User Policies

The NMR facility is available to all students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty members. However, training and access requirements must be met.

Account Requirements

• All new users must register for a Facility Online Manager (FOM) account before using any NMR instruments
• Internal users must have both:
  • An active FOM account
  • A valid requisition number (Learn how to obtain a requisition here: https://go.osu.edu/fomrequisition)

Booking Process

• Schedule all NMR time through the FOM calendar: https://fom.osu.edu/fom/welcome
• Minimum booking duration is 15 minutes (600 and 700 MHz) or 30 minutes (800 MHz and above)

Facility Management 

The CCIC staff maintains the right to:

• Modify schedules as needed for facility maintenance
• Adjust instrument time allocation for maximum efficiency
• Pause or cancel experiments that are unlikely to produce useful results (e.g., due to poor signal-to-noise ratio). If an experiment is deemed unsuitable, staff will:
  • Discuss alternative experimental approaches
  • Discuss whether an alternative sample is available
  • If no alternatives are viable, cancel remaining time (standard fees may apply)

General Guidelines

• To avoid cancellation fees, we recommend finding an alternate user within your group
• Consecutive reservations are treated as a single booking
• First-time violations receive a grace period with notification to PI (no charge)
• Fees apply regardless of whether another lab uses the canceled time
• Policy is subject to periodic review and adjustment

Cancellation Windows and Fees

Standard Reservations (Up to 24 Hours)

• Cancellation fee equals full reservation time if canceled during the cancellation window
• Example: 12-hour reservation canceled 20 hours before start → Full 12-hour charge

Extended Reservations (Over 24 Hours)

• Must cancel as many days ahead as the reservation length
• Delinquent time = Reservation length minus advance notice time
• Fee is the greater of:
  • $48 per day ($2/hour) of delinquent time
  • Full 24-hour NMR fee
  • Example: 5-day booking cancelled 3 days ahead → $96 fee (2 delinquent days)

Early Termination Charges

• Time used: Charged at regular rate
• Remaining time: Up to 24 hours at regular rate
• Additional time beyond 24 hours: $2 per hour
• Example: 60-hour booking, used for only 16 hours:
  • Usage fee: 16 hours at standard rate
  • Cancellation fee: 24 hours regular rate + $40 (20 remaining hours at $2/hour)

Partial Cancellations

• Cancelation of any part of a reservation is subject to the full cancelation window
• If canceled portion is within 24 hours: Regular rate up to 24 hours + $2/hour after
• If canceled portion is later beyond 24 hours: $2/hour fee
• Example: 3-day booking, canceling day 2 during day 1 → 24-hour regular rate fee
• Example: 3-day booking, canceling day 3 during day 1 → $48 (24 hours at $2/hour)

Transferring Time Within Lab

To avoid cancellation fees when transferring time to lab members:

• Cancel original reservation
• Contact CCIC staff about transfer and note any billing changes (e.g., charging to a different grant for the new user)
• New user must:
  1. Be trained and approved
  2. Have active FOM account
  3. Make new reservation for proper billing
  4. Use full original time (partial use may incur fees)

Staff Assistance 

If you need help running your NMR experiments:

• Contact our facility managers:
  • Dr. Chunhua Yuan (yuan.9@osu.edu)
  • Dr. Alexandar Hansen (hansen.434@osu.edu)
• Discuss available time slots that work for both you and the operator

Sample Drop-off Service

• No advance reservation required for drop-off experiments
• Please email Dr. Chunhua Yuan (yuan.9@osu.edu) to:
  • Request NMR time
  • Coordinate sample drop-off
  • Discuss experimental requirements

If You Experience Problems

1. Stop using the equipment immediately
2. Contact CCIC staff right away:
   • Dr. Chunhua Yuan (yuan.9@osu.edu)
   • Dr. Alexandar Hansen (hansen.434@osu.edu)

