officer: June Treerat Custodian area: 6.01, 6.03A, 6.03B, 6.09 Capacities: Calibrations/Validations, Pipettes, Polished water, Booking system support, Key-box and General lab support Glassware Cleaner (Part time): Ana Savateev (Part time casual, subject to expanding needs) Capacities: Glassware, Ultra and Super speed centrifuge tubes and bottles Power Failures and Back up Power Centre management realise the high value of frozen stocks and we have gone to great lengths to ensure that virtually all cold storage and critical equipment is on reliable, backed up power supply. The following link is a power failure checklist used by technical and or security staff to ensure that critical items have power during and after any kind of power failure. All -80’s are connected by remote alarm to Security and liquid Nitrogen dewers are topped up on a weekly schedule to ensure reliable cryostorage. Other Policies Cold Storage Policy Tissue Culture Operating Procedures