Lab Membership

To use the Northern California Nanotechnology Center laboratory, it is necessary to become a "lab member." Prospective lab members need to establish an account for recharge purposes and must receive basic training on all cleanroom practices and safety procedures. Lab membership only grants permission to enter the facility. The use of individual tools within the lab requires specific training on each tool.

Recharge Rates

Lab members are charged $28 per hour per person, plus a 29.5% industrial surcharge.

How to Become a Lab Member

Gaining lab access involves several steps that may take one to two weeks to complete.

If you are an undergraduate, please review the syllabi for EEC 146A and EEC 146B, which are the introductory courses for the lab. If you've taken EEC 146A/B, you may already be familiar with the lab.

If you are a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow, please review the syllabus for EEC 249.

Principal investigators should review the special information that explains their relationship to the lab.

View the Orientation Video Programs

To become oriented to the lab in general, please view the orientation videos on laboratory conduct and hydrofluoric acid safety.

Read the Manuals

All prospective lab members should start by reading and understanding the lab's "Chemical Hygiene Plan."

Undergraduates will read the introductory instructions as part of their introductory course to the lab.

Graduate students and visitors seeking lab access should read both the introductory and advanced instructions.

An oral quiz may be given about aspects of the instructions before finally signing off on your paperwork.

Complete the Paperwork

After you have watched the video programs and reviewed the appropriate instructions:

• Obtain a "Request for Facility Access" form. The key you obtain will give you access to the cleanroom, wet-lab and L-Edit computer design room.
• Fill out the "Request for Facility Access" form and have your faculty sponsor sign the form.
• Bring the completed lab access form to 1125 Kemper Hall.

Take a Tour

Your tour and orientation to the facility will take about four hours. Please note that orientation tours may not be scheduled until there are sufficient attendees.

You can also look at a map of the cleanroom layout.

Rules of Access

You must follow all lab rules. Please understand that any breach of these rules can result in revocation of your access privileges.

1. All entrants must follow normal cleanroom practices.
2. All entrants must adhere to EH&S policies where applicable.
3. Access is on a recharge basis - $28 per hour per person.
4. Guests with a business or professional reason to enter the lab may do so. Email must be sent to lab staff prior to entry. Guests must enter using the host's access code, once for each guest, and must be within physical reach of the host at all times. Upon exiting, the host's code must be entered once for each guest to accurately account for lab time. Each guest costs the host $28 per hour per student. Students under the supervision of a TA are considered guests.
5. Items abandoned in the lab become lab property.
6. Permission to use any piece of equipment is distinct from the right of entry. Lab membership grants access only. Use of individual tools is on a per-tool basis.
7. Lab members are responsible for reporting damage to equipment, regardless of origin.
8. Lab members are expected to be self-sufficient and cooperative with one another and with staff.
9. Selected areas of the lab are under automatic video surveillance. Camera data will be retained as needed by lab management.
10. Exceptions must be requested of lab management in advance of need.

To maintain access, you must also attend an EH&S general "Chemical/Lab Safety" class within two quarters of your initial lab access. Students enrolled in laboratory classes may only enter when supervised by a teaching assistant.

For more information, please contact the Lab Director, Dr. Frank Yaghmaie .