We support state of the art research and educational activities for our users, who are asked to agree to the following terms to ensure safe and effective use.
Users are encouraged to operate the instruments on their own after authorisation by HWB-NMR staff.
It is expected that each person who is approved to be a NMR operator will have, at the minimum:
- prior experience on a modern NMR instrument, either through outside NMR activities or hands-on training
- a Bachelor degree or equivalent in the biological, chemical or physical sciences
It is expected that HWB•NMR users have familiarised themselves with the NMR instrument and probe manuals.
Each person requesting operator status will be required to demonstrate competence on the instrumentation to HWB•NMR staff members before being permitted unsupervised access to the spectrometers.
Responsibilities for HWB•NMR Charges and Damages
Users are responsible for damage that results from samples that are explosive, pressurised, chemically corrosive, radioactive, biologically dangerous, or that otherwise pose hazards to instrumentation or personnel. In all such cases, prior permission and advice should be sought with regard to these samples, with COSHH forms, MSDS, and risk assessments provided as appropriate, but permission does not absolve any user from responsibility for whatever harm their samples may cause HWB•NMR’s spectrometers or probes.
Researchers use HWB•NMR resources with the understanding that users may be held responsible for damages incurred as a direct result of unsafe or negligent use of the instrumentation. This obligation does not extend to responsibility for damage that occurs accidentally and unavoidably during normal use. Any possible damage must be reported to HWB•NMR staff immediately.
Standard Operating Protocols
Users must understand and agree to HWB•NMR’s standard operating protocols and polices including the “Principles of Use”, “Security Management Policy”, and “Sample Submission” before gaining access to spectrometers. These will be emailed upon receipt of an application for access form. A 3-hour training module on safe and effective use of the NMR equipment is offered to all users quarterly.
Publications & Acknowledgement
Publications containing data obtained at the HWB•NMR should acknowledge use of HWB•NMR. It is also mandatory to provide HWB•NMR with PDF files or reprints, together with the PMCID (PubMed Central UK ID), of each publication in which data obtained at HWB•NMR are cited, to assist in fulfilling the annual reporting requirements and Wellcome Trust open-access publishing policy. This information should be emailed to Sara Whittaker as soon as possible following publication, but no later than 6 months after publication.
Please use the following acknowledgement for Wellcome Trust-funded facility use between 1 Dec 2012 and 28 Feb 2018:
"This work was supported in part by the Wellcome Trust [Biomedical Resources grant 099185/Z/12/Z] and we thank HWB-NMR staff at the University of Birmingham for providing open access to their Wellcome Trust -funded 900 MHz NMR spectrometer."
or
Please use the following acknowledgement for Wellcome Trust-funded facility use between 1 Mar 2018 and 24 Sept 2024:
"This work was supported in part by the Wellcome Trust [Biomedical Resources grant 208400/Z/17/Z] and we thank HWB-NMR staff at the University of Birmingham for providing open access to their Wellcome Trust -funded 800/900 MHz and UKRI -funded 1000 MHz [EP/R030030/1] NMR spectrometers."