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1. The access to a lab in the characterization facility is authorized by both the PI/advisor of the new user and the lab staff. All the new users including those with experience elsewhere must take a training course given by the lab staff. Access is granted upon successful completion of the training. No second-hand training is considered to be valid.

2. The user access to an instrument is categorized into 4 levels. Level 1: can only work during work hours under the supervision of a level 3 or 4 user. Level 2: can work independently during work hour. Level 3: can work independently off work hour with the permission of the lab staff. Level 4: can function as the instrument supervisor at the absence of the lab staff. 30 hours of instrument usage are normally required to upgrade from level 1 to level 2.

3. All the trainings are only given to those who need to use the instruments immediately after the training. The user access will be terminated if the user does not use the instrument in 3 months after the completion of the training. Qualification test or re-training must be taken before re-gaining the access, determined by the lab staff.

4. To initiate a new user training, the PI/advisor is required to send an online request, in which a contact person (normally the PI/advisor or the new user) is assigned for further correspondence.

5. An application form is available online or from the lab manager. The contact person is responsible to return the form (signed by both the PI/advisor and the new user) to the lab manager before any training can be scheduled.

6. A simple qualification test on basic operations is given at the end of each training. Upon passing the test, the new user is granted access (level 1) to the instrument and the online reservation. The new user needs to sign to acknowledge the proper training.

7. Users can only reserve time for their own use. The total reserved time is limited to 2 days or 4 half-day sessions. An exception to the "2 days" rule is that any qualified user can take the next day if it has not been reserved by noon of the current day. 

8. The lab staff can change the reservations or terminate a session due to emergencies or other considerations. 

9. The users must report all the hardware/software problems with the instrument and all the instrument failures to the lab staff. The users MUST NOT attempt to fix the problem on their own or sought help from other users.

10. The usage of the instruments must be recorded accurately following the instruction of the lab staff.

11. The users must clean up after their experiment, including returning the instrument and working area to the original conditions, taking away their personal belongings, and disposing wastes properly.

12. No lab items should be removed from the labs without the permission of the staff.

13. For those users who cannot show up for their reserved instrument time, the time should be cancelled as early as possible for others. After a 15 minutes grace period starting from the reserved starting time, any other user can take the time.

14. For those users who have not used an instrument for more than 3 months, a qualification test or re-training is required, determined by the lab staff.