For Internal Customers - PIs/Cost Approvers

Guidance for university customers who are PIs or cost approvers using Blue Services. PIs and cost approvers automatically receive a group within the system and can add members and assign account permissions as needed.

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User Guides

  • Logging in to Blue Services (iLab) for UB Users
    6/1/26
    Steps for logging in to Blue Services, powered by iLab, for faculty, staff and students acting on behalf of the University at Buffalo.
  • Managing Your Groups for Principal Investigators and Cost Approvers
    6/1/26
    The Lab or Group interface is the central hub for principal investigators and lab or group managers to manage members' access to funding, monitor budget and modify various settings. 
  • Managing Your Profile
    6/1/26
    My Profile contains important information regarding your account. When accessing My Profile, you can edit certain information and view other information related to your profile.
  • Navigating Blue Services (iLab)
    6/1/26
    An in-depth breakdown of the Blue Services (iLab) user interface for users to familiarize themselves with the system.
  • Request Access to Groups
    6/1/26
    Steps for requesting access to additional groups.
  • Request Services in iLab
    6/1/26
    Learn the layout of the Request Services tab, how to initiate a service request, complete forms, enter payment and understand the request approval workflow.
  • Schedule Equipment
    6/1/26
    Learn the layout of the Schedule Equipment tab, how to view the calendar, create, change and cancel reservations, create repeating reservations and reserve multiple resources at once.
  • Accessing and Approving Invoices in iLab
    6/1/26
    Access, review and approve invoices within Blue Services, powered by iLab.

Definitions

Related Terms and Definitions
Blue Services/iLab Term Description UB Equivalent Term

Lab/Group

A group of users, supervised/managed by a Principal Investigator and/or Lab/Group Managers (see below). In iLab, Labs/Groups are typically used as the primary way to organize access to Funds and manage financial approvals for purchases at Core Facilities

Principal Investigator (PI) Group (only if the PI is the cost approver)

Cost Approver’s Group
Principal Investigator (PI) A group of users, supervised/managed by a Principal Investigator and/or Lab/Group Managers (see below). In iLab, Labs/Groups are typically used as the primary way to organize access to Funds and manage financial approvals for purchases at Core Facilities

Principal Investigator (PI) Group (only if the PI is the cost approver)

Cost Approver’s Group
Lab/Group Manager Administrator of a lab or group, typically a delegate of the PI, with rights similar to the Principal Investigator. 

Principal Investigator (PI) Delegate

Research Administrator

Cost Approver

Videos

Using Blue Services—Log in, Register, Manage Access [4:02]

In this video, you'll learn how to sign in or register with Blue Services. We'll also cover extra steps for cost approvers.

PI and Cost Approver Training [30:39]

This training is for PIs, cost approvers, lab managers, and any lab financial contacts. It covers accepting users into labs, assigning/unassigning funds, and viewing and approving invoices. 

Navigating Blue Services Training [32:27]

This training is for any user or customer of the service centers. This training will show you how to register, make reservations, and submit requests within service centers.