1. Speak to the NanoFab Manager
This step provides you with an opportunity to go over the project goals and process flow to ensure that the NanoFab has the capabilities (equipment and processes) to complete the work.
2. Tell us about the people you plan to send to the NanoFab
Everyone working in the NanoFab cleanroom is required to have experience with basic NanoFab equipment and wet chemical processing. Therefore, we ask that the PI provide NanoFab processing experience information about each user they plan to send to the NanoFab. Please email each user’s experience information to the NanoFab manager at nfmanage@nist.gov.
Principal investigators may add or remove users on an existing, active, NanoFab project at any time during its duration. Please fill out this form and email it to the User Office at nanofabuseroffice@nist.gov.
3. Submit a project application
We need to collect some information on the work you are planning to do in the NanoFab. We do this both for internal record keeping and to ensure that the operations staff is prepared to meet your needs. Submit a CNST NanoFab Project Application via email to the NanoFab manager at nfmanage@nist.gov. For determining your budget, you can link to the NanoFab rate sheet here. Please use Adobe Acrobat on a Windows based PC platform to fill and save the CNST NanoFab Project Application. Other operating systems used to generate the CNST NanoFab Project Application PDF have been incompatible with our database systems.
4. Site Access for CNST NanoFab External Users
All users coming to the NIST campus require a site badge. To obtain a NIST site badge, all CNST NanoFab External Users must complete one of the following forms (depending upon your status in the U.S.) and fax it to 301-975-8761 or send it via secure e-mail.
Individuals requesting site badges will be required to show proof of identity including citizenship and visa status, be fingerprinted, and undergo a criminal background check. Processing times for site badges vary based on citizenship and immigration status but most requests can be completed in about four weeks. Campus access is allowed Monday through Friday from 6 am to 7 pm except for federal holidays or campus closures.
5. Fund your project
CNST requires that your initial payment authorization is sufficient to cover the estimated expenses for the first month of your project. However, you will only be billed for the actual expense incurred. We operate on a monthly billing cycle and will provide a report of your project’s NanoFab costs at the close of each billing cycle.
Use the NanoFab Payment form to authorize a payment via credit card or purchase order.
6. Facility Use Agreement
The NanoFab uses two types of facilities use agreements (FUAs) for external users only. The agreements define the period of use, requirements for payment and insurance, responsibilities for damages and injuries, various liabilities (including those associated with information disclosure), and other terms of use, such as the requirement that the use of the NanoFab be acknowledged in publications.
7. Complete the safety training
The NanoFab requires an online safety training and an in-person orientation walk through. The online safety training that takes about 2 hours to complete. The in-person orientation is available every week on Monday morning and takes about 2 hours to complete; if NIST is closed on a Monday, then orientation will be offered on Tuesday. Please contact the NanoFab User Office to schedule your online and in-person training.
8. Acknowledge the CNST NanoFab in your publications and presentations
User facilities are responsible for demonstrating quantitatively their service to the research community. Hence, they require as a condition of service that users acknowledge the use of the facility and report the output of their work to the facility. Users agree to include the acknowledgement "Research performed in part at the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology" in all publications and, if acknowledgements are given, in presentations as well.
9. Renew your project annually
Ninety days before the expiration date of your project, you will receive information for how to renew your project. As part of the renewal process, we ask that you send the NanoFab User Office the full bibliographic reference for all publications, presentations, patents or patent applications, media citations, honors, and awards associated with your current NanoFab project(s) or past NanoFab projects, along with the relevant project number, with a final update at the end of the project year.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions regarding intellectual property and proprietary work can be found here.