Scheduling Time and Trainings

To utilize the instruments in the Central Microscopy Facility and for some Department of Education microscopes you will need to schedule a training session and book operating time through our online scheduling system called PPMS. This is a product of Stratocore SAS. Training and booking reservations are made through the same PPMS website. Guidelines and requirements are listed on the PPMS website under Documents.

Some of the CMF and education rooms are on the MBL One Card access system. You will need to get CMF authorization for your card to work on those doors.

Descriptions of the individual instruments are available on this page.

Please contact CMF staff for assistance with PPMS, ongoing instrument questions and to gain access to card swipe doors.

PPMS operation:

How Can I Sign Up For an Account, Training and Booking Reservations?

Create an Account:

  1. Go to ppms.us/mbl.
  2. Once on the PPMS website click account creation request.
  3. Fill out the PPMS account creation form and click the Submit form button.

Note: The Account Number refers to your 7 digit MBL charge account number.

Schedule a Training Session:

  1. Click on request a training (either on the homepage or account creation page).
  2. Select your username from the dropdown menu, and then enter your password.
  3. Answer the questions in the Training request dialog box and click the Submit training request button.

Book Time on a System:

Note: Not until your account has been created and you have completed a training session, will you be given user rights to book time on the system on which you have been trained.

  1. Go to ppms.us/mbl.
  2. Enter your username or select your username from the login dropdown menu, and then enter your password.
  3. Select the system of interest from the Book a System dropdown menu.
  4. Click the hours of interest and then click Book the selected sessions.