Responding to COVID-19: Research Operations at Birck

 

https://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/birck/for-birck-users/covid/index.php

 

 

Seminars /Workshops / Events

 

Future directions in nanomaterial synthesis: from rational design to data-driven manufacturing (flyer attached)

Virtual Workshop: January 19-20-21 2021

Website: https://graphene.illinois.edu  

Bringing together the leaders in nanomaterials synthesis from around the world, the objectives of this workshop are: (1) to collect new insights and lessons learnt related to the synthesis of various nanomaterials, with emphasis on 2D materials; (2) to create a framework for data collaborations among groups in these areas on synthesis and complementary computational tools; and (3) to present the efforts of the Network for Computational Nanotechnology Nanomanufacturing Node in using computational and data-driven tools tailored for the synthesis community.

 

nanoHUB is excited to announce the first four workshops for the Spring 2021 session of our Hands-on Data Science and Machine Learning Training Series. 

Series information. Our series is aimed at active researchers and educators and designed to introduce practical skills with online, hands-on activities participnts

will be able to incorporate in their work. Hands-on activities will use nanoHUB cloud computing resources, no need to download or install any software. All you 

need is an internet connection and a browser. After the training sessions, you will be able to continue using nanoHUB for research or education.

Registration links and material for prior workshops can be found at the workshop webpage: https://nanohub.org/groups/ml/handsontraining 

Register soon as seats are limited.  

 

 

 

Indiana-focused conference, Environmental Justice, Next Steps – Environment Justice, Climate Change, and Racial Justice

March 25 – 26, 2021

The goal of this virtual conference is to create a regional action network on environmental justice by bringing together Purdue researchers, artists, scholars and stakeholders, and including peers working at research institutions across the state. Through the conference, Purdue will bring diverse scholars and leaders together to broaden the conversation on environmental justice with a focus Indiana and the Midwest by inviting researchers in areas including environmental sciences, racial & social justice, decolonization, engineering, law and environmental policy, and the visual and performing arts with the intention of starting long-term collaborations and conversations to maximize the impact of discussions moving forward.

Website: https://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/environment/resources/Env-justice.php

 

Birck Events and Birck News

 

 


Required Annual All User Refresher

 

It’s that time of year again! In order to maintain access to Birck, all BNC laboratory users (including any of the dry, solvent, acid, bio, and cleanroom labs) must obtain this year’s annual safety training refresher Passport badge: BNC 151 - 2021 badge

 

BNC lab users must obtain this badge by 11:59 PM Sunday, January 24th, or BNC lab access will be revoked. Please direct any questions or issues to sejurss@purdue.edu and jcwirth@purdue.edu.

 

To begin earning the badge, navigate to the following link and click the “Get Started” button: https://www.openpassport.org/Badge/bnc151-2021/Criteria

 

NOTE: If you do not see the “Get Started” button at the badge page, or cannot access the page at all, you need to join the BNC Passport group:

  1. Navigate to the BNC Passport Group page: https://www.openpassport.org/Group/bnc
  2. Login with your Purdue ID and BoilerKey (if not already logged in)
  3. Once at the BNC Passport Group page, click the “Join Group” button.

 

To reiterate the requirements listed on the badge page, obtaining the badge requires:

  1. A review of the BNC 151 - 2021 training slides and the Chemical Hygiene Plan.
  2. Passing a 25 question quiz on content from the BNC 151 - 2021 training slides and the Chemical Hygiene Plan. An 80% or better is required to pass. The quiz may be retaken once, if needed. You may refer to the BNC 151 - 2021 training slides and the Chemical Hygiene Plan during the quiz.

 

Please note:

 

 


NOTICE:  Birck Cleanroom and Labs Closed; January 12, 2021

 

The Birck Nanotechnology Center will be closed Tuesday,  January 12, 2021 from 8am to 4pm for an upgrade to the automated building system.  Air handling systems, exhaust systems, and monitoring systems will be down beginning at 8 a.m., and all utilities are scheduled to resume at 4pm barring any unforeseen issues. 

