The ECOR Labs (Environmental Control for Organismal Research Laboratories) provide equipment, support, and scientific expertise, with the intention of extending capabilities and efficiency of University of Montana researchers.  In order to maintain the quality, integrity and cooperative functionality of ECOR Labs, users are expected to adhere to the following procedures and policies.

Procedures for ECOR Facilities Use

Researchers interested in using ECOR Plant or ECOR Insect facilities may request use of available growth chambers via an online portal on ECOR’s website. ECOR staff must approve requests before ECOR facilities can be used. Once approved, researchers may use the ECOR facilities they have reserved in compliance will all ECOR facility rules (See Facility Rules, below). Therefore, ECOR facilities are available on a first come, first served basis. In the case of overlapping requests (same chamber/same time) made > 1 month prior to the start on an experiment, staff will attempt to resolve the conflict so as to maximize research efficiency (e.g., allow a 1 month experiment to start and finish before a 6 month experiment, suggest an alternative chamber).  Such resolution will not be attempted on shorter notice. Researchers with space needs less than a full chamber may coordinate with each other to use a chamber simultaneously.

Facility Rules

1. The ECOR staff will train, support and assist ECOR users, but the ECOR Users are responsible for their own design, monitoring, and maintenance of research.
2. Use of all ECOR facilities must be requested and scheduled in advance via the online portal and approved by the ECOR manager.
3. An exit date must be provided at the time of the request to use ECOR facilities; if this date must be extended, the ECOR manager must be notified immediately, and the extended use will depend on whether the space is scheduled for another researcher.
4. ECOR users must provide their own consumable materials (pots, soils, etc.).
5. ECOR users are responsible for all routine maintenance of rented space (i.e. keeping growth chambers clean) and care of study organisms during their use of ECOR faculties. The staff may be available to assist with routine care for an additional fee.
6. All pest and disease control must be coordinated with the ECOR Manager.
7. If a problem occurs or further maintenance is needed during use of ECOR facilities, the issue must be reported immediately to ECOR staff. Under no circumstances are researchers to permanently modify ECOR space or equipment without ECOR Manager permission.
8. ECOR users should be aware that chambers are powered by UM electrical systems and do not currently have arrangements for backup electricity generation in the case of power failure.
9. At the end of a proposed experiment, all project materials must be removed and ECOR facilities must be left in the same state they were in before use. Users will be charged for use of ECOR space until it has been returned to a clean, orderly state and approved by the ECOR manager. Further fees may be incurred if facilities are not cleaned and vacated within a reasonable period of time after a user’s experiments have concluded.
10. Please clean using the approved ECOR cleaning supplies provided.

Billing

1. ECOR users will be billed monthly for use of ECOR facilities. Monthly billing will occur from the date at which the user’s reservation begins until they have completely vacated the reserved facilities.
2. Users will be billed for either scheduled time or logged time, whichever is greater (i.e. if the user does not vacate the facility within their scheduled time, they will be billed for logged time).
3. Upon request, ECOR staff will provide a quote for requested services before use of ECOR facilities begins. All charges must be approved by a lab’s Principal Investigator(s) before use of ECOR facilities can begin.
4. ECOR users may cancel reserved ECOR facility use up to one month in advance of their reservation at no cost. Cancelation after one month will result in the user being charged for the first month of scheduled use.

Acknowledgement

The ECOR Laboratories are possible thanks to generous support from the Murdock Charitable Trust, the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Montana, and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at the University of Montana. We hope to continue promoting excellent research through the ECOR Core facility, and want to demonstrate success in our joint mission. Please notify the ECOR Manager of all publications, grant proposals and other products that result from benefits of ECOR Labs space and support.