Best Practices for University Core Laboratories:

Insights from DOE User Facilities

Dr. Christopher J. Keane

Vice President for Research

Professor of Physics

Washington State University

WASHINGTON STATE

UNIVERSITY

Presented to:

APLU COR Annual Meeting

July 31, 2018

Bozeman, MT

1

ALS 2560 users LCLS 837 users

APS 5331 usersSSRL 1626 users

DOE Basic Energy Sciences (light source sponsor)

has seen major budget growth- how?

Organized user group

Advisory committee

And…..

Leadership and organization

NMR 54 users

Sequencing 50 usersTissue imaging

32 users

Microscopy/imaging 123 users

Other actions taken to improve WSU core facilities

(Prof. Andrea Lazarus)

• Involved faculty: Instituted faculty user and advisory committees

that provide oversight, prioritize equipment needs, help to resolve

conflicts, and set strategic direction

• Created structure: Core facilities have regular user committee

meetings and submit annual reports and business plans; AVP to

oversee core operations

• Increased efficiency: Implemented user agreements with nearby

institutions to take advantage of core facilities at each institution at

comparable rates.

• Increased visibility: Regular core facility workshops and seminar

programs that highlight capabilities and new technologies; annual

“fair” to showcase core services and capabilities; list of core

facilities and services featured prominently on Office of Research

webpage

• Strategic planning: linked university decisions on limited

submission equipment proposals to ongoing needs of core facilities

Summary: Key elements for success

• Leadership and organization

• Organized User Group

• Advisory Committee