All our instruments are walkup, with time policies.
Our users for the most part prefer this method, even when instruments were
crazy busy.
Occasionally we had new researchers come in proclaiming how their former place
had a reservation system that was like perfect clockwork (oooo-kay).
I ask the other users what they think and every time only the new researcher
wants a formal reservation system.
Informal reservations are possible with us so long it is within our time
policies; the rare formal reservation that is actually necessary is made
through me and if it doesn’t fit our policies, I find a time they
can use the instrument (night, weekends, or I contact other users).
If I had people who consistently needed time outside usual policies, then yes,
it would be a good idea to set (and post) certain days/times when the
instrument(s) are to be used in that manner so that everyone knows what to
expect or, as you suggest, 24 hours notice (I would ask for more…)
– then post and send out blast emails.
For your situation, you could have some limited days/time when reservations
are possible, but if no one reserved time then walk up is welcome.
I’d think that setting aside specific days might be best.
Now, in the case when someone formally reserves time, that means that others
have will likely not try to use the instrument or have made other plans in
their research – they need to be charged at least some amount if
they don’t show up. If they reserve the instrument and use even 3
minutes out of every ½ hour, they should be charged for the full time
as it disrupts other researcher’s work. If they have multiple bookings,
then no disruption, the other time is available to others, so they should be
charged for the actual usage per policy.
VT work – at least for high temperature, I give those researchers
special training and have automation set up so that they can do it automatically
when they need and the automation records this work so I know when this
occurred, and I can check the instrument afterwards. I also put in the AU
programs a check to make sure for other users the temperature is at the
standard temperature and if not, it resets the temperature if the researchers
did not follow directions properly.
This mistake hasn’t happened under automation, but it has happened
a few times by forgetful researchers under manual use.
That’s fun – besides talking to the VT user, then I had to
chase after users who ran their sample at elevated temperature to inform them.
Setting up a list of events in automation seems a bit more fool proof than
someone puttering around following instructions on paper.
For low temperature where LN2 is involved, then that is a manual task and it
must occur at a time when the facility can monitor or help – if things
are not done properly, then potential probe repair.
Since VT work requires more tech time (even if the researcher runs it themselves)
and there is a risk, they are charged a premium for VT work.
George Sukenick, Ph.D.
Associate Lab Member/Head
NMR Analytical Core Facility
Sloan Kettering Institute
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
417 E. 68th St ZRC 2164
New York., N.Y. 10065
Main: (+1) 646-888-2237
g-sukenick_at_ski.mskcc.org<mailto:g-sukenick_at_ski.mskcc.org>
From: <main_at_ammrl.groups.io> on behalf of Kenneth Sharp-Knott <kknott_at_vt.edu>
Reply-To: "main_at_ammrl.groups.io" <main_at_ammrl.groups.io>
Date: Friday, October 6, 2023 at 1:55 PM
To: "ammrl_at_groups.io" <ammrl_at_groups.io>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [AMMRL] Managing instrument use
We are fortunate (in my opinion) to have automation available on 5 of our seven
instruments and run all in a walkup queued use mode most of the time.
This allows for the most efficient utilization of instrument time and is the
easiest to manage as well as handle billing. Users pay only for experiment
acquisition time as all processing is done remotely. Requests to reserve
this instrument for kinetics or VT work are made through the staff and the
instrument is simply dropped out of automation for that period of time.
However there is a growing competing need for 'reserved use' time on one
particular instrument featuring a LN2 cooled broadband probe. I'm trying
to decide on the best way to manage this instrument and still maintain
efficient use of it.
I have thought about making it available for reservation (at least 24 hours
in advance) 2 days out of the week.
I'm curious about how other facilities handle this situation. In our case,
this particular instrument is in high demand by all of our user bases, so
the most efficient use in a walkup queue mode works well - for most.
Another question relates to billing. If someone reserves the instrument and
doesn't show - do you charge them for the time? If they book it for 8 hours
to run a 3 minute proton every 1/2 hour, do you charge them for 8 hours or
48 minutes?
I personally loathe to go back to a reservation system as it required far
more oversight and work. I vastly prefer the efficiency of a queued walkup
system, but not everyone's needs suit this model.
Looking forward to your thoughts and experiences.
--
Ken Sharp-Knott
Manager of Analytical Services and the NMR Facility
Department of Chemistry
Virginia Tech
(540)267-6502 (Cell)
(540)231-0885 (Office)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#660): https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://ammrl.groups.=
io/g/main/message/660__;!!PvDODwlR4mBZyAb0!VYJqKhw9AALlnfjnoIY7PP4Uo1TTHkUB=
0pBkFK_WY7cDffjyTWOsVUvFxIp1CBpwK8iuSW1v2h6B-7bOtWUSrQ$
Mute This Topic: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://groups.io/mt/101803046=
/7559972__;!!PvDODwlR4mBZyAb0!VYJqKhw9AALlnfjnoIY7PP4Uo1TTHkUB0pBkFK_WY7cDf=
fjyTWOsVUvFxIp1CBpwK8iuSW1v2h6B-7Zad4jz-g$
Group Owner: main+owner_at_ammrl.groups.io
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Received on Fri Oct 06 2023 - 12:02:54 MST