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How to Start Using IMSERC

Before using IMSERC facilities, you must complete IMSERC’s Intake Request process. This is only needed for your first interaction with IMSERC. If this has already been completed, you may proceed as normal with IMSERC usage.


Onboarding Steps

Upon completion of IMSERC Intake Form , you will start the process of getting:

  1. Safety Certification
    • Please click the above link to review IMSERC-specific “About Us” and Safety Procedures
    • Needed if utilizing instrumentation onsite
  2. Wildcard access to IMSERC
    • Needed for IMSERC access outside of business hours.
  3. Verify your account access in NUcore
    • NetID if Northwestern
    • Email if external (some exceptions exist)
  4. Access to acquired data
  5. Payment Source
    • If Northwestern: Chartstring entered in the form will be added to your NUcore Account through an email approval process using the “Chartstring Approver Email” as entered. Please make certain this is accurate. It is your individual responsibility to own this automated process to completion.
    • If External to NU: IMSERC Operations Manager, Rachel Altork ( IMSERC-OFC@northwestern.edu ), will coordinate with your business office to select the desired payment process.

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Within 2 business days IMSERC Operations Manager, Rachel Altork ( IMSERC-OFC@northwestern.edu ), will reach out to you regarding your account status and approve you for proceeding with use of the IMSERC Facility. Please stay attentive to their requests for information. You will not be able to go forward efficiently without completely accomplishing all necessary steps in IMSERC intake.


After Recieving Approval from IMSERC Operations Manager to Continue...

You may proceed to either (A) request access to and training on IMSERC instrumentation or (B) submit a sample for analysis by IMSERC staff. Follow the below processes for each of these desired interactions:

  1. Instrument Training for Onsite Usage


  2. Sample Submission for Analysis by IMSERC Staff

    • Step 1: IMSERC Project Request

      • Go to IMSERC NUcore, log-in and add an IMSERC Project Request to your cart.
      • Select appropriate Chartstring for billing
      • Complete the Online Order Form in the cart by select the desired subject area(s) for analysis (NMR, MS, CRY, PCM etc) and ackowledging Step 2 of 2 exists. 
      • Click "Submit" and the form will be automatically added to your cart.
      • Click "Purchase" to complete your cart and Step 1 of 2 for IMSERC Sample Submission

    • Step 2: Smartsheets Sample Submission Form

      • Within approximately 15 minutes of completing Step 1 of 2 above in NUcore, Smartsheets automation will send the appropriate requested Sample Submission Forms to your Email used with your NUcore account and IMSERC Project Request submission.
      • Your Sample Analysis request is not complete until these forms are completed.
      • ** NOTE: These Submission Form links commonly change. Please ALWAYS start with the NUcore request form and avoid saving links from previous submissions that are likely to be deprecated.

General Advice

  • Please stay attentive to emails from Smartsheet automation.
  • Use of and chartstring approval is accomplished by your Chartstring approver using the email entered in the form. Please make certain this is accurate. It is your individual responsibility to own this automated process to completion. Inquire within your group to make certain the correct individual is selected, as this is often a unique individual and process for each research group.
  • At times, Smartsheet automation emails can go to filtered Inboxes (depending on your email client). Please verify Junk, Other, Spam or any other filtered Inboxes before reaching out for assistance ( IMSERC-OFC@northwestern.edu )

Important Documents and Attachments: