Penn State Core Facilities
Penn State core facilities support researchers at Penn State, other universities, and businesses throughout the United States and abroad.
Find Core Facilities
A Penn State core facility offers critical specialized instrumentation, services, and guidance to researchers and businesses. The goal is to supplement projects with resources and expertise that may be cost-prohibitive for direct ownership.
Resources for Core Users
FAQ
General Questions
Q: How do I access/ use a core facility?
A: The best way is to start is to contact the core facility directly.
Q: Can cores help design experiments?
A: Yes! Many cores are able to offer guidance in experiment optimization and method.
Q: Can I use the instrument myself?
A: Yes, many cores offer training and self-scheduling to use their instruments.
Q: How do I pay for core services?
A: This depends on the core. The three main methods at Penn State are through iLab, LEO, or direct payment.
Q: Can I get a quote for a grant or other budget submission?
A: Absolutely. Many cores are able to give an official quote or a estimated cost for a grant proposal or other budget planning needs.
Q: Should I acknowledge or grant authorship to the core?
A: Definitely! Cores are an incredible resource for researchers and many of the staff are researchers themselves. Please be sure to consult the Authorship and Plagiarism resources from the Office for Research Protections.
iLab Questions
Q: How do I get a lab created for myself in iLab?
A: Contact coreadmin@psu.edu with the name of the primary investigator.
Q: How do I register for iLab?
A: Create an iLab Account for Internal PSU user
Q: How do I add funds to my lab in iLab?
A: Requesting access to IO numbers
Q: How do I find more help with iLab?
A: PSU Cores Knowledge Base Homepage
Citing Cores
Citing CORES at the Penn State College of Medicine
Visit the College of Medicine CORES website and see their instructions for Citing the Cores.
Citing other Penn State Cores
Consult the Core Facilities Authorship Guidelines.
More Information about Penn State Research Integrity
Consult the Authorship and Plagiarism resources from the Office for Research Protections.
iLab
iLab is core management web-based software owned by Agilent that some of the Penn State cores use, not all. Penn State OSVPR ORIS offers support, especially as it pertains to Penn State specific settings. Agilent also has a portal for support.
Learn more on the iLab support page.
LEO (previously RIMS)
Visit the Penn State LEO Cores website.
Resources for Core Administrators
FAQ
Q: How to start a new core?
A: Please contact ORIS, coreadmin@psu.edu, for information on starting a new core.
Q: Where do I find information on creating prices for my core?
A: Office of Budget and Finance, Controller Unit, Cost Analysis – Service Centers
Q: Where can I find this year’s F&A rates?
A: OSVPR F&A rates
Q: How do I find others that can suggest methods and provide help in running my core?
A: Visit the Core Facilities Community website.
Core Facilities Community
Visit the Core Facilities Community website.
iLab
iLab is core management web-based software owned by Agilent that some of the Penn State cores use, not all. Penn State OSVPR ORIS offers support, especially as it pertains to Penn State specific settings. Agilent also has a portal for support.
Learn more on the iLab support page and the iLab administration Sharepoint.