MRL Facilities Training Update

MRL Facilities Training Update

Mauro Sardela

June 17, 2021

With the state of Illinois now in phase 5 of the COVID-19 response program and given recent guidelines from our campus, we are updating our user’s access to the shared facilities in the MRL as follows:

The MRL Central Research Facilities laboratories are fully open to trained users on a 24/7 basis, with training and staff support available during regular working hours.

Campus-approved face masks are required all the time while inside any of our laboratories of the MRL Central Research Facilities.

As for the hallways and public areas in the MRL (excepting the shared facilities laboratories), the use of face masks is optional for fully vaccinated individuals, but it is required for non-vaccinated individuals.

As required to enter in any building on campus, please make sure that you are up-to-date and compliant with COVID-19 testing requirements from campus (be prepared to show “building access granted” by smartphone app or boarding pass when reporting for training).

Before coming to the MRL, please follow our campus COVID-19 safety guidelines: https://drs.illinois.edu/Page/COVID19CampusSafety

Please bring your building key and iCard to enter the MRL building or any of the facilities laboratories, as the building will be locked. For training of users with no building key access, staff will meet you at the front (Goodwin Ave.) door before training sessions (please make sure to mention in your training request that you do not yet have a building key). We are open 24/7 to trained users, but exercise caution if working after hours – please follow the instructions in specific laboratories to use the “buddy system” as required.

For trained users with access to the MRL facilities, make sure you have reserved the instrument using our online reservation system.

As usual, no food or drink consumption is allowed inside the laboratories.

Wear masks, gloves and additional PPE as required per lab and process.

In our laboratories we will continue to provide paper wipes and cleaning supplies for users who want to clean/disinfect the working areas.

Any process involving hazardous chemicals requires a buddy system (example: wet chemical processes in cleanroom labs). If you do not have a lab-mate to serve as the buddy, contact MRL staff to serve in this role. Buddies must maintain social distancing and have PPE available to assist in an emergency.

Staff support: In general, during regular working hours staff will be available either on site or via phone, e-mail or video conference. Staff contact information is posted on the door of each laboratory and in our web site directory.

Instrument training: Face-to-face individual training is available following regular MRL facilities training request procedures. Upon arrival to the on-site training session, users are required to show “building access granted” as indicated by campus smartphone app or boarding pass, in compliance with the campus requirement of regular COVID-19 testing.

Back up data before leaving the lab – this is very important in case of unexpected lab shutdown, or to process the data from remote location.

Do not leave material/samples in the lab unless authorized by staff. Take all working material and personal belongings with you when leaving the lab.

Thank you for your patience as we move close to regular operation/access in a safe manner.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions.

Warm regards,

Mauro Sardela, Ph.D.
Director, Central Research Facilities
Materials Research Laboratory
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
104 S. Goodwin Avenue – Urbana IL 61801
(217) 244 0547 | office # SC2014
www.mrl.illinois.edu