Follow the steps to get started at NCF
Access Options
There are two ways to use NCF equipment. All requests and billing are managed through iLab, regardless of the option you choose. The difference is how the work is performed and how the charges are billed, depending on user type.
- Option 1: Request a Work Service
- NCF staff operate the equipment and collects data/delivers sample
- No safety exam or training required
- Includes staff fee, material fee, and instrument usage fee
- Request and billing submitted through iLab
- Option 2: Use Equipment Independently
- Users operate the equipment after training
- Safety exam and training required
- Equipment reservations and billing are handled through iLab
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NCF uses iLab to manage users, labs, training, and billing.
- Register for an iLab account
- Ensure your PI has an iLab and has added you to it
Creating an iLab account alone does not grant access. If your PI does not yet have an iLab account, they must create one and set up a lab. You must be added to a lab before you can submit requests, schedule training, or be billed.
Register on iLabs
To be able to request services to NCF or be a user, you need to have an iLab account. NCF uses the iLab portal to manage services, trainings and reservations.
Steps to Register:
- Navigate to iLab (Bookmark this URL for future use)
- Select “Register for an iLab Account”
- Fill out the registration form. Please make sure all your information is accurate. We will be sending invoices and all other communication according to the information you provided here.
- Once the registration is finalized, you will receive a notification from iLab support team
Important:
PIs need to register first to have their labs created. Then business managers and lab members can register into their labs (research groups). PIs can assign the following roles to members of their group:
- Manager
- Primary Financial Contact
- Lab member
You will not be able to request NCF services or reserve instruments until you are added to a lab and an appropriate funding source is added in iLab.
Billing & Funding Sources
All NCF charges are processed through iLab. The required funding source depends on your user type:
UIC Users
- Add a UIC funding source (CFOAPAL) directly in iLab
- If you are unsure of your UIC funding source, please contact your department’s business unit or administrative office.
- Charges are billed internally through iLab
External Academic Users
- Billing setup varies by institution
- Coordinate with your department or business office to establish billing in iLab
Industry/Non-Academic Users
- Billing is typically handled via Purchase Order (PO)
- Monthly invoices are issued and payable by credit card or company payment method
Note: Regardless of user type, all billing is managed through iLab.
For questions regarding billing or funding setup, please contact NCF Director Dr. An (syan11@uic.edu)
As an Internal PI (UIC lab)
INTERNAL PI – someone who has funding through UIC (has a CFOAPAL)
- Navigate to iLab (Bookmark this URL for future use)
- Select “Sign in using University of Illinois at Chicago (NetID) credentials.”
- You will now be prompted to provide your UIC NetID and password.
- In the registration page select a lab
- Your first name, last name, and email address will be pre-filled. Complete any remaining fields that have not been pre-filled, such as phone number.
- Click ‘Register.’ The next page you see will be the “Greeting Page”
- Once logged in you will be on the iLab homepage dashboard. Make sure to set your time zone and ADD YOUR FUNDING SOURCE(S)!
Take the NCF Safety Exam
In order to become an NCF user, you will fist need to pass the NCF safety exam.
NCF Safety Exam (Required)
- The NCF Safety Exam is a closed notes multiple-choice quiz
- The exam tests material covered in the NCF Safety Exam PDF
Click link below to access Exam pdf
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Exam Location & Schedule
Location:
Engineering Research Facility (ERF), Room 3064
842 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607
Hours:
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday-Friday
Passing & Results
- Passing score: 80%
- Results are typically communicated within 48 hours
- If you do not pass, you may retake the exam
After Passing the Exam
- Request equipment-specific training through iLab
- Training approval is required before independent equipment use
Quick Notes
- The safety exam must be complete before requesting independent access
- Equipment trainings are requested separately through iLab
- Supervised or staff-assisted use may have different requirements
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After the Exam
After passing the exam, please stop by NCF office to get card access and cleanroom gowns, if needed.
Facility and Cleanroom Access
For UIC affiliated individuals, facility access will be granted through our swipe card access system. Non-UIC affiliated individuals will need to obtain a visitor card from the UIC ID center. The visitor card request form can be obtained at the NCF main office. Swipe card access to the facility will be granted once you have your visitor card. You can always knock on the door of room 3064 ERF if you do not have your iCard.
For cleanroom access, users must have their UIC i-card (UIC-affiliated users) or a visitor access card (non-UIC users) activated for cleanroom entry. Activation is completed at the NCF main office during business hours (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday). Cleanroom access is tracked using the activated card.
The cleanroom access fee is $35/hr for academic users, and $56/hr for industrial users. For UIC affiliated individuals, you must bring with you, your iCard and your iLab payment source number. Non-UIC affiliated individuals must have their iLab payment source number with them. Please note that the owner of the payment source must grant you permission to use said payment source on iLab. If you will not be using the cleanroom, you may proceed to the next section.
Requesting Trainings
You can request trainings on instruments through the Request Services tab on iLab. Please make sure you specify which instrument you want to get trained on when you fill out the request. The training fee is $65/session for academic users, and $100/session for industrial users.
The standard number of trainings for instruments is 3, although some simple instruments will require only 2 sessions. The first is a session with a member of NCF staff where you are shown how the instrument works. The second training can be with NCF staff or an authorized user, usually a lab mate, where you will have hands-on practice. The third training is a checkout session with a member of NCF staff where you are tested on how to use the instrument and any specific operational/safety points. Simple instruments will only require the initial session and the checkout.
Instrument Usage
Please refer to the NCF Instruments and Pricing.
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NCF performs work service requests for those who need to use our facility for one of experiments or sample characterizations and would not want to go through the safety exam and training process. You can request a work service through the Request Services tab on iLab. Please make sure to specify that you require a work service and on what instrument. Work service request are charged at $100/hr (Internal) and $160/hr (External) of work in addition to the instrument usage and supplies.
The work service requests are performed by the NCF staff members and the asked results are provided to the requestor. You can refer to the NCF FAQs page or contact NCF Director, Dr. Seyoung An (syan11@uic.edu) with additional questions.
Acceptable Payment Method
If you are not a user, it is possible that you might not have a payment account with NCF. To ease the payment process, NCF allows payment through various methods as listed below:
- Credit Card
- Check
- Wire Transfer
- PO Number
- External Payments
EXTERNAL USERS DO NOT NEED TO ADD PAYMENT SOURCES ON iLAB. Invoices will be sent out after the services will be provided.
Payments are DUE in 30 days.
For more information on payments, please visit the RRC website.