MPRL Facilities
Consulting policy
It is recognized that consulting activities (non-state business related activities) in many instances may serve to enhance the reputation and professional knowledge of MPRL faculty. In cases where faculty or staff seek to use MPRL facilities for consulting purposes, it is expected that (i) they secure written permission to do so from the MPRL Director or Associate Director, including a time estimate and description of the nature of such usage, (ii) consult with the MPRL research equipment specialist regarding the project and facilities it will make use of, (iii) ensure that all training guidelines which apply to research are met, and (iv) make payment to the MPRL in an amount not less than 20% of the total funds received which may be identified as related to testing/characterization tasks or $300 per day of usage.
The facilities of the MPRL may not be used for consulting work that has no clear prospect of enhancing the professional development of the involved faculty, or that may be deemed as constituting standard experiments with no intrinsic research-related value that may instead be performed by private industrial testing/characterization companies. This assessment will be made by the Director or Associate Director upon application. Students are not permitted to use MPRL facilities for their own consulting arrangements.
The necessary form for permission of use of facilities for consulting activity appears in Appendix E. Neglecting to submit this form to request use of facilities for consulting purposes and providing financial support for the activity as appropriate may constitute grounds for limitation on use of the facilities for future research. Consequences of misuse of equipment in conduct of consulting are defined in current Institute guidelines.