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 or data-analysis PCs.
• Once you are properly trained, a Core staff member will grant you the following:
• A Bauer Core network account and 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, the online instrument scheduling software. (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.

• Passwords and Log In.
  • Please do not share your password with others. This password is only for you.
  • Please 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).  Any files on hard drives may be deleted at any time without warning.
• Account Expiration
  Every six months, we will send an email request for account renewal. If you do not reply, your account will be deactivated.
• Personal Web Browsing is not permitted.

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 implemented a web scheduling system, called Calcium, for online instrument reservations. Although reserving an instrument is not mandatory, it is the only way to guarantee that the instrument will be available to you when you need it. This system is also used to post important announcements about instrument status. 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 initial username and password are distinct from your Bauer Core network username and password. On logging in for the first time, you should change your password, and you may choose to match it to your network account password.

Guidelines

1. Users are strongly encouraged to use the online scheduling system to avoid conflicts. A user who has signed up for an instrument will have priority over one who has not.
2. 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.
3. Here you can find instructions on adding, editing, and deleting events on the Calcium web schedules.
4. Instruments can be scheduled in predetermined time blocks up to a specified daily maximum. If users require more than the daily maximum, they may schedule additional time after hours (before 8am, after 6pm, or on weekends). The time blocks and maximum times are detailed below.
5. Instruments cannot be scheduled any further than four weeks in advance.
6. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the scheduled instrument use. You must delete the event on the Calcium web schedule.
7. 20 minute rule: If a scheduled user does not appear within 20 minutes of the scheduled start time, the instrument is free to use. The official time as given by www.time.gov will be the reference time.
8. If you repeatedly schedule an instrument and do not appear during your scheduled time, or abuse these guidelines, your scheduling privileges will be revoked.
9. 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

FAS Center for Systems Biology :: Cambridge MA 02138 :: 617.384.5065
© Copyright 2006 President and Fellows of Harvard College