Becoming an MR Operator

We encourage regular users of MR in CUBRIC to become approved operators of the MR scanner.  This not only gives users a better understanding of the way that MR data are acquired, but also allows users greater flexibility in booking scanner time, once they have completed the approval process.

Should I become an MR operator?

It will typically take approximately 20 hours of  training/experience to become an MR operator, but this will vary according to the individual.  Thus, it is not an efficient use of time to train all researchers to operate the scanner.  Whether it is worthwhile for a researcher to train to become an MR operator depends on a number of factors, such as prior experience and the number of hours of scanning you are expecting to perform.  However, PhD students (who do not have separate funding for their studies) will be required to learn to operate the scanner during their time at CUBRIC.
In general, training will take place during the researcher's first study, so it is not nescesary to become an MR operator prior to this.  
Applications for MR operator training should be made to John Evans ( evansj31 AT cf.ac.uk ), using the  MR Operator Training Application Form. Applications for students should be sent by their PhD supervisor.

Requirements

In order to become an MR operator (or 'Approved Users' in the terminology of the CUBRIC Rules and Procedures), the researcher must demonstrate that they can;
•   competently perform the safety screening of participants.
•   safely place participant in the scanner.
•   communicate the important aspects of the scan to the participant both before and during the scan.
•   test the important safety equipment, prior to scanning (e.g. squeeze ball).
•   recognise common scanner faults.
•   correctly prescribe and inspect the scans they perform
•   recognise common artefacts
•   understand the causes of alarms in MR suite
•   can safely remove an unconscious participant from the magnet room.

The minimum requirement for becoming an approved operator is;
1) Attend the MR safety lecture (Contact Peter Hobden, email: hobdenp AT cf.ac.uk )
2) Complete the MR safety test. (Contact Peter Hobden, email: hobdenp AT cf.ac.uk )
3) Observe two sessions run by an MR trainer (one of the experienced MR operators, see list below).  Contact the trainer directly to arrange this.
4) Operate the scanner for (at least) eight sessions, under the supervision of an MR trainer.
5) Complete final approval session with John Evans ( evansj31 AT cf.ac.uk )
All of these should be logged in the MR Operator Training Record

MR Trainers

John Evans
Peter Hobden
Derek Jones
Krish Singh
Martin Stuart
Richard Wise