MMI News 2007

MMI ACCESS HOURS DURING THE CHRISTMAS BREAK

MMI will be closing at midday on Wednesday December 19th and re-opening on Thursday January 3rd.
Limited instruments will be available on the 3rd and 4th (Provis, Krypton, FV1000 and SPE), and only 1-2 staff will be onsite, until 7 January when MMI will open to full compliment of staff and instruments.

Access and Usage of MMI Labs in 2007

MMI will operate under a new funding scheme in 2007, which will provide more support and staff and enable enhanced research outcomes. This new scheme has come into effect as of 1st April 2007. Details of the new scheme for Monash Departments and Institutes are outlined below.
As part of this new scheme MMI now has a JobDesk analogous to the IT JobDesk to track user profiles, training and workflows and a web based Calendar system for booking of all microscopes. Training sessions will be conducted in the Padua Theatre at 12:00 on the 19th and 26th of April 2007 to familiarise all existing MMI users with the systems and have them re-register for the facility.
Links to the JobDesk and Calendar are now available from the MMI website www.microimaging.monash.org
We are enthusiastic and motivated to improve MMI and enable enhanced research and ask for your support in achieving this goal.

Members of the MMI Consortium (Schools of Biomedical Sciences & Biological Sciences, Dept of Civil Engineering, Dept Materials Engineering):

We will request re-registration of all users starting 1st May.
A nominal fee per user is required at that time:
Hons students $200
MSc/PhD $500
Researchers $500
This fee enables access to instruments and training All further usage costs* are covered by Department/School/University contributions.
* implies reasonable usage and excludes antibodies, and special reagents and large assays.

Other University Departments, Schools and associated Institutions

We are discouraging access for users under an hourly rate system, though these are still avail for specific cases. Rates for 2007 are increased to around $60/hr for major instruments.
Staff and students wishing to use MMI labs are advised to urge their School, Dept or Institution to take out a subscription to cover their staff /students.

Example of usage.
Level 1: 2-3 people with weekly use at around 2-3 hours).
Level 2: 3-5 people, with weekly use of about 4hrs throughout the year or fewer individuals with heavier use.

• MMI to undergo major expansion in 2007.
  MMI will be extending its Microscopy and Imaging research support by increasing the staff complement and providing imaging support across the 3 medical research precincts (Clayton, Monash Health Research Precinct, and the Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct (AMREP)). As we will be recruiting and training staff for this role, it will take several months to implement, but we hope to be running at full capacity by late 2007.
  The new MMI will increase its staff from current levels of 3 to around 10-12, and will include new positions for Electron Microscopy, Optical Microscopy (including all forms of fluorescence imaging), Lab Manager, and a few RA positions. Advertisements will be posted in the near future.
  
  
• Introductory to Microscopy and Imaging - Workshop/Seminar at Clayton and AMREP.
  For all new postgraduate students, researchers and RA's who have not previously used microscopy: this is a one day workshop aimed at providing an overview of imaging techniques and principles, including specimen preparation, antibody labelling & digital imaging techniques. The workshop will also cover instrumentation available in the Monash Research Precincts, how to access it, safety issues and appropriate imaging standards. The workshop will be followed up with smaller group training for specific applications and instruments.
  
  Cost: Nil
  
  Clayton Precinct: 21 March 2007
  Location: Physiology Seminar Room, First Floor, Building 13F, Clayton Campus
  
  AMREP: 27 March 2007
  Location: Seminar Room AMREP Education Center
  
  To register for either of these workshops:
  1. if you are a Monash student or staff member with authcate, please visit our Jobdesk [select “New Job” and Register for Introductory Workshop, either at the Monash Clayton or the AMREP site including your details as instructed] (or)
  2. if you do not have a Monash authcate, please send an email with name, and contact details, which workshop you wish to attend to microscopy@med.monash.edu.au, or call George Theodossiou on 9905 2746.
  
  
• Details of Microscopy Training for 2007 now released.
• New web based intrument booking system under development.
• New MMI JobDesk has the following features:
  • User registration
  • Requests for training
  • Requests for assistance
  • Reporting instrucment problems
  • And many other functions
• New Olympus dot slide has arrived and been installed. Testing and commissioning is due to be completed in the next few weeks. Once completed, training programs will be announced and the system will be made available to the users.