Terms of use

Terms of use of the nanoSOIL laboratory at the
Chair of Soil Science (Lehrstuhl für Bodenkunde)
Technical University of Munich
(Release date: 07 July 2015; updated on 31 March 2021)

1. Applicability: The terms of use are obligatory to all users (internal and external).
    
2. Team: For technical, operational and security issues, Dr. C Höschen have to be contacted. For questions related to biogeochemical applications NanoSIMS in soil systems sciences you can contact Dr. S. Schweizer.
   Prof. Dr. I. Kögel-Knabner is the head of the nanoSOIL laboratory. Contact details can be found on the website of the nanoSOIL laboratory.
    
3. Operation mode: The nanoSOIL laboratory offers measurements with the Cameca NanoSIMS 50 L. They include image as well as spot mode. The measurements are conducted by staff members of nanoSOIL; the user should be present. Instruction of external users is not intended.
   We offer NanoSIMS measurement time and expertise as a service with a scientific involvement. This includes an advisory service for the planning of experiments, discussion of possible sample preparation techniques and the final measurement by an operator at our instrument. Members of the nanoSOIL team will help with data interpretation and further quantitative analysis by offering an introduction to possible data analysis software, if necessary.
    
4. Scientific focus: The utilization of the nanoSOIL laboratory (NanoSIMS laboratory of the Chair of Soil Science including responsible staff members and facilities) is reserved for scientific purposes with a main focus on biogeochemical applications in soil systems sciences and related fields.
    
5. Application procedure: Before making use of the capacities of nanoSOIL, a formal application must be submitted. In this proposal, type and number of samples, time frame of intended measurements as well as preceding analyses (optical microscopy, SEM etc.) have to be presented. Generally, nanoSOIL assists with the preparation of the proposal. After examination, a notification from staff members of nanoSOIL will be provided in written form regarding feasibility and acceptance. Generally, a new application must be submitted for each service. The application form can be downloaded from the homepage of nanoSOIL (nanosoil_application.pdf).
    
6. Scheduling: Processing of the services applied for is carried out in the order of receipt and according to available resources (staff, instruments). In case of overbooking, the responsible head of nanoSOIL (Prof. Dr. I. Kögel-Knabner) decides on the scheduling of measurement time.
    
7. Costs: In accordance with the DFG, operating costs are set to 800 EUR (exclusive of VAT) per day for all users. This charge includes all project specific consumables (sputtered optics, used electron multipliers, used primary ion sources etc.). The operator and scientist’s time spent for assisting the users during a measurement session will not be charged.
    
8. Safety of sample material: Users of nanoSOIL are not allowed to take any material into the laboratories of nanoSOIL that poses potential danger or contamination issues (e.g. infectious or radioactive material including 14C enriched samples). In case of doubt, users should contact staff members of nanoSOIL before transportation or shipping of the materials. The user ensures the safety of the ample material and takes full responsibility for potential health or contamination issues by her or his signature on the application form.
    
9. Data security: Utilization of the electronic devies is allowed according to prior agreement of staff members of nanoSOIL. Peripheral storage devices are only allowed after having consulted staff members of nanoSOIL. The user commits herself/himself to data security.
    
10. Sample and data storage: Samples and data that were generated on the responsibility of nanoSOIL will be stored for 10 years. Archival storage of samples that were prepared on the own responsibility of the user does not take place. The user is solely responsible for proper long-term storage.
     
11. Utilization and publication agreement: Utilization of results takes place as agreed upon in the respective proposal and according to the recommendations of the DFG for publication of scientific data (Proposals for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice, DFG, 2013). In any case, the utilization of results that were generated with nanoSOIL requires permission by nanoSOIL. All users are obligated to inform the nanoSOIL staff of their publications or PhD thesis based on research carried out.
    The authorship for the publication of the research based on the measurement should be assessed according to the three following criteria: (i) A substantial contribution to the conception, planning, measurement and the interpretation of the research, (ii) participation in the manuscript drafting and (iii) approval of the final version of the manuscript. For technical assistance, contributors should be adequately mentioned in the Acknowledgements section. As every NanoSIMS measurement requires qualified scientific expertise, nanoSOIL staff members with substantial contributions based on the above-mentioned criterias are entitled to be included as a co-author(s) on scientific publications reporting results gained from the NanoSIMS measurements at the nanoSOIL facility. This procedure assures the existence of nanoSOIL. Materials that were generated at nanoSOIL may be used by nanoSOIL for teaching purposes by mentioning of the source, if the user does not contradict to this explicitly.