Welcome!
ORNL's Materials Characterization Core (MCC) provides greater accessibility, utilization, and fiscal sustainability to advanced characterization instruments. The MCC seeks to provide resources to a broad cross-section of ORNL's research community, encouraging new collaborations, while promoting instrument utilization and efficiency to support operational costs.
The MCC's software platform "iLab" includes an access controlled reservation system and cost-recovery mechanisms. Approved users can schedule shared instruments through MCC. Owners can choose to share/schedule instruments and, if desired, participate in cost recovery to offset operational costs of an instrument (such as service contracts).
Any ORNL employee can schedule available instrumentation through the MCC (once approved). Currently, only PSD instrument owners can participate in cost recovery.
Microscopy
Sample Preparation
Spectroscopy
X-Ray
ThermoPhysics
Instrument Scheduling - The web-based schedule is viewable following MCC registration. Only users authorized by the owner/custodian may schedule instrument time. Users recieve an email after scheduling with an .ics file to add to outlook calendar.
Cost Recovery - User information (charge account) entered during scheduling. Costs are distributed in proportion to the time used.
VOLUNTARY Participation - Does not affect "ownership" (e.g. location, staffing...). Instruments can be added or removed from the schedule or core as needed, requested, or required.
Instruments Configured for Specific Usage Types - The owner or program sets the fraction of time available to users or designated operators:
Self Use - open to trained/authorized users
Service Work - not open to users, only trained staff operate the instrument, possibly on the behalf of a user
CNMS User Program
An hourly instrument service charge, set by ORNL finance, is determined by the annual costs divided by the number of hours scheduled. The projected rate aims to break-even for the year. Annual operating costs could include:
Service contracts or maintenance*
Time for staff to perform upkeep and oversight**
Special utility or service charges, materials, consumables, etc.
*All service center costs are burdened at 38%. In comparison, custodians who directly pay for service contracts pay ~14% overhead on the contract portion of the costs.
**Other services, such as specimen preparation, training by staff, designated operators time, etc. are NOT included in the instrument hourly rate and require funding sources.
Please contact the MCC staff if your have further questions.
All research results and publications from the instrumentation procured with Institutional funds (TOF-SIMS, MAC-STEM, 4-Probe and Zeiss X-ray Tomography), must acknowledge Materials Characterization Core with the following statement: “This research was conducted, in part, using instrumentation within ORNL's Materials Characterization Core provided by UT-Battelle, LLC under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy.”
Instruments purchased by ORNL with Institutional funds (e.g., IGPE funds) will be available to staff at ORNL ~70% of the time through either trained users or through designated operators. The remaining 30% of the time (and costs) are divided: 20% technical champion/custodian, 10% maintenance.
Please click HERE to fill out the required information and request an account.
Jason Smith Coordinator/Custodian 865-341-2183 smithjk@ornl.gov Bldg. 4500S Rm. A252
Laura Bailie MCC Adminstrative Support 865-341-2085 bailiel@ornl.gov Bldg. 4515 Rm. 117
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Hours Open: 24 Hours Hours Staffed: Monday - Friday 8am - 6pm |
Oak Ridge National Laboratory One Bethel Valley Road Oak Ridge, TN 37831 |