The Magnetic Resonance Research Center offers the following services for ASU and external customers:
- routine liquids NMR
- high-field NMR
- solid-state NMR
- MRI
- diffusion
- calorimetry/DSC
A free consultation is available to everyone and required for all services except routine liquids NMR. Contact mrrc@asu.edu to set up your consultation.
All NMR customers must create free accounts on iLab and Spintropy, a centralized data management website optimized for NMR data. Customers who will use instruments themselves must receive the appropriate training before scheduling time on them.
Follow the instructions below to set up an account, schedule time on the instruments and request services.
Required safety trainings
Once you have Career EDGE access, you will need to complete the following trainings before working in our labs.
To set up your iLab account
- If you do not have an iLab account, go to the ASU iLab home page and follow the instructions to set up your account.
- Once your account has been created, log in to iLab and go to the MRRC "Request Services" tab.
- Click on the "request service" button next to "Service ID Generator."
- Select the account you want to use for charges at the MRRC. If you have multiple accounts, set your default account here. You will have the ability to select a different account at the time of billing.
- Click on the "submit request to core" button.
- On the next page, you will see a service ID number. Copy this number, as you will need it to set up your Spintropy account.
To set up your Spintropy account
- Go to www.spintropy.com and click on "Register" in the top right corner.
- Select "Create a User Account."
- Fill out the required information. You will use your Spintropy username every time you submit a sample, so choose one that you will remember.
- Click on "Register."
- You will receive an email with instructions for activating your account. Follow these instructions and log in to your account.
- Go to the "Facilities" tab.
- If you are not a member of the MRRC, select the Join a New Facility button. If you are already a member, skip to step 9.
- Click in the field next to "Join a New Facility" and select "Magnetic Resonance Research Center @ ASU" from the dropdown menu.
- Click the Settings button on the facility tile to open the menu.
Your Spintropy account must be approved by a facility manager before you can use the instruments. If your membership status shows “Awaiting Approval” and you need to use an instrument immediately, email a facility manager to expedite approval.
Data collected on the MRRC automation instrument is automatically delivered to your Spintropy account and stored with incredible durability. However, it is not intended as a backup for your data. The MRRC will periodically delete older data when space is needed. Be sure to download your Spintropy data to your personal or lab computer and back it up appropriately.
To set up training
Note: You must set up your iLab and Spintropy accounts before requesting any training.
For the automation instrument (Bruker 400 MHz):
- If this is your first time running an instrument under automation mode in the MRRC, email a facility manager for an initial 5-minute training. All users must be trained by MRRC staff. Do not train advisees or colleagues yourself!
- You must have a Spintropy account in order to use the automation instrument. See instructions for setting up your account above.
- You do not need to schedule time on the automation instrument. Simply visit the facility and submit your sample.
For the Varian 400/500 MHz instruments:
- Log in to iLab and go to the MRRC Request Services tab.
- Click on the “request service” button next to “Request NMR Services.”
- Select “NMR Instrument Training.”
- Select “400/500 Initial Independent Operation Training.” This training is required before you can operate the instruments independently. After you complete this training you will have access to the instruments for independent operation.
- Two optional training courses are also available, specific to heteronuclear NMR and 2D NMR. You may sign up for either of these trainings after you have taken the initial training course.
To schedule time on the Varian 400/500 MHz instruments
- If you have not done so, complete the required training per the instructions above.
- Log in to iLab and go to the MRRC Schedule Equipment tab.
- Find the instrument you wish to reserve and click on “Make a Reservation.”
- On the calendar, select your time slot by clicking and dragging.
- A popup box will appear. Select your name/account and lab and click “Next.”
- Verify your reservation times, select your payment method and save the reservation.
- If you need to change your reservation, you can double-click it on the calendar to make edits. You cannot make edits within one hour of your reserved time.
To request services
- Log in to iLab and go to the MRRC Request Services tab.
- Click on “request service” next to the type of service you wish to request.
- Fill out the form as indicated and click on “submit request to core.” An MRRC staff member will review your request and contact you with a quote and scheduling options.