IMSERC NMR Training

Step 1: Get certified

Before undergoing training, every user must complete a certification test to demonstrate their knowledge of NMR operation and IMSERC policies. We provide a study guide called "NMR Basics" to help you pass this test. BEFORE coming to your first training session, please
1) Download the NMR Basics manual
2) Download any one of the three NMR certification tests: A, B, or C
3) Fill out the test BY HAND (do not type)

Step 2: Choose your initial training type: Ag500 or Agilent

Ag500 Training (recommended for entry-level users in Silverman Hall): To receive training on our automated Bruker Avance-III 500 MHz spectrometer in Silverman Hall, please log in to the FOM system and click on the "Ag500" link at the right side of the page.

Agilent NMR Training (recommended for entry-level users in the Tech building): To receive training in manual operation of the Agilent and Varian spectrometers, as well as training for the automated Au400 spectrometer, please log in to the FOM system and click on the "X500" link at the right side of the page. You may find it useful to look over our user guides on manual operation, automated operation, and data processing with VnmrJ software. People who have never performed NMR before will find Agilent's Quick Start Guide useful. This training will authorize you to use X500, Hg400, and P500 manually, and Au400 in automation. You do not need to apply separately for training on each of these instruments.

Step 3: Attend Primary Training

Ag500: Dr. Yuyang Wu holds regular training sessions on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 to 11:00 AM in room B530 of Silverman Hall, which is in the basement. Please bring your completed certification test, and come dressed appropriately for the lab (glasses or safety glasses, no shorts, no bare shoulders, no flip-flops, no earbuds; no food or drink, including coffee and water). Please confirm with Yuyang that you are attending.

Agilent: Dr Wu holds regular training sessions on Tuesday afternoons from 1:00 to 4:00 on the X500 spectrometer in the main IMSERC lab, Tech BG75. Please bring your completed certification test, and come dressed appropriately for the lab (glasses or safety glasses, no shorts, no bare shoulders, no flip-flops, no earbuds; no food or drink, including coffee and water). Please confirm with that you are attending. You are welcome to bring a sample with you for simple analysis.

Step 4: Secondary Training (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)

After obtaining authorization on with Ag500 or the entry-level Agilent systems, it would be wise to receive training on the other system(s). The Ag500 gives superior data, and is extraordinarily sensitive to 13C, but cannot detect nuclei other than 1H and 13C. The Agilent systems are highly versatile, detect virtually all NMR-active nuclei, and provide a means for you to acquire NMR data if the Ag500 becomes unavailable.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Further Training: Agilent VT operation

Once you've been authorized to use the Agilent systems, you may wish to conduct NMR experiments with different sample temperatures. IMSERC staff are the ONLY personnel who may train you how to regulate sample temperature - NO LABMATES! To apply, simply reserve your experiment time and coordinate with Dr Wu to make sure one of them is available when you start; this should take only ~15 minutes.

Further Training: A600 operation

The 600 MHz Bruker Avance-III is IMSERC's "Cadillac" instrument. You must have some experience with manual operation of NMR spectrometers before getting trained on A600. Training sessions include VT operation and experiment optimization, and they may be customized to suit your particular needs (e.g., how to conduct DOSY experiments). Dr. Kurutz holds A600 training sessions on a regular basis, usually on Wednesdays from 12:00 noon to 3:00 PM or later. Please apply for A600 training in the FOM and contact Dr. Wu for availability.

Further Training: F500 operation

The new 500 MHz Agilent DD2 system is the counterpart to A600, and (when its final hardware is delivered and installed) will support sophisticated 1H-19F and 1H-19F-X correlation spectroscopy. You must have some experience with manual operation of NMR spectrometers before getting trained on F500. Training sessions include experiment optimization, and they may be customized to suit your particular needs (e.g., how to conduct DOSY experiments, and setting up low-temp experiments). Please apply for F500 training in the FOM and contact Dr. Kurutz for availability.

Further Training: Solids NMR

IMSERC's 400 MHz Varian VNMRS Solids NMR spectrometer is powerful and very popular with researchers who work on samples for which dissolution would not be appropriate or possible. Dr. Yuyang Wu is our Solids NMR expert, and he provides training as needed. Please apply for Solids NMR training in the FOM and contact Dr. Wu for availability.

EXTRA-Further Training

We take requests!