The Core Instrumentation Facility is comprised of an array of sophisticated instrumentation for structural analysis of small and macromolecules. The Laboratory is located in Room DV3065 in the Chemical and Physical Sciences Department. The facility has been in operation since 2000 and is the home of many state-of-art instruments, providing support for all researchers at the University of Toronto at Mississauga. The objective of the core facility is to provide equipment and expertise to facilitate the use of chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, microscopy and mass spectrometry in research. Technical support is provided with the aim of training students in instrument operation, as well as design and execution of experiments. Once trained, many of the instruments are available to students on a self-service basis.
Tri-Campus Instrument Facilities
Training and Facility Access
All training and scheduling inquiries and requests can be made to:
Dr. Peter Mitrakos, Core Facilities Manager
Phone: 905-828-5442
Fax: 905-828-5425
Email: CPSCoreFacility.UTM@utoronto.ca
All training requests should be submitted in advance, allow up to 3 business days for response and scheduling. Unfortunately, same-day requests for training can not be accommodated at this time.
Health and Safety training is a prerequisite for facility access and instrument training. More information can be found on our Health and Safety page.
Check out training videos for instruments here!
After required trainings are complete, access to the core facility can be requested from the facility manager.
Booking Website
After completion of training, you will be able to book instruments through the following website: https://scheduler.utm.utoronto.ca/nmr.
Instrument and Fees
Waivers
Signed waiver forms should be submitted here.
Core Facility Usage Policies
Users must complete instrument specific training before access to an instrument will be granted.
Graduate students, postdocs, research associates and PIs have access to the facility 24/7 via TCard. Please refer to the Working Alone SOP when using the facility with no one around.
Undergraduate students may access the facility during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, when Peter Mitrakos (Core Facility Manager) or Samer Doughan (Lab Coordinator) are available. Undergraduate students who require access to the Core Facility outside of regular working hours must be directly supervised by a trained graduate student, postdoc, research associate or PI.
The CPS Core Instrument Facility provides research-grade instrumentation for the dual purpose of supporting the research community and the Chemistry undergraduate teaching labs. The use of the instruments located in the core facility is subject to appropriate training outlined in Training and Facility Access. Access is a privilege granted with the following conditions:
- Proper use of equipment
- SOPs must be followed
- Safe and careful handling of equipment
- Equipment bookings must be made in advance of equipment use
- Proper attire and personal protective equipment (PPE) are worn at all times in the facility
- Long pants, closed-toe shoes
- Gloves
- Lab coat, as necessary
- Goggles, as necessary
- Authorized users of the facility only i.e. on sharing of T-Cards or piggybacking on entry.
Issues arising from violation of these conditions will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined below:
- First Infraction - Verbal warning from the Core Facility Manager (can take the form of face-to-face conversation)
- Second Infraction - Written warning from the Core Facility Manager (Manager, Teaching Lab Operations and supervising PI will be copied)
- Third Infraction - Access revoked, with increased length if further incidents occur (User will be informed by email, coping Manager, Teaching Lab Operations and supervising PI)
- 1 week
- 1 month
- 1 year
Courteous and respectful behavior is required at all times. Rude or inappropriate behavior will be addressed by the Manager, Teaching Laboratory Operations, through email, with an appropriate consequence up to and including permanent loss of access to the Core Facility.
Tri-Campus Instrument Facilities
CPS’ Core Instrument Facility is home to a diverse selection of scientific equipment available to those on the Mississauga campus, however, students on or near the St. George and Scarborough campuses may wish to utilize facilities with a similar function. On the St. George campus there is ANALEST and AIMS and on the Scarborough campus there is TRACES.
FAQs
Can I use the facility after hours?
After completing all required Health & Safety and Instrument specific trainings, graduate students, postdocs, research associates and PIs can use the facility after hours. Please refer to the Working Alone SOP.
Can I use the facility after hours if I am an undergraduate student or volunteer?
Yes, however, undergraduate students and/or volunteers must be supervised at all times after hours by a graduate student, postdoc, research associate or PI from their research lab.
If the instrument is warming up or sitting idle during my booking time, will I be charged for this time?
Yes.
The instrument is not working. What should I do?
Do not attempt to troubleshoot the instrument yourself. Contact Peter Mitrakos, Core Facility Manager at cpscorefacility.utm@utoronto.ca.
If the Core Facility Manger is away, cpscorefacility.utm@utoronto.ca mailbox will be monitored by Samer Doughan.