Bioscience Electron Microscopy Laboratory

Bioscience Electron Microscopy Laboratory

The Bioscience Electron Microscopy Laboratory provides service, training and facilities required to carry out electron microscopy (EM) of a variety of biological and non-biological samples.

Contacts

Staff

xus13003

Xuanhao Sun, Ph.D.

Director of Operations
xuanhao.sun@uconn.edu
860.486.6368
abril

Maritza Abril, Ph.D.

maritza.abril@uconn.edu
860.486.3793

edington

Diane Edington, Ph.D.

diane.edington@uconn.edu
860.486.2914

Faculty Scientific Advisers

ostroff

Linnaea Ostroff, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
linnaea.ostroff@uconn.edu
860.486.3588

Location

Campus Address

Biology Physics Building, Room G06
Storrs Campus

Mailing Address

91 North Eagleville Rd., Unit 3242
Storrs, CT 06269-3242

Instrumentation

sem

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

FEI Nova NanoSEM 450: This field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM) has an ultra-stable, high current Schottky gun.  Advanced electron optical and detection features include immersion mode, beam deceleration mode, and a variety of secondary and backscatter electron detectors for best selection of the information and image optimization.

TEM

Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)

FEI Tecnai G2 Spirit BioTWIN: This Lab6 20-120 kV transmission electron microscope (TEM) is a high-contrast, general-purpose instrument, specifically suited for low contrast samples. It enables study of low-contrast, beam-sensitive biological specimens, or other soft materials such as polymers. Samples can be either unstained or stained.

ultramicro

Ultramicrotomes

  • Leica Ultracut UCT
  • RMC MT7
  • LKB Ultrotome III and V
pointdyer

Critical Point Dryer

Tousimis 931. GL: Critical point drying eliminates the surface tension forces that distort and collapse surfaces of hydrated samples during air drying.  It is especially useful for preparing biological samples for scanning electron microscopy.

sputter coater

Sputter Coater

Polaron E5100: Sputter coating produces a conductive metal coating (usually gold-palladium) to reduce charging and increase secondary electron signal in the scanning electron microscope.

tissue process

Microwave Tissue Processor

Pelco Biowave Pro: Accelerates fixation, dehydration, infiltration and embedding of samples for transmission electron microscopy.

plasma

Plasma Cleaner

Harrick Plasma PDC-32G: Plasma cleaning is used to remove or stabilize contaminating organic material or to make surfaces more hydrophilic for better spreading of negative stain.

cryosem

CryoSEM Preparation

Leica EM VCT100, QSG100, and MED020: For freeze fracturing, freeze etching and coating SEM samples at low temperature.

cryoulatimatrory

Cryoultramicrotomy

Leica Ultracut UCT ultramicrotome with FCS cryo attachment: Low temperature ultramicrotomy of polymers or hydrated biological materials that cannot be sectioned at room temperature.

freeze-sub

Freeze Substitution

Leica EM AFS: for automated freeze substitution and low temperature embedding