General policies

Only authorized users (Checked out by NMR Facility Staff) may operate the instruments in the NMR facility.

Authorized users are student/post-doc/staff/faculty who have received instruction/training from the NMR Facility Staff and then have proven to be able to operate the NMR spectrometer with basic understanding of NMR spectroscopy. Spectrometer training is provided on request and also to persons attending chemistry courses that involve hands-on training of NMR spectrometer.

• No tools, test equipments or manuals are to be removed without the permission of the NMR Facility Manager.
  
  
• Standard library pulse sequences, parameter files, system configuration files, standard AU programs etc. are never to be modified except under direct instruction of the NMR Facility Manager.
  
  
• Do not make any changes to the hardware configuration.
  
  
• Use only those parameter sets that begin with lower cap letter (unless you created your own parameter set or you have specific parameter set for your group).
  
  
• Backup all data and then delete experiments periodically to maintain necessary disk space for all users.
  
  
• Do not bring any food into the NMR room.
  
  
• Do not wear gloves while operating the NMR spectrometer.
  
  
• Do not use internet or email on NMR workstation/PC except to access Web Scheduler.
  
  
• Sign the NMR logbook (your user ID, group ID, solvent, time used and experiments performed along with number of samples recorded) before leaving the NMR room. Failure to do so will result in your accounts disability.
  
  
• Door should be shut and locked when you leave the room.
  
  
• All unusual spectrometer behavior should be noted in the logbook and reported to the NMR Facility Staff as soon as possible.

Scheduling Policies

Online Web Scheduler handles all instrument schedules for Penn Chemistry NMR Facility. Help on use of Web Scheduler can be found here.

Users need to be aware of the time allotment of their group and instrument time used by their group members (can be easily checked from Web Scheduler). Use/modify/delete only your own data set. Changes to someone else's data set is strictly forbidden.

• Sign up on the Web Scheduler for NMR spectrometers is first come, first serve for that day (No advance scheduling available). Most of the Facility spectrometer are open access to users. Two NMR spectrometers (DRX 600 (biodx600r) andAVIII500 cryo500t)) are scheduled on a long term basis.
  
  
• Daytime (8:00 AM – 8:00 PM) from Monday until Friday the maximum reservation time is 2 hours for each group. In some spectrometers, only 20 mins can be blocked by single user in the afternoon (specific instructtions can be found near the spectrometer). Long measurements should be done during nights or weekends.
  
  
• If you do not show up within 5 minutes of your scheduled time, your NMR time will be forfeited.
  
  
• Evening time begins at 8.00 PM and ends at 8.00 AM the following morning.  By 8.00 AM, users must have the NMR spectrometer returned to room temperature, with the appropriate probe, and have the standard NMR sample locked and shimmed in the magnet.
  
  
• Some evenings are assigned to different research groups on various NMR spectrometers. Other users may sign-up and use the NMR spectrometer on those nights if the time is not being used by that research group and that all members of that group give permission.  The research group reserves the right to revoke permission and boot other users off of the NMR spectrometer if necessary (For details see Web Scheduler).
  
  
• Remember that variable temperature experiments require you to schedule enough instrument time to bring the probe back to room temperature when you are finished.
  
  
• If you do not use the whole time you have blocked, please delete your remaining blocked time from the Web Scheduler. Do not delete reservations made by others.

NMR Service Policies

Penn Chemistry NMR Facility provides limited solution NMR services (data acquisition and spectrum/structure analysis) to other departments/centers of University of Pennsylvania based on hourly charges. However, these services will be limited to the avaiability of instrument time and personnel.

NMR Facility accepts service samples from outside academic and industrial customers based on per hour charges.

Persons intersted in availing services of Penn Chemistry NMR Facility should contact Director, NMR Facility by phone or email.