Asoberan: Create Walkup Services overview page: scheduling, training, equipment index, policies

2026-04-13T01:57:42Z

Create Walkup Services overview page: scheduling, training, equipment index, policies

New page

{{BioMicroCenter}}

== What are walk-up services? ==

Walk-up services are those where the BioMicro Center provides training, maintenance, and scheduling of equipment, and may also provide consumables. Users operate the instruments themselves after completing a required training session with BMC staff. Walk-up services are almost exclusively limited to MIT users; non-MIT users should contact [mailto:biomicro@mit.edu biomicro@mit.edu] to discuss access.

Walk-up services contrast with [[BioMicroCenter:FAQ#ASSISTED_versus_WALKUP_SERVICES|assisted services]], where samples are delivered to BMC staff for processing. See [[BioMicroCenter:FAQ]] for a full definition of both service types.

== Scheduling and iLabs ==

All walk-up equipment is scheduled through [https://mit-ki.ilabsolutions.com/sc/3381/ki-genomics-core-mit-biomicro-center?tab=equipment iLabs]. The equipment calendar lists instruments organized by category (BMC:qPCR, BMC:Varioskan, BMC:BioAnalyzer, BMC:Covaris, etc.).

''Note: Items listed as $0 in iLabs are charged per use — you will be asked to enter the number of units when submitting your reservation. The number of units is cross-validated in the lab.''

* Reservations must be made '''at least 4 hours in advance'''. For last-minute requests, email [mailto:biomicro@mit.edu biomicro@mit.edu].
* To arrange training, email [mailto:biomicro@mit.edu biomicro@mit.edu]. Depending on the instrument, staff will instruct you to book a time on the iLabs calendar or coordinate directly.

== Training and access ==

Training by BMC staff is required before using any walk-up instrument. Training sessions are typically one hour and cover instrument operation and best practices. To request training for any instrument, email [mailto:biomicro@mit.edu biomicro@mit.edu].

Walk-up users may use equipment outside of regular business hours. After-hours access to the core requires a one-time sign-up — see the [[BioMicroCenter:Submission#Walk-up_services|Submission page]] for the after-hours access form.

== Equipment available for walk-up ==

Click any instrument name for full details, specifications, and scheduling links.

=== Sample quantification and quality control ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="width:200px;" | Instrument !! Summary !! style="width:110px;" | Schedule
|-
| '''[[BioMicroCenter:RTPCR|LightCycler 480 II (LC480)]]'''
| Real-time PCR for quantitative and qualitative detection of nucleic acids. Handles 96w and 384w plates; supports SYBR and TaqMan probes. Three units available (Thing 1 96w; Thing 2 & 3 384w). Maximum 4 hours/day during business hours (10 AM–5 PM); all slots available after hours. Donated by Prof. Laurie Boyer, Prof. Leonard Guarente, and the Dept. of Biology.
| [https://mit.ilabsolutions.com/equipment/show/261680/?tab=schedule iLabs]
|-
| '''[[BioMicroCenter:Varioskan|Varioskan Flash]]'''
| Multimode plate reader for fluorometric, luminometric, and absorbance measurements in 96/384w format. Equipped with three onboard dispensers, incubator, and orbital shaker. Charged in 10-minute blocks. Donated by Prof. Jeroen Saeij.
| [https://mit.ilabsolutions.com/equipment/show/262715/?tab=schedule iLabs]
|-
| '''[[BioMicroCenter:Varioskan#Synergy_H1|Synergy H1 plate reader]]'''
| Hybrid multi-mode microplate reader (6w–384w). Supports UV-vis measurements via Take3 Trio plate module (48 × 2 µL samples; Nanodrop-equivalent). Can be signed out for use ''outside'' the BMC — sign out one week in advance. Charged in 10-minute blocks. Donated by Prof. Gene-Wei Li.
| [https://mit.ilabsolutions.com/service_center/3381?tab=equipment iLabs]
|-
| '''[[BioMicroCenter:2100BioAnalyzer|Agilent 2100 BioAnalyzer]]'''
| Nanofluidic sizing and quantification of DNA (25 bp–12 kb), RNA, and protein. Users must provide all reagents — BMC does not stock BioAnalyzer chips or reagents.
| [https://mit-ki.ilabsolutions.com/equipment/show/265040/?tab=schedule iLabs]
|-
| '''[[BioMicroCenter:NanoDrop_ND-1000|NanoDrop ND-1000]]'''
| Full-spectrum spectrophotometer (220–750 nm) for 1 µL samples. Measures nucleic acid and protein concentration and purity. Free for core department users. Located in 68-316.
| No scheduling required
|}

=== DNA/RNA sizing ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="width:200px;" | Instrument !! Summary !! style="width:110px;" | Schedule
|-
| '''[[BioMicroCenter:PippinPrep|BluePippin / Pippin Prep]]'''
| Automated preparative gel electrophoresis for DNA size selection. BluePippin: 50 bp–50 kb; Pippin Prep: 100 bp–1.5 kb. Charged per run. Donated by the Department of Biology.
| [https://mit.ilabsolutions.com/equipment/show/262716/?tab=schedule iLabs]
|}

