EXTERNAL USERS
There are certain research services, including specialized materials characterization, that the University is uniquely qualified to offer our constituencies because of our involvement in fundamental research. These research services are an important component of the University’s fulfillment of its charter as a Land Grant University. Therefore, MCL offers researchers at other academic institutions and in industry access to its wide range of state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation and tools.
External Users (Non PSU--Other Academic, Government, Industry)
Initiating a research project in the MCL/Shared User Facilites
Step 1: Contact the appropriate staff member in charge of the technique, tool, service or capability you wish to use (See Personnel, left). If you are not sure, contact Josh Stapleton ( Josh Stapleton ) or Leeanna Horner ( Leeanna Horner ) with a brief desciption of your analysis needs. You will then be directed to the appropriate staff member(s).
Step 2: Determine if you will be an On-Site User (perform the research yourself) or if you will be an Off-Site Remote User (request MCL technical staff to perform the work for you).
Step 3: Complete the appropriate paperwork:
- Academic Research Services Order (ARSO). (Required/to be completed by Principal Investigator (PI) of the research project/to be sign by a financial authority)
- External User Term Sheet (Required for On-Site Users/to be signed by the user and a financial authority)
- New User Form (to be completed by each additional user on the research project)
Send paperwork via email to Leeanna Horner or fax 814-865-7173 (call or email to confirm receipt).
From your paperwork, we will create a user profile and billing account for you in the Research Instrumentation Management System (RIMS).
Off-Site Remote Users
Step 4: If you are an Off-Site Remote User, contact the appropriate technical staff member to coordinate your research.
On-Site Users only
Step 4: If you are an On-Site User, contact the appropriate technical staff member to schedule training.
On-Site Users only
Step 5: Create a ‘Friends of Penn State’ (FPS) Account, using this link: https://fps.psu.edu
Email RIMS@psu.edu with your FPS ID user name.
After your FPS user name is entered into your RIMS user profile, you will then use your FPS user name and password to log in to the labs and instruments.
On-Site Users only
Step 6: Attend training.
On-Site Users only
Step 7: Perform your own research!
NOTE TO INDUSTRY USERS
Industry research projects will be accepted provided:
- there is time available on the equipment;
- there is not an equivalent research service offered by a for-profit company at a lower rate; and
- the industry users agree to and sign industry account paperwork that cover issues such as confidentiality and intellectual property.
External Academic and Industry Pricing:
The MCL External Academic and External Non-Academic Rates are available upon request by contacting the MCL Administrative Office by phone at 814-867-3719 or or by e-mail ( Leeanna Horner ).