RESOURCES AND INSTRUMENTATION > POLICIES AND FEES

Instrument Access

General

• Access to instrumentation at the Bauer Core requires authorization from a Core staff member. Researchers must be properly trained by a staff member before working independently with any of the laboratory instrumentation.
• Once you are properly trained, a Core staff member will grant you the following:
• A network account with authorization to log in to the instruments on which you have been trained (see Network Accounts section below).
• Activation of your Harvard ID on the building security system, which will allow you to enter the labs outside normal business hours (doors are open M-F 8am-6pm).  
• A username and password to Calcium or SPINAL, the online instrument scheduling system. (See Instrument Scheduling section below.)
• If you have difficulty with an instrument or discover that there is a problem with it, please notify staff member.

Network Accounts

General
To ensure that center instrumentation is used properly, we have implemented a security system at the level of the lab computer. Each user will be given log-in access to the instruments on which they have been trained. If you already have an Active Directory log in account (@CGR, @MCB, @CCB, @CNS, etc...) we will use this account. If you don't alredy have an Active directory account, we will create one for you.

• Passwords and Log In.
  • Do not share your password with others.
  • Do not log in for other users.
  • Please log out when you are finished.
• Local Data Storage
  Do not save files to local hard drives (see Data Storage Policy). 
• Account Expiration
  Every year, we will send an email request for account renewal. If you do not reply, your account will be deactivated.

Data Storage Policy
The center has set up a repository in which users can temporarily store data generated on any of the center’s instrumentation to be retrieved from remote locations.

The storage area is on the Bauer Core network at \\titan\data (this is mapped as the Z: drive in Windows Explorer when you log in). Within this area a user can create folders and store up to 2.5 GB of data. These data will be accessible to download for 30 days by using any FTP client and connecting to ftp://www.cgr.harvard.edu. Within the FTP site will be a folder called Data, which corresponds to the data folder on the Z: drive where user’s data is stored.

MCB users can connect directly to their lab folders on \\atavachron and should use this server to store their data. There are no size and time limits for this server.

Data storage on local hard drives is prohibited, and any files found on the hard drives may be deleted without warning.

Instrument Scheduling

General

The center has two web scheduling systems, one called Calcium and one called SPINAL, which are used for instrument reservations and for charging usage fees. We also post important announcements about instrument status on these calendars. Finally, the center uses the scheduling history to help justify renewing service contracts, upgrading instruments, and purchasing new ones.

Access

The link for Calcium is http://sysbio.harvard.edu/csb/cgi-bin/calcium36.plx?Op=UserLogin. Your username and password are distinct from your Bauer Core (Active Directory) network username and password.

The link for SPINAL is https://webapps.sciences.fas.harvard.edu/spinal/. Log into SPINAL with your Active Directory account (the same username and password that you use to log in to the istrument).

Guidelines

1. Center staff manage the schedules for the Affymetrix GeneChip instruments, Biacore 3000, and Genetix Q-Bot. Please contact a staff member to schedule time on one of these instruments.
2. Here you can find instructions for the Calcium system.
3. Here you can find instructions for the SPINAL system.
4. Instruments can be scheduled in predetermined time blocks up to a specified daily maximum. On certain instruments users may reserve more than the daily maximum after normal business hours (before 8am, after 6pm, or on weekends). The time blocks and maximum times are detailed below.
5. 20 minute rule: If a scheduled user does not appear within 20 minutes of the scheduled start time, the instrument is free to use.
6. If you repeatedly schedule an instrument and do not appear during your scheduled time, or abuse these guidelines, your scheduling privileges will be revoked.
7. Exceptions can be made to the guidelines and time blocks/maxima in certain circumstances. This should be discussed with Claire Reardon.

Scheduling Time Blocks and Maxima

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