FAQs for Jimenez Group

For Grad Students: Which Courses Should I Take?

• Independent of Department you are in
  • CHEM-5181: Mass Spectrometry and Chromatography (Jimenez)
  • CHEM-5151/ATOC-5151: Atmospheric Chemistry (typically Tolbert, Volkamer, or Jimenez)
  • Computer Science: Introduction to Programming (Freshman Undergrad Course)

• Especially if you are in Chemistry:
  • CHEM-5161: Analytical Spectroscopy (Rainer Volkamer)
  • Reaction Dynamics

• Especially if you are in ATOC (Atmospheric Sciences)
  • Introduction to Atmospheric Dynamics
  • Clouds and Aerosols (Brian Toon)
  • Remote Sensing
  • Radiative Transfer

• Engineering Courses of Interest:
  • Aerosol Dynamics (Shelly Miller)

Computing Topics

Can I use a Mac or Linux computer?

Some of the software we use is Windows-specific, so a Mac or Linux-PC would not work, sorry. There are also many subtle incompatibilities when trying to share files betwen a Mac and a PC, and finally Macs do not work with some hardware I have encountered in the field (e.g. we found that Macs could not connect to certain network hubs or printers, and those were the only units available at the field site). This choice does not imply that we have positive opinion of the role of Bill Gates or Microsoft in the computer (or the wider) world, it is just a practical necessity. We use exclusively Windows PC computers (mostly XP with a few Vista computers as of June 2009).

Which software do we use?

• CU antivirus
• Igor Pro (data analysis and graphing)
• Skype (fast communication) -- you are required to be logged into Skype during working hours
• Powerpoint (presentations)
• Excel (simple data analysis)
• Word (papers)
  • Microsoft Office is downloadable from here (CU campus license)
• Adobe Acrobat (PDF making)
• Viceversa Pro (backups)
• This Wiki (web pages)
• CU VPN (accessing CU resources remotely)
• WinSCP (secure FTP program)
• Google Docs (shared documents on web, some papers)
• Google Spreadsheets (shared spreadsheets, field study organization)
• Google Desktop (searching your own computer)
• Google Reader (keeping track of the literature with RSS feeds)

• There are other programs which can do the same function (e.g. Latex instead of Word, OpenOffice, Matlab...), however there is a great benefit on using the same set of programs as we can learn from each other and share files easily. Therefore for group work you are expected to use the standard programs above.

• There is no standard email or web browser for the group, you can use whichever you prefer.

How do I connect to the CIRES printers?

• The code for the door in the CIRES printer room is the same as for the kitchen. If you need access contact Rob Schubert*
• IP addresses:
  • CIRES 2: 128.138.136.13
  • CIRES 4: 128.138.136.18

• adding a printer with vista (coming soon)

• adding a printer with Windows XP
  • start ->
  • printers and faxes ->
  • add a printer ->
  • local printer attached to this computer ->
  • (bottom of window) create new port ->
  • standard tcp/ip port ->
  • printer IP 128.138.136.xx
  • hp 4600 (you should have the driver already because its the same as the driver of our existing printer). ->
  • keep existing driver ->
  • name it something appropriate ->
  • you don't need to share it

Instrument Use

• J-Group instruments will have a notebook (either on the computer in the case of MAB-AMS, or hardcopy for the Lab-AMS) to keep track of changes, maintenance, use, etc. This is separate from individual experiment or campaign notebooks.
  • 1. You use the AMS, then it's 100% your responsibility to make sure that it's working BEFORE you use it and 100% your responsibility to make sure it's in mint condition AFTER you used it. Any problems you create, you are responsible for fixing.
  • 2. Anytime you CHANGE something on the AMS (swap cables, up the MCP setting, add light scattering, upgrade software, etc.), please write it in the notebook.
  • 3. Anytime you decide to REMOVE something from the AMS, and not leave it in perfect working order, it gets cleared by the instrument 'owner' first by an email, a text, a phone call, whatever. (eg., Delphine for Lab-AMS, Carly for MAB-AMS, Mike for HIAPER, etc.)
  • 4. If anyone breaks the rules and thinks that they can get away with just taking a cable and not writing it down, then they can lose instrument privileges at the discretion of the instrument 'owner'.