Welcome!
ORNL's Materials Characterization Core (MCC) provides accessibility, utilization, and fiscal sustainability to advanced characterization instruments. The MCC seeks to provide resources to ORNL's research community, encourage new collaborations, promote utilization, and support operational costs. The MCC's software platform "iLab" includes an access-controlled reservation system and optional cost-recovery mechanisms. Any ORNL employee can schedule available instrumentation through the MCC.
Microscopy
Sample Preparation
Spectroscopy
X-Ray
ThermoPhysics
Instrument Schedule - Web-based schedule, viewable following MCC registration. Custodian authorized users can schedule. Users recieve an email after scheduling with an .ics file to add to outlook calendar.
Cost Recovery Option - 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 Configured for Specific Usage Types - The PI/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 optional 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*, maintenance, time for staff to perform upkeep and oversight**, special utility or service charges, materials, consumables, etc.
*Service centers are burdened at ~38% compared to typical ~14% overhead. If the owner/program operates the instrument >~70% of the available time, cost recovery is not recommended. However, users participating in cost recovery have an accounting "record of use" to support future equipment funding requests for repairs, replacement, or additions.
**Other services, such as specimen preparation, training by staff, designated operators time, etc. are NOT included in the instrument hourly rate.
Please contact the MCC staff if your have further questions.
All research results and publications from the instrumentation procured with Institutional funds (e.g. TESCAN, 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
