[labnetwork] Imaging/Characterization Cores vs. Fabrication Cores - Cost vs. Income

[Iulian Codreanu]

Hi Mac,

Here at UDel the fabrication lab and imaging/characterization lab are 
operated separately so I cannot provide direct input but I have a 
general comment; you are likely aware of this (and it likely does not 
apply to you) so it is mostly for folks who are new to the field.

When these labs are operated as independent service centers, federal 
rules prevent subsidies within and across service centers. A tool is not 
allowed to subsidize another tool within a service center and a service 
center is prohibited from subsidizing another.

Cheers,

Iulian

iulian Codreanu, Ph.D.
Director, Nanofabrication Facility
University of Delaware
Harker ISE Lab, Room 163
221 Academy Street
Newark, DE 19716
302-831-2784
https://udnf.udel.edu


On 5/28/2026 10:58 AM, Hathaway, Malcolm R wrote:
> Hey All,
>
> Happy Summer!
>
> A question has come up here about relative expenditures and subsidy 
> levels between fabrication labs and imaging/characterization labs, in 
> core centers where such functionality is combined.  Here at Harvard we 
> have all three under one roof at CNS.
>
> I did a https://nanobot.chat/ <https://nanobot.chat/>search around 
> this topic but didn't find much.  (nanobot.chat is an AI enabled 
> search of Labnetwork, for those who may not have heard about it).
>
> I seem to remember this or a similar topic being addressed at a 
> previous UGIM meeting, but my recollection is hazy...
>
> Thus, a few questions:
>
> How many core centers combine Imaging and Characterization and 
> Fabrication (cleanroom) under one umbrella?
>
> For those that do combine them, do you generally find that each 
> section is able to "pull its own weight" financially?   Does either 
> one ever "break even"?
>
> Is income from the nanofab used to subsidize imaging/characterization 
> efforts, or vice versa?
>
> Is each unit financially independent and, as such, survives on partial 
> subsidies from the university that are not considered collectively?
>
> And lastly, what sort of expense/income breakdown (percentage-wise) 
> have you seen between such units, if they are treated collectively as 
> one big core center.
>
> Apologies if this delves too deeply into sensitive fiscal areas.
>
> This might be a good topic for some sub-group at the upcoming UGIM, if 
> it is not already on the agenda.
>
>
> Mac
>
> Mac Hathaway
> Systems, Process, and Characterization Engineer
> Harvard CNS
>
>
>
>
>
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