ExFAB’s Internal User Program supports the cost of accessing ExFAB facilities and technical staff for approved projects. Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis, and internal researchers (those based at UC Santa Barbara, UC Riverside, or Cal Poly Pomona) may submit them at any time. Internal Users with approved projects are expected to visit ExFAB to carry out the research with training and guidance from our staff.
ExFAB Project Levels
For Internal Users, ExFAB offers three project levels – (1) Exploratory, (2) Developmental, and (3) Full – to best suit your research needs. You can submit a proposal for any level, and we're here to help you determine the best fit.
Exploratory Projects
These are perfect if you're just starting out or unsure which project level is right for you. An Exploratory project helps you define the scope and boundaries of a research path: as an opportunity to test and refine methods, these projects will establish strong foundations for future work.
Developmental Projects
These projects have more precisely defined research goals and often build upon the insights gained from an Exploration project. They typically employ small scale automation using established methods.
Full Projects
These are our most comprehensive projects, designed for well-established research plans. They are best for high throughput& automation, and/or combining previously validated protocols into a multi-step workflow.
Choosing the Right Project Level
You can always start with an Exploratory project and upgrade as your project evolves. Even if you anticipate needing a Developmental or Full Project, an initial Exploratory Project can be invaluable for scoping and planning. Follow-on proposals for Exploratory projects are streamlined via an abbreviated, supplemental application, making it easy to continue your research journey. If your approved Developmental or Full project requires significant method development at ExFAB, we'll collaborate with you to design an Exploratory project specifically to establish the necessary methodology. For a more detailed understanding of each project level, please consult the table below. If you have any questions about categorizing your project, don't hesitate to contact our User Coordinator, Dr. Jessica Sexton.
Project Comparison Table
| Project Level | Description | Proposal Length |
Estimated
Budget*
|
Estimated
Equipment
& Staff Time
|
Expected
Duration
|
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exploratory |
Method
development
|
1-2 pages |
As needed,
typically <$2500
|
As needed,
typically
<20 hours
|
Variable,
typically 4-
12 weeks
|
Typically 2-
20 samples
|
| Developmental |
Small scale
automation
|
2-4 pages | $7500 |
20-100
hours
|
3-6 months |
Typically <300 samples
|
| Full | High throughput automation | 3-6 pages |
$7500-
$25,000
|
> 100 hours | 6-12 months |
*Suggest
initial
consultation
with User
Coordinator
|
* Please note the above budget information is provided solely for scoping purposes and represents the anticipated budget for each project level. The budget for individual projects will vary. User projects are fully supported for their approved budget.