Regulations

• The Central Research Science Laboratory (CRSL) is a Faculty of Arts & Sciences facility established to house major general-user equipment, in order to serve the University faculty members, their collaborators [1]and students.

• The Director of the CRSL manages the affairs of the Lab assisted by a user’s Committee appointed by the Dean of FAS.

• The Director is the ultimate authority in the Lab. Disputes that cannot be resolved may be referred to the User’s Committee for arbitration.

• The Central Lab is a central user-instrumentation facility. Users may not establish a permanent base in the Lab. Users will generally prepare their samples in their own laboratories and then bring them to the Lab for further investigation using the Lab equipment.

• Only operators who have received the proper training on a piece of equipment may use that equipment. Training may be arranged for after consultation with the Director.

• Standard operating procedures (SOP) will be posted next to each instrument. All users are expected to adhere to those procedures.

• Each piece of equipment will have a logbook into which the following are recorded:

1-      Switch on ( time and operator)

2-      Usage: Start time, end time, user ( with signature ) and any relevant remarks.

3-      Change of accessories, if any ( time and operator )

4-      Switch off ( time and operator )

• Problems must be reported promptly to the Director or the Laboratory engineer.

• There are limited sample storage facilities in the Lab, hence; samples may be kept in the Laboratory for only a very limited duration. Samples stored in the Lab must be properly labeled with user’s name, nature of the sample and date of storage. Samples that are not properly labeled will be disposed off promptly.

• Out of courtesy to other users, the Laboratory must be kept clean and orderly at all times. Individuals who repeatedly abuse the facility will be denied the privilege of using the Laboratory in the future.

• Only AUB faculty members may make reservations for themselves, their collaborators and their graduate students. However students and research assistants may also make reservations upon the consent of their advisors.

• Reservations may be made by on-line (http://www.aub.edu.lb/services/webreserve.html ), by telephone    (extension: 4314) or by submitting a written Form. Such reservations must be made at least 24 hours prior to the intended use. Otherwise, use of the equipment is on first-come first-serve basis.

• If a user does not show up, within 30 minutes of the appointment, other researchers may use the instrument.

• Keys of the Lab may be issued, upon request, to faculty members who may wish to work overnight, on weekends or on holidays.

• For safety reasons, no operator may work alone in the Lab at any time.

• Supplies that are needed for proper functioning of the equipment are to be provided by the CRSL. However, supplies that are needed for sample preparation and measurement are to be provided by the researchers

• Users should recognize the CRSL in their publications or thesis. This will be 
  used as indicator of performance of the CRSL. To keep record, users should send 
  an email to crsl@aub.edu.lb mentioning the title, authors and the equipment 
  used.