Policy

All experiments involving BioOptics equipment should be planned and discussed ahead with the BioOptics Facility staff.

After evaluation of the method and definition of the needed equipment, training can be requested. Before using any BioOptics equipment, training by BioOptics staff is mandatory (users must not train users!) and consists of theory and hands-on sessions.

• Theory Sessions:
• Theory sessions are held monthly by the BioOptics Facility staff.
• All employees can participate in the theory sessions
• All users wishing to receive hands-on training MUST first participate in the theory sessions
• The Theory session must be attended again if no Hands-on training was taken within 6months
• Hands-on Training:
• Hands-on trainings on the system are given on a one-to-one basis by facility staff
• Hands-on training is only given after successful completion of the theory sessions
• Only employees with contracts lasting longer than 6 months can get a hands-on training for BioOptics Equipment
• Hands-on trainings are given for projects with a focus on the respective technique, they are not offered for educational purpose only

Employees with contracts lasting 6 months or less do not receive hands-on training and can use BioOptics equipment, including workstations, exclusively together with their fully trained supervisor. They are not allowed to use the systems independently

Ad-hoc assistance of BioOptics Staff is available at any time during regular working hours. Re-training as well as project discussions and support can be scheduled anytime during regular working hours - appointments with the respective staff members should be done on time.

Special Rules for Interns/Student Helper:

• Before requesting the training, a project discussion with the helper/intern, facility staff AND the respective supervisor is obligatory to define needs and experimental set-up
• Facility staff is helping if there are equipment-related problems. Experimental questions must be clarified with the respective supervisor. 
• The supervisor takes responsibility that the device is handled correctly. This applies especially to tasks, that can cause damage (e.g. cleaning or wrong shut-down procedure).

More information on introductions can be found at Microscopy and Flow Cytometry.

Most of the BioOptics equipment can be reserved online through the PPMS Booking System after training-  https://booking.vbc.ac.at .

Sign-Up is on a first come, first serve basis.

If the user does not show up within 30 minutes after the start of the booking-time, the whole reservation is cancelled and the equipment is available to everybody.

In PPMS you can also sign up to receive an e-mail, if a booking on a chosen instrument is deleted or shortened and therefore additional instrument-time is available.

A quick guide how to use PPMS can be found here.

To allow proper planning for everybody, we would strongly ask you to well plan your experiments, only book the time you actually need and cancel or shorten your bookings as soon as you find out that plans have changed!

All data should be stored on server space! Data stored on local hard disks can be erased at any time without notice.

If you publish work supported by the BioOptics Facility, e.g. by using one or more facility microscopes, flow cytometers or support in image or data analysis, please do not forget to acknowledge the facility in your paper.

If you encounter any problems with the equipment, please inform BioOptics staff as soon as possible even if the problem has resolved.

Cells treated with Lentivirus (except for lentivirus with ecotropic envelope protein), must pass 10 times media exchange and 2 weeks’ time since the treatment, before they are allowed to be processed within rooms of the BioOptics Facility (FACSroom ; Microscopy rooms). In case of doubts about the other viral transfections used, please get in touch with the Biosafety officers and BioOptics staff.

Working with Trizol and/or β-Mercaptoethanol is not allowed at the Facility. It is also not allowed in collection tubes for FACS sorting.