 

All CLEANROOM research work will be suspended until the maintenance activities are completed and all systems are returned to normal.  Only authorized personnel will be allowed to enter the cleanroom during this time period.

 

In addition, the laboratory areas will also be affected by this systems upgrade.  As such, all LABORATORY activities that involve exhausted hoods, vacuum systems, and/or toxic gas systems will be down beginning 8 a.m. Tuesday, January 12, 2021 from 8am to 4pm.  No chemical or biological work will be allowed during this period.

 

It is anticipated that the building upgrades will be completed by the end of the day on at 4pm on January 12, 2021.  An email will be sent once all work is complete.

 

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding during these important Siemens building controls upgrade.  Please contact me if you need more detailed information.

 

Dan Hosler

Research Facility Planning Engineer

Birck Nanotechnology Center  |  Room 2287C

Office:  765.496.3883  |  Email:  dhosler@purdue.edu

 

 


Hogen Hydrogen Generator Preventative Maintenance

The Hogen Hydrogen generator will be down for preventative maintenance on 14 January between 7:00am and 5:00pm. The facility Hydrogen supply will be switched to the back-up cylinders while the PM work is performed. We ask that all users reduce their Hydrogen use during the PM.

 


Courses

ECE 595 Applied Quantum Computing I, II, III

Instructor: Prof. Pramey Upadhyaya (prameyup@purdue.edu)

Spring 2021

This course aims to train students starting from the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics to understand how they can be leveraged for building quantum hardware and software, so that they can contribute to move this emerging technology forward with applications in artificial intelligence and data sciences. An important aspect will be a focus on providing hands-on experience programming real quantum systems. Particularly, we will focus on following three-levels:

 

ECE 695 Quantum Detectors and Sensors Spring 2021 

Prof. Zubin Jacob is offering a course on fundamentals of quantum technology. Here is a preview about the course https://youtu.be/8sp4p9PEKJE 

 


Birck Safety Protocols

It is very gratifying to see our research community back ‘in business’ doing leading-edge research in our center after the long pause we all experienced this Spring.  But at the same time we want to remind our entire user group of the critical importance of following the COVID safety protocols while using our facilities.  If an outbreak of COVID exposures should happen at Birck there is a real possibility that we may need to close the facility again.  So please read and support the following…..

 

…..Some of our approved users are holding the doors open for others to enter the building.  This may very well be a gesture of politeness to assist another, but it also can be perceived that non-approved people are entering our building with the assistance of one of our approved users.  Additionally it does not allow us to have an accurate accounting of who is entering our building by evaluating card-swipe data.  So everyone should swipe into Birck and not be let in by someone holding the door open. 

 

…..Face masks are required while in Birck.  Approved users have been, and continue to be, strongly encouraged to bring their own face mask for their personal use while in the facility.  At the entrances we have supplied quantities of disposable face masks for emergency use, but our supplies of these disposable masks are being depleted at the high rate of 300 – 400 masks per week.  This rate of use seems exceptionally high when personal masks are strongly recommended.  Please only take one mask from the supply, and only when you’ve forgotten your personal mask. 

 

….Social distancing continues to be a challenge.  This is a difficult habit to develop and groups of people have been seen clustered around a tool, or having a hallway conversation, and not adhering to the 6’ spacing rule.  Please continue to maintain at least 6’ spacing between yourself and the nearest other person.

 

Please stay vigilant in promoting and supporting these safety protocols.  If we each do our part we will continue to stay open and conduct state-of-the-art research in our great facility.

 

 


Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

 

Facebook icon    Twitter icon

 

***If you have any news items (published papers, research news, awards, honors) please send to jjturner@purdue.edu so they may be included on Birck’s website, Facebook and Twitter pages***

 

 

Jaime Turner
Lead Administrative Assistant to the Director | Birck Nanotechnology Center

BRK | 1205 W State Street | West Lafayette, IN 47907

o: 765-494-3509 | m: 765-491-3064 | jjturner@purdue.edu

 

83324AA6