规章制度 Rules

附录Appendix I

User Regulations of Advanced EMs (ARMs, F200, AES)


The notes below explain the application process and expectations of both the Centre and your research group. You are strongly encouraged to read all sections before completing the attached application form. If you have any questions, please do get in contact with Dr Qing Zhang (zhangqing1@shanghaitech.edu.cn).


Note: If you are not a PI of SPST (for example, an external scientist) please contact the Director of CħEM, Osamu Terasaki (osamuterasaki@mac.com), regarding gaining access to the Centre.


Flow chart of application:


Project Application, Selection and Maintenance

To gain access to the advanced EM resources, the PI must establish a project with the Center by first filing an application. The project application will be reviewed, once it is selected, a staff will be assigned to assist the project. The application, selection and maintenance of the project are described below.

·          The long-term application will be accepted on a three-month basis during the period of first three days of each quarter of the year. The schedule of EM sessions will be guaranteed by EM staffs.

·          The short-term application will be accepted on a monthly basis during the last three days of each month. Short-term projects will be evaluated through the same procedure, but schedule of short-term application depends on the availability of advanced EMs.Sessions cannot be guaranteed.

1.1 Application

1.1.1   The PI completes the attached application. Before filing the application, the PI is encouraged to consult CħEM staff about his/her intended research.

1.1.2   Applications should be emailed to Dr Qing Zhang including any attachments (please keep the files less than 10MB if possible).

1.1.3   Applications are limited to one new project per PI per period.  The length of a project will be determined based on the success of the project.

1.1.4   A maximum of one researcher (“Researcher” hereafter) should be associated with the project. PIs should select a candidate who is going to lead the project from the beginning.

1.1.5   The project application must include evidence of prior investigation, such as prior characterization results. For access to GrandARM (S)TEM, prior EM investigation such as image, diffraction pattern and/or elemental analysis must be included. The sample compatibility with high resolution analysis must be demonstrated. Potential methods of data collection should be listed.

1.1.6   Environmental, human and/or machinery hazards/dangers must be explicitly stated at time of application so hazardous situations may be mitigated and dangerous situations removed. A list of what to declare is included in the application form.  Please note that failure to declare such items at time of application can result in termination of a project.

1.2 Project selection

Project applications will be first reviewed by CħEM staff and selected based on the needs of the Center resources for selection process A and B

Selection process A

1.2.1   A committee of experts will evaluate the application.

1.2.2   Committee Member would be selected by the Director of CħEM.

1.2.3   The committee meets regularly. The frequency will be determined later based on the needs of the Centre.

Selection process B

1.2.4   Selected applicants from A present their research plans to CħEM.

1.2.5   Presentation is oral and of formal style.

1.2.6   Information should include sample details, research targets, realistic expectations from CħEM in term of collaboration.

1.3 Project Notification

1.3.1   CħEM notify PI of the decision.

1.3.2   Any feedback of the application will be delivered by email directly to the PI.

1.3.3   A Centre staff will be assigned as initial contact.

1.3.4   If applicable, a time plan will also be included based on the planned research.

1.4 Project Maintenance

1.4.1   EM staff meets with the Researcher to establish an agenda to ensure project will be carried out both safely and efficiently.

1.4.2   The duration of the initial engagement varies between projects but is generally one to three sessions.

1.4.3   For projects to be carried out by users, the initial engagement is to train the user about the use of instrument, and to certify the proficiency of user for the use of instrument.

1.4.4   For projects to be carried out by Center staff, the initial engagement is to obtain initial results to be discussed with the PI.

1.4.5   For a user to be trained on an instrument, the user must meet the Center’s criteria for training (e.g., a basic knowledge of TEM is required for training on a TEM)

1.5 Collaboration project

1.5.1   For collaborative projects, during the first few sessions the PI must be present on all activities at CħEM relating to their research.

1.5.2   If PI is unable to be present during initial engagement, then collaboration should be delayed until PI is able to attend.

1.5.3   PIs are encouraged in this time to engage with both the EM staff and researcher to plan for further research.

1.6 Collaboration Project Review

1.6.1   Insufficient progress – If CħEM deem the collaboration to be making insufficient progress relative to the agreed time plan in the first instance, PI/Researcher will be notified in writing of this assessment from CħEM and invited to explain.  Time plans and/or resource may be renegotiated subject to CħEM’s approval. Further insufficiency could lead to dissolution of collaboration.

1.6.2   Misconduct – CħEM aims to help users learn from mistakes as much as possible, however - CħEM reserve the right to end a collaboration based on gross misconduct including actions such as, but not limited to, users not following CħEM staff instructions (verbal or otherwise) with potential hazardous results.  A response to minor misconduct will be made by CħEM on a case-by-case basis.

1.7 End-of-collaboration Report –

1.7.1   EM session evaluation would be done by CħEM Committee.

1.7.2   A final report has to be done by the applicants.

1.8 Publishing of material

1.8.1   When the data is good enough for publication, the researchers should keep CħEM know all status of manuscripts. Final publication would be used as a reference for project application in the future from the same PI.

1.8.2   Acknowledgement: The Centre for High-resolution Electron Microscopy (CħEM) is supported by SPST of ShanghaiTech University under contract No. EM02161943.

1.8.3   When EM staffs contribute greatly to the paper, please include her/him as one of co-authors.  To judge how important the contribution is, Director can give an advise.

1.9 Follow-up – ChEM would evaluate the projects and SPST would evaluate yearly running of GEMs.

CħEM working practices

2.1 Number of projects

2.1.1   PIs may only be involved in one collaboration project with CħEM at any given time. (However, self-use projects are not limited)

2.1.2   Scientists connected to CħEM would be allowed to have more than one collaboration projects selected.

2.2 Number of sessions

2.2.1   The frequency of sessions which would be depending on project and capacity of CħEM and will be outlined at the end of the initial engagement.

2.2.2   Both equipment and staff are booked in advance using the CħEM booking system by EM staff.

2.2.3   Booking should be done in advance as far as possible to avoid disappointment.

2.2.4   Inability to attend a session by the researcher should be made apparent to the EM staff to ensure productivity, otherwise the session will be forfeit.

2.3 Equipment availability

2.3.1   Delays / Interruptions by CħEM will be notified to PIs whenever possible including events such as workshops and instrument failure. Please note that often machines fail with little warning. CħEM will do their best to inform of any such interruption.

2.3.2   Regular maintenance (every Monday, together with JEOL engineer), internal basic and advanced trainings (every Tuesday), would be done by EM staffs regularly, which would be the highest priority to keep the instrument running under the best condition.

2.4 Specimen requirement

2.4.1   Pre-checking before sessions.All the specimens that would go to GrandARM sessions must bepre-checked with other TEMs to confirm the availability of the regions of interest. For any special conditions that pre-checking is not doable, please inform and discuss with the staff before the session starts. Wasting of machine time owing to ill-prepared specimens will be taken into consideration as a negative effect when the PI applying for future projects.

2.4.2   Specimens restriction. Specimens in each session must be restricted to fall within the scope of the PI’s application. Specimens outside the scope and from PI’s other collaboration projects are forbidden.