Users

Not a University of Pittsburgh Community Member?

For all University of Pittsburgh Community Members

This includes current active Students, Faculty, and Staff of University of Pittsburgh - the following steps apply to gaining direct user access to the NanoScale Fabrication and Characterization Lab, located in the Sub Basement floor of Benedum Hall, room SB 60-63.  If you are a faculty member and do not wish to gain direct access to operate the equipment yourself, you may reach out to us about planning for arrival for your students or for options related to service.

  • Pitt users request for access to CMU facility click here
General Lab Access Certification
  1. Ensure that you have an FOM account or create one: https://www.sharedfacilities.pitt.edu/pinse/users/request-fom-access
  2. Complete the basic (pre-covid) General Lab and Characterization Room Online Orientation. 
    1. NFCF Staff will receive an email when you have completed this orientation training.  You will need to obtain a quiz score of at least 80% to pass, at which point NFCF staff will contact you with the Characterization Online Orientation certificate.
  3. Complete the Chemical Hygiene Certificate
    1. Note there are online instructions toward the bottom the page
  4. Watch the Updated Training COVID Compliance Conference Call (you can follow along with the content here)
  5. Email nfcfadmn@pitt.edu and include: copy of certifications, confirmation of watching #4, and also pick one option about Pitt ID below and send the item described there:  
    1. For a physical card Pitt ID, send me please a photo of the front/back of a physical card.
    2. For a virtual card Pitt ID, go to Pitt’s E-Accounts app (aka TransAct), click Accounts on the front page, then click “show barcode” on that page and send me a screenshot of that barcode page. 
    3. If you don’t have any Pitt ID at all, just tell me that in your email and I can help you get one.

General lab access grants you access to all equipment listed in characterization side of the lab, as well as the fabrication tools indicated as Dicer, and AJA.

Cleanroom Lab Access Certification

Based on your research needs, you may additionally wish to prepare for cleanroom equipment access.  We recommend to only pursue this step if you have confirmed need for equipment in the Cleanroom within the next 6 months.  Lithography, Deposition, Dry Etching, Surface profiling, Thermal processing, and Hoods are all located in the cleanroom.  Submitting a request for a piece of equipment in the cleanroom will automatically prompt the orientation.

Note: Please complete the general lab orientation steps above, first, as prerequisite.

  1. Complete Cleanroom Fabrication Online Orientation 

    1. NFCF Staff will receive an email when you have completed this orientation training.  You will need to obtain a quiz score of at least 80% to pass, at which point NFCF staff will contact you in order to schedule the brief walk-through orientation.

  2. Review Gowning Procedures (information on any mask mandate is available here)

    1. If Masks are currently optional, Click here for the applicable video
    2. If Masks are currently mandatory, Click here for the applicable video 

  3. Followed by a virtual walkthrough scheduled with the Administrative Coordinator, to finalize cleanroom access.  

The Walkthrough will include review of the following content provided here.

Walkthrough meetings are offered based on the scheduling needs of those requesting attendance and are held via Teams.  If you have not previously used Teams, you may wish to review our guidance related to Teams.

At any time during the process, you may contact the administrative coordinator for assistance with this process by emailing nfcfadmn@pitt.edu.