Before you schedule a Training Session, please read the Rules and policies governing the use of the Multi-Scale Imaging Facility. Note that in the particular case of the CT Scanner, the Facility Manager will coordinate training, access, and booking with the Responsible Academic for the CT Scanner and the assigned technician.

A training session is mandatory for each user before being allowed to operate any equipment. Only once the Manager approves a given user for independent operation can the User proceed without assistance. The number of required training sessions may vary depending on instrument and user. Please fill out the Online Training Form to schedule a training session.

No training on a third-person basis is allowed.

After approval of the Training Session by the Supervisor, a Facility staff will contact the user to book a 30 min consultation session to review their training request and needs. At the end of the consultation a training time will be scheduled. User should come prepared for this session by answering all the questions on the Training Request Form and providing the appropriate literature when applicable.

Initial training sessions usually last 1 to 4 hours. User will NOT be charged for the technical time required for this session.

It is mandatory that you bring samples similar or identical to those being used for your project to address specific sample issues during the training session.

Following the training, you will only be granted access to the systems you have been trained on, and only provided you have proved able to work independently on the system.

Under no circumstances are you allowed to access and use the instruments without prior reservation or without notifying the Facility staff. You are responsible for the instruments during your presence in the lab.

As a confirmed User, you retain access to the booking system and the instruments as long as:

1. You have not been banned from using the instrument or from the Facility.
2. Your Supervisor did not revoke in writing your permission to work in the Facility.
3. You are working with a Supervisor who has an account with the Facility (any change in supervisor or account must be communicated immediately).
4. Your (or your Supervisor’s) account is not overdue – See billing policy for more details.

A Supervisor or PI account is an account opened for a Supervisor so that they can track the usage of the Facility by their lab members, review and approve projects, see, confirm or dispute pending bills and receive updates from the Facility.

A Supervisor does not need to be trained on an instrument to have an account.

A virtually unlimited number of lab members and projects can be tied to the supervisor account with as many payment methods as needed.

A Supervisor can ban or restrict the access of one of their lab members to the Facility by providing a written notice/email to the Facility Manager.

The Supervisor has the responsibility of keeping the information of their user profile account up-to-date. The Facility will not assume any liability resulting from erroneous or outdated information.

BSL1 samples can be used without prior written authorisation.

BSL2 samples need to be approved by the Facility Manager before they can be introduced into the Facility.

Certain BSL3 samples are ONLY allowed in specific areas. Before using BSL3 samples, you must musif-ecp3 [at] mcgill.ca (subject: BSL3%20samples) (contact) the Facility Manager.

Animal and human derived samples should be approved by an ethics committee following McGill regulation policy. It is your responsibility to obtain the required approval. 

1. Booking is required at all times before using any instrument, even if the instrument is not reserved or used during this period. Anyone using an instrument without prior reservation will be denied access to the Facility.
2. Under no circumstances may you book time on a system for others.
3. Place and manage your reservations online (McGill Core Services reservation system).
4. A delayed arrival of > 30 min can result in the cancellation of your reservation. You will still be charged for the full-time reservation period.
5. A reservation can be cancelled up to 2 hours before the scheduled start time. Any cancellation within the hour before the scheduled start time will incur reservation fees equivalent to the full-time reservation.
6. You need extra time?
   1. Log into your account.
   2. Make sure that no one has reserved the instrument for the desired additional timeslot.
   3. Book the instrument for the desired extended duration.
7. You are giving your timeslot away to another registered User at the last minute? Notify the Facility Manager by email and the person replacing you will be charged for the reserved timeslot.  

1. Fill in the log book every single time you use the instrument.
2. You notice anything abnormal or broken, samples or material lying around, dirt around the instrument? Immediately musif-ecp3 [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Equipment%20problem) (notify) a Facility staff member.
3. Refer to the simplified (Startup user manuals) and detailed user manuals that you will find near each instrument and on the Facility website.
4. If you are unsure about anything, musif-ecp3 [at] mcgill.ca (contact) a Facility staff.
5. Follow the safety instructions for each device.
6. You are responsible for the instrument you operate and for the safety of the people around you then. Operate the device within the limits for which it was designed.
7. Do not try to resolve problems related to the instrument by yourself if you were not appropriately trained for that.
8. You must never use gloved hands or wear lab coats to manipulate any microscope in the BSL1 area.

1. Clean your workspace and leave the instrument in the condition you would like to find it.
2. Do not forget to take out your samples and material with you. Any material or sample that does not belong to the Facility will be disposed. If you need a temporary storage space, please musif-ecp3 [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Space%20required) (contact) the Facility Manager.
3. Fill in the log book.
4. Backup your data regularly. Hard disks are not infallible and will be cleaned regularly. The Facility assumes no responsibility whatsoever for any loss of data.

New measures defining the access to the MuSIF can be implemented at any time. The users and their supervisors will be notified by email. This includes but is not limited to the COVID-19 mitigating measures (see COVID Measures).

Why do we need to bill?

Because the instruments of the Multi-Scale Imaging Facility do not have the benefit of maintenance contracts and since the University does not finance the renewal of these contracts, we need to charge for the usage of the instruments to be able to ensure maintenance and renewal of our equipment.

When will the PI be billed?

Principal Investigators will be billed once every month for the total duration of use of the instruments of the facility and for the time required for technical assistance by all of their lab members.

Is there a maximum billable amount?

As per McGill and Tri-Agency regulations, we are not allowed to provide a fixed billable amount independently of the number of hours during which the instruments were used. This policy might be reviewed, depending on the nature of project and the instruments you are using. Please musif-ecp3 [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Billing%20question) (contact) the Facility Manager for more details.

What is included in the price?

• Prices are in $CDN for every hour of use, before taxes when applicable
• Normal use and normal instrument wear
• Mandatory trainings
• Initial project consultation sessions
• Subsequent technical assistance when applicable

What is NOT included in the price?

• Any repair resulting from mishandling (intentional or not) to an instrument will be charged to the responsible PI.
• Consumables (unless stated otherwise). If you require help with sample preparation prior to use of instrument, please musif-ecp3 [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Quote%20for%20sample%20preparation) (contact )the Facility Manager for an estimate of the material cost and/or time required for sample preparation.

What happens if the equipment is not working properly?

Users will NOT be billed for the remaining reserved time if the equipment starts to malfunction (please musif-ecp3 [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Equipment%20problem) (contact )the Facility Manager immediately should this happen).

What happens if the account is overdue?

If an account is past overdue, with no clear written explanation, the access to the Facility by the users tied to the account can be suspended. It is up to the Responsible Academic or Manager to decide on the course of action to take, depending on the circumstances (funds waiting to be allocated or transferred, administrative delays, etc.).

Do we provide help and maintenance on instruments that are not part of the Facility?

Yes, we do. Please musif-ecp3 [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Maintenance) (contact )the Facility Manager for more details and for a quote. The hourly rate is $60 and does not include any consumable that will be billed separately.

To dispute a charge or a bill, please musif-ecp3 [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Billing%20question) (contact )the Facility Manager by email in the 15 days following the reception of the bill.