=== Sonication ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="width:200px;" | Instrument !! Summary !! style="width:110px;" | Schedule
|-
| '''[[BioMicroCenter:Covaris|Covaris E220 Evolution]]'''
| Focused ultrasonicator for single-tube processing (1–96 samples per batch). Processes 25 µL–10 mL sample volumes. Shears DNA, RNA, chromatin; homogenizes tissue.
| (see instrument page)
|-
| '''[[BioMicroCenter:Covaris|Covaris R230]]'''
| High-throughput sonicator for 96 AFA-TUBE® TPX plates. Column sonication mode processes an entire 96-well plate 10× faster than E220. Funded by NIH grant R24OD035444 — include in publications.
| (see instrument page)
|}

=== Automation ===

'''Note:''' All automation scripts must be written by BMC staff. Once a script has been programmed, users may run it independently as a walk-up service. Contact [mailto:biomicro@mit.edu biomicro@mit.edu] to initiate script development.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="width:200px;" | Instrument !! Summary !! style="width:110px;" | Schedule
|-
| '''[[BioMicroCenter:Tecan_Freedom_Evo#JOHNNY_5|Tecan EVO 150 — Johnny 5]]'''
| Liquid handler optimized for cherry picking and plate normalization. LiHa span8 (2–200 µL) + MCA96 (50/200 µL tips). 6× 15 mL tube carriers, 3 temperature-controlled + 24 non-temperature-controlled SBS carriers, UV decontamination. BL1 work only. Donated by the Department of Biology.
| [https://mit.ilabsolutions.com/equipment/show/262347/?tab=schedule iLabs]
|-
| '''[[BioMicroCenter:Tecan_Freedom_Evo#B9|Tecan EVO 150 — B9]]'''
| Liquid handler optimized for sample processing and assay setup. MCA96 + RoMa plate handler. 3 temperature-controlled + 24 non-temperature-controlled SBS carriers. BL1 work only.
| (see instrument page)
|-
| '''[[BioMicroCenter:Tecan_Freedom_Evo#Revvity_Chemagic_360|Revvity Chemagic 360]]'''
| Magnetic bead-based automated nucleic acid purification. 96-well EM rod head; 12-tip 3-row dispenser array. Processes 96 tissue or cell lysates in up to 5 hours. Charged by consumables. Requires setup steps (lysate preparation before loading). Contact [mailto:biomicro@mit.edu biomicro@mit.edu] at least one month in advance — purification-specific kits take approximately one month to arrive. Donated by the MIT Stem Cell Initiative and Dr. Jacqueline A. Lees.
| Contact BMC 1 month ahead
|}

=== Sequencing ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="width:200px;" | Instrument !! Summary !! style="width:110px;" | Schedule
|-
| '''[[BioMicroCenter:Illumina_Sequencing|Illumina MiSeq i100]]'''
| Walk-up short-read sequencing. A run charge must be added to each reservation (listed as $0 in iLabs but required). Reserve for the actual run duration: 100 nt = 5 h, 300 nt = 8 h, 600 nt = 16 h. Sequencing kits stocked by BMC; available during business hours as add-on charges or via the consumable request form. All data stored on BMC servers (BMC-PUB or BMC-LAB) — Illumina BaseSpace is not directly available from the instrument.
| (see iLabs equipment tab)
|}

=== Single cell / spatial (walk-up option) ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="width:200px;" | Instrument !! Summary !! style="width:110px;" | Schedule
|-
| '''[[BioMicroCenter:SingleCell|10x Chromium X]]'''
| Available as walk-up after training by BMC staff. Chips must be purchased through BMC. Reagents are also available through BMC. Contact [mailto:biomicro@mit.edu biomicro@mit.edu] to arrange training and initial access.
| (see iLabs equipment tab)
|}

== Policies ==

'''Training is mandatory.''' No use of any instrument is permitted without prior training by BMC staff. Untrained use will result in suspension of walk-up privileges for the entire laboratory.

* BMC business has priority on all walk-up equipment at all times.
* Reservations must be made at least 4 hours in advance. Late requests should be emailed to [mailto:biomicro@mit.edu biomicro@mit.edu].
* Walk-up access is MIT only in almost all cases. Non-MIT users should contact [mailto:biomicro@mit.edu biomicro@mit.edu].
* For the MiSeq i100: violation of the access policy results in termination of walk-up privileges for the '''entire laboratory''', not only the individual user.
* All automation scripts must be written by BMC staff before users may run them independently.

== Getting help ==

For general questions, training requests, or after-hours access:

* '''Email:''' [mailto:biomicro@mit.edu biomicro@mit.edu]
* '''Phone:''' 617-715-4533
* '''After-hours access:''' [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nxdzbesvp2mab69wofotm/New_User_Sign_Up_Form.docx?rlkey=x9ftkatdlm897fbeol2ibv8tb&st=ag0jsvn9&dl=0 After-Hours Access Form] (one-time sign-up)
* '''Walk in:''' [http://whereis.mit.edu/?go=68 68-322, MIT campus]

See also: [[BioMicroCenter:FAQ]] for definitions of walk-up vs. assisted services, core lab status, and billing.

BioMicroCenter:Walkup Services - Revision history

Asoberan: Create Walkup Services overview page: scheduling, training, equipment index, policies