In order to provide the best service and to protect users and equipment we require users to follow our policy. Please read carefully the policy items in the menu below before applying for the services provided by the unit.
Successfully undergoing individual training program is mandatory in order to use the equipment independently. The training program duration depends on the trainee’s progress. Final approval to work independently is subject to the decision of the unit head, Boris Shklyar. For details and coordination of a training program, please contact the unit head.
Before the first training session, please fill-in the registration form and obtain the signature of your lab supervisor/ budget owner. Bring the signed form to the first training session.
Prospective users must register on the booking website before the first training session.
Any usage of the equipment by authorized users must be booked in advance on the booking website calendar via user’s personal account. The assigned user account is only for the use of the specific user. It is forbidden to work under a booking slot of another user (even from the same lab). Every user should arrange a booking for own usage.
Reservation of the Confocal and Wide-field microscopes is limited for 4 hours a day and for 20 hours a week per user/ lab (subject to changes) during the hours 09:00-17:00. Afterhours and weekends are not limited. For exceptions, please contact the unit head.
Access to the unit for authorized users is possible with personal magnetic card only, which can be obtained upon request.
The operation of the equipment must be strictly followed according to the instructions given during the training program.
Before leaving the unit the user must contact the following registered user (see contact details at the booking calendar) to verify his/her intent to use the equipment. If the registered user wouldn’t arrive or no users booked, the current user must follow the procedures to shut down the system.
Any malfunction of the equipment or any problem noticed in the unit must be reported immediately to the unit head
The services are available to all University departments, as well as to external (academic and industry) researchers according to the published fees.
The invoice is issued on a quarter basis for University users and on a monthly basis for external users and is sent to the PI/ lab manager/ external researcher.
General Safety
Users must follow the University of Haifa safety regulations (link).
The entrance door to be kept closed always.
Eating or drinking are forbidden in the unit.
A phone for use in emergency is located on the table at the entrance to the unit.
In any exceptional event or urgency, please contact the unit head immediately.
Biosafety
Bringing in of live pathogens to the unit is prohibited.
Users must notify unit head before arriving the unit if they intend to work with live (not fixed) mammalian/ human cells/ tissues, bacteria, and viruses.
Users must clean up around the equipment after use and dispose biohazardous/ toxic waste and sharps in their labs.
Laser Safety
The microscopes are equipped with Class 3B or Class 4 (MP) lasers. Direct illumination of eyes or skin is potentially harmful.
The systems are designed to prevent accidental illumination, hence regular operation of the microscopes does not require any protection.
When the microscopes are under maintenance, users are not allowed in the room.
Work hours of the Bioimaging Unit are from 10:00-18:00, Sunday through Thursday (subject to holidays, conferences, seminars, etc.). The unit is closed on weekends. Access to the unit for authorized users is possible afterhours with personal magnetic card. Working afterhours is at the user’s responsibility.
The Bioimaging Unit is not responsible for the user’s data saved on the local or network drives. The users are responsible to backup and archive their data.
Data will be periodically deleted from the local drives with no notification.
The use of USB devices is prohibited on the unit computers.
If Bioimaging Unit resources have been used for data generation used in publications, please remember to acknowledge the unit and personal assistance. Mentioning our activity justifies our existence and essential for grant applications for further development of the unit in order to provide you with the up-to-date imaging resources.