Introduction |
| The
NCSU Analytical Instrumentation Facility (AIF) was established
in 1923 as Enginnering Research Services and is the oldest University
center in existance in North Carolina. The AIF serves as a North
Carolina State University resource for materials characterization.
AIF operates a number of major analytical instruments and numerous
other instruments providing quality analysis for all who require
it. These instruments are operated and maintained by a staff
specialized in the methods of materials characterization who
are experienced in the design and implementation of materials
characterization experiments. For those who desire hands on
involvement in their analyses, AIF staff trains users to operate
facility analytical instrumentation, to design efficient analytical
experiments, and to properly interpret the resultant data. In
addition, AIF staff is involved in the development and/or enhancement
of analytical techniques in a continuing effort to provide the
level of capabilities required by the ever evolving needs of
the NCSU research community. AIF provides short courses as well
as formal classroom instruction to insure that NCSU's future
engineers and scientists can upon graduation take with them
an understanding of modern analytical techniques and the instrumentation
required to implement them. |
Need
For Analytical Expertise |
|
Correct materials characterization requires specialized understanding
of the analytical techniques that are used for analysis. Incorrect
interpretation of data can impede the progress of a research
project resulting in significant waste of resources and funds.
Nevertheless, the methods of materials characterization are
becoming more and more sophisticated as they become more and
more powerful. It is significant that the methods of analysis
are the subject of as much research as many of the materials
that they are used to analyze. AIF is an organization that enables
all to benefit from the experience of individuals who are specialized
in the methods of materials characterization. |
Need
For A Shared Central Facility |
Materials characterization is not without it's expense. In the
last decade the cost of purchasing and operating analytical
instruments has increased dramatically. It is not uncommon for
an instrument to cost over half a million dollars, and the service
contract for such an instrument can cost over twenty thousand
dollars per year. It is hard to justify such facilities standing
idle when they represent such a significant investment.
AIF is a mechanism by which many can share the capabilities
of these specialized instruments. |
Availability
of AIF |
AIF is administered by the College of Engineering (AIF reports
directly to Dean Sarah Rajala who is the Associate Dean for
Engineering Research and Graduate Programs in the College of
Engineering at NCSU). AIF is part of the North Carolina State
system, and as such it operates with an 'open access' policy.
The result of this policy is that all can benefit from the services
of this state sponsored analytical center.
AIF is not operated to compete with commercial laboratories,
and should not be thought of, in any way, as a 'closed' or 'private'
facility. The intent is that the Analytical Instrument Facility
will help industry and education in a very direct way by providing
analytical services and expertise. |
Expertise
Provided |
|
AIF tailors it's interaction to match the needs of each different
client organization. When the facility interacts with a university
student, it operates as a teaching resource to the student's
home department. The facility assumes the role of tutor and
works to train the student in the various modes of analysis
being used for research. When the facility interacts with a
research or industrial group, it operates as a technical resource
for the group. If the group is knowledgeable the focus of interaction
can be on efficient data acquisition. If the group is less experienced
our staff can help guide the group through the design and implementation
of an efficient analytical program. |
Funding |
|
AIF is funded from a number of sources. The NCSU College of
Engineering funds the heart of the facility, providing partial
support for staff positions with some additional support for
administrative services such as accounting and payroll. The
remainder of AIF staff and the day to day operational funding
depend on income generated by the facility in return for analytical
services. This ties much of the expense of the facility to the
tangible work performed by the facility forcing AIF to operate
in an efficient manner and to provide services which are in
demand. A third source of funding involves contracts and grants
from industry and government agencies. |
Educational
Activities |
|
AIF staff, in addition to providing in laboratory training and
assistance to users, regularly teach short courses both at NCSU
and elsewhere which acquaint users with the capabilities of
modern analytical techniques. AIF staff also participate in
the formal instruction of students by either teaching or assisting
others in the teaching of regularly scheduled classes and laboratories. |
Additional
Services |
|
Although the primary role of AIF is to offer expertise, access
and training in materials characterization, this is not it's
only mission. The mission of AIF is to provide state of the
art materials characterization, a very active field of research
in it's own right. AIF is actively involved in research and
development programs designed to improve methods of materials
characterization. These projects are driven by the needs of
the user community and generally result in tangible enhancements
of the analytical capabilities of the facility. In the recent
past, research projects have included the development of computer
control systems for data acquisition, the development of hardware
attachments to expand the analytical capabilities of AIF instruments,
and the development of methodologies to enable more accurate
interpretation of acquired data. These research activities are
significant in that they have resulted in capabilities available
exclusively to users of AIF, and they quickly benefit the research
programs of all who make use of the facility. |
