Reservation limits for LMCF systems

The following reservation limits are in place to make the use of the LMCF resources efficient and equitable for all. If you have suggestions for improvements in the booking policies or if you think somebody is cheating please let us know (you can use this form if you want to do so anonymously)

You may book up to 7 days ahead

  • This is to prevent an arms-race situation where everyone has to book three-weeks ahead to be able to use the microscopes - not very efficient or convenient for anybody.

  • 7 days ahead means you may book time for, say, next Tuesday, this Tuesday. If you have nothing better to do, you can book time for next Wednesday at the stroke of midnight Tuesday night.

3 hour limit on most systems in peak hours (8-6 M-F)

  • This is so several people can use a system each day
  • If nobody else is booked after you, you can carry on and use the system
  • Any system can be used without limits outside the peak hours
  • Holidays count as off-peak

No time limits for systems intended for imaging living specimens

Please be considerate of others using these systems - eg If you need to leave something running for 2 days, do so over the weekend. If your sample isn't worth imaging, change your reservation and perhaps let others know that time is available.

Special rules for the Live cell station

  • No limits for use within the coming 7 days (ie if there is time available in the next 7 days you can book any block of time you want)

There are special considerations for

  • Experiments with very long preparation times
  • Extremely scarce samples (eg patient samples that are available infrequently on a particular date)
  • Experiments that last several days (because continuous time is required)

For these situations it is possible to book up to 14 days ahead. Let Sam know with justification if you fall into one of these categories. Multi-day experiments should be booked over weekends. So such users don't end up with all the scope time - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday can only be booked 7 days ahead.

Special rules for the Zeiss 510 upright confocal

Kiehart and Benfey lab members can book the Zeiss 510 upright confocal:

  • 7 days in advance on any day
  • Further ahead on lab days (Benfey=Mon and Tues; Kiehart=Wed and Thurs)

All others can book 7 days ahead.

Special rules for the Leica SP5 confocal

  • The Leica SP5 confocal is used for both fixed and live cell imaging.
  • For imaging fixed samples, reservations are limited to 3 hr in peak hours.
  • In general, long experiments should be done out of peak hours allowing several people to use the machine each day.

Special rules for the Leica TIRF

  • No limits