The Explorer Research Instrumentation Center (ERIC) is dedicated to expanding access to advanced scientific instrumentation for undergraduate researchers in the Philadelphia area. ERIC enables students to explore meaningful scientific questions and gain practical skills for future careers and graduate studies. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all undergraduate students to participate in discovery and innovation.
Who can use the facilities at ERIC?
Undergraduate students with a faculty mentor, postdoctoral researcher mentor, graduate student mentor, or industry/government researcher mentor may use the facilities at ERIC. Undergraduate students must be accompanied by their mentor for instrument use.
Faculty, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, or industry/government researchers may use the facilities, but will be paying a higher rate than if they are mentoring an undergraduate researcher to use the facilities.
What can you do at ERIC?
As an Undergraduate Student
Undergraduate student researchers can work with a faculty member at La Salle or other institution to use advanced scientific instrumentation for their research project. Both the faculty mentor and the undergraduate researcher must have proper training, and a faculty mentor must be present during instrumentation use. Undergraduate researchers can utilize instrumentation at a discounted rate.
As a University Faculty Member
Faculty members within La Salle and outside of La Salle can be trained on the scientific instrumentation for their research projects. Training can also be provided for their research students. Faculty collaborating with La Salle faculty researchers, along with faculty working with undergraduate researchers, have a discounted user rate. Training must be completed prior to instrument use.
As a Graduate Student
Graduate students can be trained to use the scientific research instrumentation for their research projects. A faculty mentor at the graduate student’s institution must be identified, although the faculty mentor does not require training for the graduate student to use the instrumentation. Training must be completed prior to instrument use. Standard external user rates for academic institutions apply. A discount is applicable if there is collaboration with an undergraduate researcher for instrument use.
As a Government or Corporate Researcher
Government and corporate researchers can be trained to use the scientific research instrumentation for their research projects. Training must be completed prior to instrument use. Standard external user rates for government and corporate researchers apply. A discount is applicable if there is collaboration with an undergraduate researcher for instrument use.
What can you NOT do at ERIC?
The safety of our students and users is top priority. A brief description of research is required prior to beginning instrumentation use, which includes listing possible hazards. We do not allow our instruments to hold samples that are human health risks and could potentially damage instruments. This may include particularly hazardous substances (select carcinogens regulated by OSHA, reproductive toxins, acutely toxic substances), materials that are undergoing energetic reactions (rapid gas evolution, exothermic runaway, or explosion potential), materials that are pyrophoric, water-reactive, or air-reactive, materials that involve cryogenic liquids, materials that involve highly hazardous gases (toxic, corrosive, or flammable compressed gases), or unprocessed biological hazards (pathogenic microbial cultures, medical waste). External users are not permitted to leave samples or chemical waste on-site. All items brought to La Salle’s campus must be taken with the user.
Funding
Instrumentation at this center has been funded by the National Science Foundation EAR-IF Award #2323242.
