UniSA TechNET 2016

GrahamLancaster(ManagerEnvironmentalAnalysisLaboratory)graham.lancaster@scu.edu.auWeb:scu.edu.au/eal

ChallengesofoperatinganAnalyticalFacilitiesina

UniversitySetting

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

EALBackground• EALisanindependentUniversity- research,teachingandcommercialanalyticallaboratory.

• Foundedaround1992asselffundedanalyticalfacility– now30staff,$3.5M/yr.

• NATAandASPACqualityassurances.• Largerangeofservices(water,soil,leaf,compost,hair,fertiliser,etc)- ‘StateoftheArt’equipment.

• Clients– Govt Depts,Consultants,Unis,………

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

Details• SouthernCrossUniversity– SmallUni 8Kstudents- LismoreNorthernNSWnearByronBay(CampusesGoldCoastandCoffsHbr)

• WhydoesEALexistatSCU?• ERA2015rankings!• 9x'Wellaboveworldstandard'(ERArating5)• 9xAboveworldstandard'(ERAratingof4)

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

– Geochemistry(0402)– Oceanography(0405)– EnvironmentalScienceandManagement(0502)– Zoology (0608)– AgriculturalandVeterinarySciences(07)– CropandPastureProduction(0703)– ForestrySciences(0705)– ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine(1104)– Nursing(1110)

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

'Wellaboveworldstandard'(ERAratingof5)

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

HistoryinSCU• EALstartedas1andcurrentlyhas30staff• Directlymaintainsover$3Mofinstrumentationbutaccesstoanother$10Minstrumentsandfacilities

• Tamingfrustration…SCUbiasdirectedtoresearchspendingwithminimaljustification…

• Don’texpecthierarchicaltopdownfeedback….Bestifnointerferenceinoperation.

• Cashcowconcept!Impossiblegoals.BudgetchallengesandCHANGES….Zerostarting$

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

AnalyticalChemistry- pH/EC,LECO,FIA,Laser!

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

ICPOESandICPMSAnalyticalChemistry

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

AnalyticalChemistryatSCU!

ICPMS– withSeaFAST ultratraceanalysis

EAL expected LORs using seaFAST1/08/14

Seawater Water (Fresh) Seawater Water (Fresh)PARAMETER Routine analysis Ultra-Trace analysis

µg/L (ppb) µg/L (ppb) µg/L (ppb) µg/L (ppb)

SILVER <1 <1 <0.05 <0.05ALUMINIUM <5 <5 <1 <1ARSENIC <1 <1 <1 <0.5CADMIUM <1 <1 <0.02 <0.02CHROMIUM <1 <1 <0.5 <0.5COPPER <1 <1 <0.05 <0.05

IRON <5 <5 <0.05 <0.05MANGANESE <1 <1 <0.05 <0.05NICKEL <1 <1 <0.1 <0.1LEAD <1 <1 <0.01 <0.01SELENIUM <1 <1 <1 <1ZINC <5 <5 <0.5 <0.5MERCURY <0.5 <0.5 <0.1 <0.1

VANADIUM <1 <1 <0.1 <0.1COBALT <1 <1 <0.05 <0.05MOLYBDENUM <1 <1 <0.1 <0.1BARIUM <1 <1 <0.2 <0.2THALLIUM <1 <1 <0.05 <0.05BISMUTH <1 <1 <0.05 <0.05URANIUM <1 <1 <0.01 <0.01

* Note: data not validated using seaFAST. The values are expected LORs.

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

AnalyticalChemistry- HPLCICPMS,SEM-EDAX!

Thisyear$300,000LIEFGrant

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

InnovationatSCU

6placeChromiumReducibleSulfurAnalysers

‘GlycolBath’RecirculatingChillerSystem

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

AnalyticalChemistry- OvensandGas!

ProfessionalStaffing• Staff– requirescarefulselectionandabilitytotrial,review,

reward,remove,retire,etc.• Dedicationeg.,commitment,training,trainees,on-the-job

training,..TraineesgreatwithCert3,Cert4throughtoDiploma(getverybrightYear10– Year12leaversstartinggrosscostabout$500perwk – 35hrworkwithon-the-jobtraining- 3hronsiteTafe/wk)

• AllEALstaffareProfessionalStaff(ie.technical,admin…)intheHEWsystembutnotagoodfitinmanycases.

• Bonussystemcurrentlyimpossible–eg.failed• EALoffersflexibilityandlongtermjobsecuritybutcomes

withworkexpectations(ie.ifpoorperformancethennojobornoEAL)

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

Requirementsforsuccess• Flexibilityanddiversification– sections,environmentalwaters/effluents,agriculturalsoilsandplants,composts,mulchesandpottingmixes,contaminationassessment,acidsulfatesoils/rocks,hairanalysis,etc.

• Niche– identifying,acting,execution(ie.BiologicalFarming,healthhairanalysis,..)

• Automation,innovation,expectation,accountability• CountrylocationsofreecourierAustraliawide

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

Commercial– BenefitstoaUni• Research– developnewtechniques• Quality– alwaysroomtoimprovebutnoteNATAdoesnotguaranteequalityjustprocedure….

• One-stop-shop(ie.allservices)• QuickTAT,reasonablepricing,servicereliabilityallyearround

• Instrumenttraining- multiplestafftrainedinoperation,service,repair

• Flexibility,diversification,Instruments,automation

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

MonitoringAgSoils

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

MonitoringAcidSulfate

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

MonitoringWatersICPMS

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

MonitoringSolidsICPMS

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

Challenges• Survivingboomandbustmodel….Over20yearsIveseenhundredsofclientsgobust…over/undercapitalise

• Ridiculousinternalfinancialarguments…budgettightsodon’tpaysuppliers.

• In2012hadan‘EALConsultancyServices’section–section/staffterminated…

• AnyindicationthatasectionofaUniversityposesany‘safety’or‘poorPR’threathaspotentialforclosure

• Fightforinternalpoliticalsurvival……

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

EALReportCard- Resume• WhatEALprovidestheUni:• FULLcostrecovery…allstaffingandoperatingcosts• AllEALinstrumentation- Internalloans/compete• Subsidisationofresearchandteachingintheorderof$0.5M/year

• Financialreturnofaround$0.7-0.9M/yeartoSCU• 5-10%businessgrowtheveryyearBUTisthisallsufficientjustificationforsurvival?

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

Conclusion…• ExtremelychallenginginaUniversitysystemandstructure

• Someautomity inmgt essentialwithoutacademics• Modelallowspotentialtoutilise,maintainandprovideoperatingcostsforunder-utilisedinstrumentation

• Commercialalsoacurse….bleddry.• Academicsaren’talwaysthebestmanagersofstafforbudgets….Needpracticality

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

Conclusion…cont’• EALvisionstatement:‘Tooperateasaworld-classanalyticallaboratorysupportingresearchandteachingfundedbycommercialactivities’.• Since1992– aconservativeestimateofEALsupporttoSCUis:• $25Mofexternalcommercialincome• $10MofARCprojectsupport• $5Minternalstudentsupport• $5Minternalstaffsupport….

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

QUESTIONS!!

Web:scu.edu.au/eal

Image: P. Harrison

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