Covid-19

UPDATE June 22, 2020

Dear KNI lab members and community,

In compliance with the safety and health precautions constructed by Caltech, the Engineering & Applied Sciences division, and the Applied Physics & Materials Science department, the KNI Lab reopened with limited capacity on Monday, June 15, 2020. Currently the KNI is following a 4:10 schedule for in-lab activity by our members. There are two rotating groups that are able to use the facilities on alternating weeks between Monday - Thursday. The KNI has adapted its entering and exiting procedures, along with heightened cleaning protocols, and is adhering to robust physical distancing requirements. You can read the new SOP here.

For the time being, only lab members who have completed individual instrument training and are signed off as independent operators on equipment are allowed to resume research. If you would like to return to the KNI Lab, please contact Guy DeRose and Tiffany Kimoto with a description of your project, along with an estimate of tool usage for each instrument you need access to. Returning members are required to complete a refresher safety training before returning.

Our first priority is the health and safety of our lab members and Caltech community. We look forward to welcoming you back to the KNI.

- KNI staff

Effective March 17, 2020

Dear KNI lab members and community,

The rapidly evolving situation surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak is challenging for all of us. Yesterday the Caltech President and Provost offices, as well as the EAS Division, instructed labs to be placed in hibernation mode until further notice, with the exception of “critical lab research,” which is being defined as “laboratory research activities that would be extremely difficult or extremely expensive to restart if they were shut down completely.” While we understand how critical the KNI Lab and facilities are to your ongoing research efforts, your health and safety are of utmost importance.

Based on these Institute announcements, the KNI Lab is making the following changes to its operations until further notice:

The KNI Lab – including the TF-30 in Keck – will be closed to all members beginning at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

No undergraduates, visitors, or guests will be allowed in the KNI Lab. If there are any personal items that you need from the lab after that time, please communicate with a KNI staff member, and we can arrange retrieval for you.

All equipment will be placed either into standby/hibernate or turned off.

The number of technical staff reporting to work on campus is being reduced to minimize unnecessary potential exposure. Regular equipment operations will be suspended. On-site staff will continue to perform daily equipment checks. Staff who are working remotely will be reachable by email (and phone, if needed). Lab members should continue to use email lists for communications, as needed.

All in-lab and in-person training will be suspended.

These measures, in addition to those in place by Caltech, are being enacted to ensure the safety of our lab members and staff. Our KNI lab wiki will also have these updated policies and procedures for your reference. We will continue to update you of any changes as soon as we can.

Be safe and stay healthy! We are all looking forward to the day when regular operations resume.

-KNI Staff