“Clustermarket has allowed us to consolidate all of our various equipment scheduling systems into one online portal. This has given us better control over training and made it easy for our department to see what equipment is being either heavily used or underutilized.”
The Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine aims to teach and create new knowledge with the theme of integrating the life sciences from molecules to organisms. Their research spans the spectrum from atoms to organs, and thus they are positioned well to train a new generation of systems-oriented biologists investigating molecular mechanisms and translating these mechanisms to the organ, organism, and patient.
Problem
Having multiple labs sharing joint-owned equipment as well as department-wide shared equipment came with its challenges: from managing multiple user schedules to optimizing the use of the equipment. While previously having used a combination of paper sign-up sheets, multiple google calendars and scheduling systems for the equipment of the department as well as the collaborating labs, the Department of Physiology and Biophysics started looking into implementing a more sophisticated tool to help them manage resources more efficiently, to ensure proper training on delicate equipment, and avoid clashes in the user schedules.
Solution
After careful consideration, the Department of Physiology and Biophysics decided to start using Clustermarket - an online schedule booking system designed specifically for research laboratories. Clustermarket helped them manage their user schedules and scientific instruments more efficiently and easily while ensuring they are being utilized at their fullest potential. Clustermarket provided a flexible way to control and manage reservations for multiple shared equipment, specify user roles and permissions giving members the ability to view what is available within the department.
.jpg)