# Registration ![RC Account, Project Registration Form, Billing, Safety](/sites/g/files/omnuum7436/files/hcbidoug/files/training_registration.png) **Registration** The Harvard Center for Biological Imaging is open to any academic or commercial researcher, regardless of affiliation. There are 4 required steps to register and request training on an instrument. Failure to complete all steps will result in delay/cancelation of your training. **Additional Information** The doors to the HCBI are locked from 7PM-8AM Mon-Fri and all day on weekends. If you plan to use the HCBI at night or on weekends, you will need to obtain a Harvard ID card (external users) and have building access added to it (internal and external users). Building access can be requested from [hcbi\_admin@fas.harvard.edu](mailto:hcbi_admin@fas.harvard.edu) can assist with this. **Fees** Registration and training are **FREE!** You only pay for the time on the microscope. For a table outlining the HCBI's hourly fee structure, click [here](/fiscal-year-2018-fees). ## Registration Please pick the tab that applies to you for instructions Internal Registration External Registration ## Internal Registration **1.** **Obtain a Research Computing** [login and password](https://portal.rc.fas.harvard.edu/request/account/new) **2.** **Complete the** [Project Registration Form](https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9CL6b2hFBUGtQy461HJpVxqZ_Z1hoxpGiSmD-uduvAVUMVNZU0dSN0VVQU5GN0VJVlVMS1NJQTMxVCQlQCN0PWcu). You will receive an email from [hcbi\_admin@fas.harvard.edu](mailto:hcbi_admin@fas.harvard.edu) with further instructions within a day or two. **3. Request a billing code from your lab administrator on SPINAL** **4. Complete safety training** within 30 days of registration **Contact a member of the HCBI training team** ([**hcbi\_imaging@fas.harvard.edu**](mailto:hcbi_imaging@fas.harvard.edu)) to discuss which microscope is best suited to your project and how to prepare your sample. This can be done at any time, but must be done before your first training. Check out details of the [training process](/registration-and-training "Training"). **Billing Help** ![Screenshot of "expense code needed" below the name of the instrument but above the picture](/sites/g/files/omnuum7436/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-02/request%20billing_0.png?itok=8TxhXfgO) 1. Sign into SPINAL 2. Go to the instrument you would like to use. 3. Click link "expense code needed" ![Screenshot for requesting billing code- Drop down menu of choosing lab administrator](/sites/g/files/omnuum7436/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2025-02/Billing_LabAdmin.png?itok=AWvfnHD2) 4\. Select Lab Administrator from the drop-down menu 5\. Type in your PI 6\. An email will be sent to your lab administrator for them to add the billing code ## External Registration ## Basic Instructions **1.** **Obtain a Research Computing** [**login and password**](https://portal.rc.fas.harvard.edu/request/account/new) (see detailed instructions below). **2.** **Complete the** [**Project Registration Form**](https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9CL6b2hFBUGtQy461HJpVxqZ_Z1hoxpGiSmD-uduvAVUMVNZU0dSN0VVQU5GN0VJVlVMS1NJQTMxVCQlQCN0PWcu) (see detailed instructions below). **3.** **Return a signed copy of the** [**Memo of Understanding**](/file_url/179) **and a Purchase Order (Minimum $500) to** [**hcbi\_admin@fas.harvard.edu**](mailto:hcbi_admin@fas.harvard.edu)**.** **4. Complete safety training** within 30 days of registration **Contact a member of the HCBI training team** ([**hcbi\_imaging@fas.harvard.edu**](mailto:hcbi_imaging@fas.harvard.edu)) to discuss which microscope is best suited to your project and how to prepare your sample. This can be done at any time, but must be done before your first training. Check out details of the [training process](/registration-and-training "Training"). ## Detailed Instructions **1.** **Obtain a Research Computing login and password****.** You can request your account [here](https://portal.rc.fas.harvard.edu/request/account/new). External users (including Harvard-affiliated hospitals and institutes), should enter the following information: Job Title: "External" PI: "Shanna deBlieck" Approver: "Taylor Chang" Department: "Harvard Center for Biological Imaging" ![External/ G1 registration ](/sites/g/files/omnuum7436/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2025-02/website_instructions.png?itok=pS8T-UKr) On the "Services" page, external users must select all microscopes they plan to use. Internal users only need to select one microscope. External users should type "New HCBI Customer" in the Comments field on the final page. **2.** **Complete the** [**Project Registration Form**](https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9CL6b2hFBUGtQy461HJpV2SmlS068o9OlBfCsamkC7tUMVNZU0dSN0VVQU5GN0VJVlVMS1NJQTMxVC4u)**.** You will receive an email from [hcbi\_admin@fas.harvard.edu](mailto:hcbi_admin@fas.harvard.edu) with further instructions on how to complete your registration and safety training. **3. Return a signed copy of the** [**Memo of Understanding**](/file_url/179) **and a Purchase Order (Minimum $500) to** [**hcbi\_admin@fas.harvard.edu**](mailto:hcbi_admin@fas.harvard.edu)**.** Members of the MIT community should complete the [MIT-specific MOU](/file_url/333). Members of The Whitehead Institute should complete the [Whitehead-specific MOU](/file_url/331). Members of The Broad Institute should complete [The Broad-specific MOU](/file_url/332). Members of Tufts University should complete the [Tufts-specific MOU](/file_url/423). Approval of external users can require >2 weeks, depending on how quickly your institution can sign the MOU and generate a PO. A link to our **credit card payment template** can be found [here](/sites/g/files/omnuum7436/files/2026-05/Credit%20Card%20Payment%20Template.docx "Credit Card Payment Template"). --- Attachments- [ picture\_as\_pdf hcbi\_mou\_mitwhitehead\_template.pdf ](/sites/g/files/omnuum7436/files/hcbidoug/files/hcbi_mou_mitwhitehead_template.pdf) - [ picture\_as\_pdf broad\_mou.pdf ](/sites/g/files/omnuum7436/files/hcbidoug/files/broad_mou.pdf) - [ picture\_as\_pdf mit\_hcbi\_mou.pdf ](/sites/g/files/omnuum7436/files/hcbidoug/files/mit_hcbi_mou.pdf) - [ picture\_as\_pdf tufts\_university\_mou.pdf ](/sites/g/files/omnuum7436/files/hcbidoug/files/tufts_university_mou.pdf) - [ description Credit Card Payment Template.docx ](/sites/g/files/omnuum7436/files/2026-05/Credit%20Card%20Payment%20Template.docx) --- ## Registration Questions? Email [hcbi\_admin@fas.harvard.edu](mailto:hcbi_admin@fas.harvard.edu)