Important Guidelines

• Do not attempt to fix or troubleshoot equipment yourself
• Document when and how the problem occurred
• Wait for staff guidance before continuing any experiments

Liability

• If equipment damage results from user negligence, repair costs may be charged to the PI's account
• Prompt reporting of issues helps prevent further damage and minimizes downtime

These protocols are in place to:

• Ensure equipment safety
• Maintain instrument reliability
• Protect valuable research time
• Minimize repair costs

Safety and Sample Requirements

• No food or beverages are permitted in the NMR Rooms, Riffe 137 and CBEC 092
• Hazardous and infectious samples are strictly prohibited

Sample Handling

• Label all samples clearly with printed labels
• Do not write on the outside of NMR tubes
• Remove samples promptly after experiments
• Note: Unlabeled or abandoned samples may be disposed of without notice

Instrument Care After completing your experiments:

• Reset temperature to 25°C (298 K)
• Return all modified parameters to default values
• Clean your workspace thoroughly
• Remove all personal items and waste (including Kimwipes)

Maintaining these procedures ensures:

• Equipment reliability
• Laboratory safety
• Efficient operation for all users
• Quality experimental results

Prohibited Activities

• Using instruments without proper staff training
• Operating equipment without a reservation
• Violating any facility policies listed in this document

Violation Response Protocol 

If unauthorized use is detected:

• Current experiments will be terminated
• Samples will be removed and secured on the bench
• User access may be suspended
• PI will be notified

Financial Penalties 

When unauthorized use is identified:

• Estimated usage time will be charged
• Additional $50 administrative fee applies
• All charges will be billed to PI's account

Disciplinary Actions

• PIs are expected to address violations with their team members
• Multiple violations may result in:
  • Indefinite suspension from facility access
  • Additional administrative penalties
  • Review of lab's facility privileges

These policies are enforced to:

• Ensure equipment safety
• Maintain fair access
• Protect valuable research resources
• Uphold facility operating standards

Eligibility Requirements

• Must demonstrate comprehensive NMR spin physics knowledge
• Alternatively, show detailed understanding of the specific pulse sequence in question
• External users (non-Ohio State University) cannot modify experiments independently. Requested modifications must be made by CCIC NMR staff

Permitted Modifications 

• With approval, users may make minor adjustments to experiment, including but not limited to:
  • Hard-coded delay durations
  • Water-selective pulses
  • Solvent presaturation

Staff Approval is Required For:

• Significant changes to pulse power
• Modifications to decoupling parameters
• Alterations to high-power pulse durations

File Naming Protocol

• Include your initials in filename
• Add meaningful descriptors (e.g., Bruker codes)
• Example: zgesgppepr.alh
• IMPORTANT: Never save using any default sequence names

Required Documentation 

All modified sequences must include header information:

• Full name of modifier
• Modification date
• Reason for changes
• Detailed description of modifications

Example Header Format:

; 28 Oct 2016 – Alex Hansen
; -- need to suppress additional solvent signal using presaturation
; -- using pl9 for presat and cnst1 for resonance position

These guidelines ensure:

• Experiment integrity
• Clear documentation
• Proper sequence tracking
• Safe operation for all users

If you cannot find the pulse sequence you need, please note our policy on custom sequences:

We maintain strict guidelines for implementing new pulse sequences to ensure safety and efficiency. Custom sequence development is available exclusively for Ohio State researchers, as this process requires significant staff time and facility resources.

Before implementation, all new sequences must:

• Undergo thorough evaluation by CCIC staff
• Comply with both Bruker and CCIC pulse sequence conventions
• If use of pulse sequence conventions is restrictive or not possible, custom shapes and decoupling must make use of 'wavemaker'
• Be tested initially under direct staff supervision

We consider pulse sequence development to be collaborative work between researchers and our facility. For safety and quality control reasons, users may not independently implement non-standard sequences.

Contact our staff to discuss your specific needs and explore existing alternatives that may meet your research requirements.