Dear Birck Research Community,

Purdue research operations are continuing per the EVPRP’s guidelines:

https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2020/Q1/need-to-know-info-about-covid-2019.html (see sidebar, recent message from Theresa Mayer and Linda Mason)

I would like to provide some additional information regarding our work here at Birck.

Working from home: Purdue recommends working from home/ telecommuting wherever possible. I will meet shortly with engineering, building and admin staff managers to identify how we can implement this while maintaining our facility open.

Reuse shoe covers, bouffant caps, and veils: Due to healthcare providers stockpiling these items we are asking users to reuse shoe covers, caps, and veils for longer periods than normal. This will allow our operations to continue and will support healthcare workers who are needing these items for their own protection.

Wash hands prior to entering labs or cleanroom: We now require anyone entering a lab or the cleanroom to thoroughly wash their hands prior to entering. The CDC recommended procedure for hand washing should be strictly followed.

Use hand sanitizer if available: We’re trying to keep sanitizer available but it is becoming in short supply. Please continue to use it if available.

Custodians Support Activities: The Birck custodians are wiping door handles and other common surfaces with disinfectant on a more frequent basis.

Shipping Receiving: Added steps and precautions are being taken by sanitizing the outside of all packages during the receiving process to protect our personnel and those receiving packages. This may cause a short delay with the receiving process. To help with limiting the number of packages being handled, we request to stop all personal deliveries to the centers loading dock.

Bulk process gas supply: Through the Purdue purchasing organization we have been in contact with our bulk gas suppliers, Messer, Indiana Oxygen, and Praxair. All vendors do not anticipate any disruption in delivery of our bulk gases to the facility. Additionally our engineering staff has tied into the telemetry units and can now monitor the levels of all bulk gases except CO2.

Traveling back to Birck: Currently CDC recommends self-quarantine for a period of 14 days after travel to high risk countries. With the quick spread of virus in many countries, including several states in US, and given that there could be no signs for up to two weeks, I recommend that we are extra cautious following the recommendations after any travels. By avoiding unnecessary face-to-face meetings, we can minimize unintended spread of the disease among colleagues. Of course, working remotely should be coordinated and approved by managers or faculty advisers.

Additional pandemic contingency plans: We continue to develop additional contingency plans if EVPRP decides to limit or curtail research work. This planning includes alternating shifts and telework. At this time these are only plans that have no timeline for deploying. If you have sensitive tools that require careful shutdown or attention while idle, it will be good to include them in the plan. Please contact Ron Reger (rreger@purdue.edu) and Mark Voorhis (mvoorhis@purdue.edu).

These are unprecedented times and we’re working on a daily basis to keep our community safe while anticipating possible future scenarios. Please let me know if you have additional input, ideas, suggestions, or concerns.

Best regards,

Ali

Ali Shakouri
Mary Jo and Robert L. Kirk Director
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Birck Nanotechnology Center, Room 1027
Purdue University
1205 West State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2057
(765) 496-6105; Fax: (765) 496-8299
shakouri@purdue.edu

From: Shakouri, Ali
Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2020 9:27 AM
To: bnc-all@ecn.purdue.edu
Subject: Birck Center operation in light of COVID-19

Dear Birck Research Community,

Birck center is open and operates under normal conditions. Since the situation is rapidly evolving, we will communicate if there are any updates from EVPRP and university administration. Here is a good resource about the latest information at Purdue:

https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2020/Q1/need-to-know-info-about-covid-2019.html

As you know there are extraordinary measures being taken on a worldwide basis to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus. A beneficial initiative is called social distancing which involves limiting interaction with other people in crowd situations. This is being deployed in countless ways. Another major initiative is to frequently sanitize one’s hands and common surfaces where others may frequently touch. This virus can live on surfaces for several days.

At Purdue all classes are going online after spring break (at least until early April), university travel is being suspended, visitor events to campus and gathering of more than 50 people are being cancelled. These actions are aimed at social distancing. Purdue’s research operations will continue as of now.

At the Birck Nanotechnology Center we are implementing the following measures for sanitization and social distancing:

Additional hand sanitizer is being placed at various locations throughout the facility. Please avail yourselves of this often.
A 2% hydrogen peroxide solution, as used in the healthcare industry for sanitization, is being placed in spray bottles in each lab. A procedure will accompany these but essentially one can spray a surface before touching or working and wipe them clean with a lab wipe one minute after spraying.
Be aware of social distancing and strive to keep couple of feet of separation between yourself and others with whom you are interacting.
Cleanroom supplies (shoe covers, veils, bouffant caps) are becoming in short supply due to hospitals stock-piling, so plan to reuse and ration those items as much as possible.
It is highly recommended to wash your hands before entering the labs or cleanroom.
The Birck custodians are wiping door handles and other common surfaces with disinfectant on a more frequent basis.
We’re working with Purdue purchasing and our bulk gas vendors to finalize their pandemic procedures for our house process gases.
Our “Essential Personnel” list has been updated in the event that additional, more extreme measures are taken in the future, including closing of the facility.

Please let Ron, Mark, Stephen, Sunil or I know if you have any questions or comments.

Best regards,

Ali