Experiment planning

Action required:

1. Registration with Diamond

Email the Diamond User Office to request access to our User Administration System (UAS). Please provide the following details:
 

• Title
• Family Name
• Given Name
• Gender
• DOB (dd/mm/yyyy)
• Organisation
• Department
• E-mail
• Nationality
   

We will send you login details on receipt of this information

After registration, you will be issued with a Fed ID and password.This will give you access to Diamond’s integrated admin and data software (essential to your experiment).
 

2. Safety assessment

Take our safety test.  
You can access the safety video through our website or through our UAS on receipt of your login details.

3. Registration of investigator(s)

Register your investigators 

A link will be sent to you via UAS once a visit has been created.
 

Complete & submit the Experimental Risk Assessment (ERA) form for your samples
 

Instructions on how to manage our UAS and submit your samples are available.

Example form showing how to assess samples is available.

This stage must be completed at least one week prior to the experiment and well in advance of any samples arriving at Diamond.
 

The ERA for each sample will be validated by the Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) group.

Prepare samples using suitable buffers.
 

More information about suitable buffers is available.

Buffers for bioSAXS need to be perfectly matched for the data reduction process to work well.

It is also advisable to include a radiation protectant (for example 1-2% sucrose) to help prevent radiation damage.
 

Send samples using our specially designed sample mailers

Details of how to use the mail-in containers are available.
 

Form for data collection & details of your samples are available.

Please check timings with your Diamond contact before shipping as we will need to make arrangements to collect and store samples under appropriate conditions (-80°C, -18°C and fridge available).
 

If you are shipping from overseas, aim for samples to arrive at Diamond 1-2 days before the experiment, in case of any delays in customs.
 

Data backup can be achieved using Diamond's Data Dispenser or can be done remotely.

You can send a labelled external hard drive to be plugged in to the data dispenser by your local contact. Remote data backup can be achieved by connecting to Diamond and 'pushing' the data to your local computer.