Equipment-Specific Terms of Use for the Laboratory for Electron Microscopy (LEM)

of 7 January 2022

These Terms of Use govern the use of services by LEM in both user and service operations. The Terms of Use are set out in this appendix, which is incorporated into the General Terms of Use of the Department of Biology’s Imaging Center.

1. The general contact is the administrative head of the Imaging Center.
2. The scientific contacts and the persons responsible for the respective devices are listed on the Imaging Center’s homepage (https://imaging.uni-greifswald.de/en/about-us/organisation/our-team/).

1. Equipment
   A list of LEM’s electron microscopes and a detailed description of the devices are available on the Imaging Center’s website (https://imaging.uni-greifswald.de).
2. Techniques for Sample Preparation
   The methods used to prepare samples are described on the Imaging Center’s website (https://imaging.uni-greifswald.de).
3. Other Services On Offer
   LEM’s services include scientific advice to users from the Head of LEM with regard to the investigation at hand and the experiments required, how to prepare the samples for the electron microscope, microscopy and documentation of the samples.

1. Only LEM staff members are allowed to prepare samples using the facilities of LEM.
2. Users and external customers must ensure that the biological material used in the trials and also the samples, which are handed in for microscopy or used in user operations, are in an inactive form. They have to make sure that the samples themselves or the handling of them will pose no risk to humans.
3. If required, chemicals for fixing the samples (fixatives) will be provided. Once a provided fixative has been handed over to a user, s/he agrees to observe the laboratory regulations, the provisions of the Gefahrstoffverordnung (Hazardous Substances Ordinance) and all other applicable provisions related to health and safety at the workplace. The University is not liable for damages caused by a user’s violation of the rules outlined in sentence 2. The user must release the University from any third-party claims.
4. If, due to high demand, not all requests can be met, the Head of LEM will decide on how capacity is allocated and in which chronological order individual requests are dealt with. Priority will be given to the user groups as per § 4 of the General Terms of Use.
5. Samples from external customers are generally processed in the order in which they are received while also taking into account the best possible processing efficiency.

1. The equipment is usually operated by LEM staff members (service operation).
2. In longer projects with a large amount of samples or with samples that require extensive imaging, it is also possible to allow users to operate the electron microscope themselves (user operation as per § 4(3) of the General Terms of Use).

1. Users may not use the equipment specified under § 3 until they have filled in the questionnaire (§ 5(2) of the General Terms of Use) for that particular device (one questionnaire per device) and until they have been given a briefing by the Head of LEM or person who is in charge of the device. The briefing takes place over the course of several days. The briefing is only valid for the person to whom it has been given and needs to be accompanied by a safety briefing and a laser safety briefing (if the equipment mentioned in § 3(1) is fitted with lasers). Users may only use the electron microscopes on their own after receiving the required briefings.
2. Users must use the equipment at least once every three months. If the equipment was last used by the user more than six months previously, the samples will then be examined by microscope by the person responsible for the equipment and charged according to the fee table. If the microscope was last used by the user more than six months ago and it is foreseeable that s/he will have to examine a high number of samples again, there will be a new briefing (including safety briefing) that will this time be charged.
3. Depending on the device, time slots will be allocated to users following consultation with the Head of the LEM, or by making a booking in the device’s calendar. Users must ensure that their passwords are protected against misuse by any third parties.
4. If it has been agreed that a device can only be used following an electronic booking, the electronic booking is deemed a prerequisite for the use of the device. This device may not be used without prior reservation in the booking calendar.
5. Only users may make bookings in the booking calendar. Users are strictly forbidden to book equipment for third parties who have not been briefed or for any other unauthorised persons. Non-compliance can result in immediate loss of their own permit.
6. If the equipment cannot be used due to a defect or because it is being serviced, LEM is entitled to cancel the booking. The user receives appropriate notification.

1. Only authorised users may use the equipment listed under § 3. All users are strictly forbidden to grant access to the equipment to any third parties.
2. Users may only use the equipment during the allocated time slot. If the user needs to use the equipment for a longer period, depending on the device, this can be arranged either with the Head of LEM unless the equipment is already booked out for that time, or entered into the booking system on site, if the required time has not been allocated to another booking.
3. Depending on the device, the data generated by users may only be copied from the computers connected to the equipment by LEM staff members using their own USB sticks!
4. Every user must fill in the logbook at the end of the period of use.

1. The samples that have been prepared or treated for scanning electron microscope procedures in service operation will be stored in the desiccator and normally be destroyed after a storage period of five years.
2. The grid prepared for the transmission electron microscope will be stored in the desiccator and normally be destroyed after a period of five years.

Fee table for the LEM at the Department of Biology, in the version as amended from time to time

The English translation of the Gerätespezifische Nutzungsordnung für das Laboratorium für Elektronenmikroskopie (LEM) is intended solely as a convenience to non-German-reading students/members of the University. Only the German text published on 14 January 2022 is legally binding. In the event of any conflict between the English and German text, its structure meaning or interpretation, the German text, its structure, meaning or interpretation shall prevail.