About Us

The instruments in the Electron Microscopy Resource Laboratory represent a substantial investment and resource for the University of Pennsylvania research community. To ensure that these resources are available at the optimum performance level with a minimum downtime, the Internal Cryo-Electron Microscopy Advisory Committee (CEMAC) oversees the services. Policies, rules, and rates will be reviewed periodically by the committee and are subject to change.

Internal Cryo-Electron Microscopy Advisory Committee (CEMAC):

  • Dr. Vera Moiseenkova-Bell (Faculty Director)
  • Dr. Biao Zuo 
  • Dr. Prerana Gogoi 
  • Dr. Shrawan Kumar Mageswaran
  • Dr. Elaine Mihelc 
  • Dr. Kristen Lynch (Chair, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics)
  • Lisa Ward (Financial and Administrative Officer, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics).

The Electron Microscopy Resource Lab is organized into the following:

The Beckman Center for Cryo-Electron Microscopy offers access to cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) for high-resolution structural analysis of macromolecules both within and outside of cells. The facility is equipped with a state-of-the-art 300 keV Titan Krios G3i microscope, featuring a phase plate, K3 Summit direct detector camera, and BioQuantum GIF energy filter. It also houses a state-of-the-art 200 keV Glacios microscope with a Falcon 4i detector and Selectris energy filter. For sample preparation, the center provides a Vitrobot cryo plunger and all necessary accessories. The facility is open to research groups at Penn as well as external academic institutions in the greater Philadelphia area. You can reach out to us at cryo-em@lists.upenn.edu. 

 

We offer the following services at the Beckman Center for Cryo-Electron Microscopy:

Advanced cryo-EM:

  • Freezing, screening, and optimization of samples for cryo-EM.
  • High-resolution data acquisition of the prescreened samples on the Glacios 2 or Krios G3i microscope (based on availability).
  • Hands-on training is provided for all workflow stages, from sample preparation to data collection.
  • Data transfer via the Penn network (internal users only), hard drives, or file sharing services such as Globus (user needs to provide account).

Note: The “advanced cryo-EM” branch does not provide cryo-EM data processing and reconstruction services. However, we may be able to assist you. Please let us know if you need help with data processing.

For Cryo-ET data acquisition and advanced sample preparation for Cryo-ET, reach out to CRYO-ET@lists.upenn.edu. As part of the Cryo-ET branch, there is a Zeiss LSM900 laser scanning confocal light microscope designed to facilitate correlative cryogenic workflows, specifically for targeted Cryo-EM and Cryo-ET data acquisition. Additionally, a Zeiss Crossbeam 550 (equipped with a cryostage, a Delmic Meteor in-chamber fluorescence microscope, high signal-to-noise primary and secondary electron detectors and superior electron optics) is capable of conducting volumetric scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reconstructions and thinning of biological specimens in a targeted fashion for subsequent Cryo-ET.

Advanced Cryo-ET:

  • Training on the LSM900.
  • Training on the Crossbeam 550.
  • Assistance with sample preparation for Cryo-ET
  • Assistance with and training on the Krios for Cryo-ET data acquisition
  • Assistance with Cryo-ET data processing and post-processing analyses on a case-by-case basis.
  • To request services, please contact us at: CRYO-ET@lists.upenn.edu

The TEM Training Facility provides training and access to Tecnai T12 microscope for learning basic operation of TEM as well as optimizing samples with negative stain EM. We offer the following services at the TEM Training Facility:

  • Training on FEI T12 Microscope for negative stain imaging.
  • Pay-per-service for negative stain imaging.

To request services, please contact us at ULTRA_SERV@lists.upenn.edu

The TEM facility is part of the Electron Microscopy Resource Laboratory, which provides conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of cells and tissues services to Penn research groups and external academic research groups in the greater Philadelphia area. The facility houses a Talos microscope, sample preparation instruments, and all the accessories needed to perform fixing, processing, sectioning, staining, and imaging.

We offer the following services at the TEM Facility:

  • Pay-per-service Standard TEM and Immuno TEM for cellular and tissue structure. 
  • Pay-per-service specimen preparation included fixing, processing, sectioning, staining, and imaging.
  • Training on the Reichart Ultramicrotome for independent usage.
  • Training on the Talos 120 LC microscope for independent microscope usage.

Note: The TEM Facility does not provide data analysis or processing.

To request services please contact us at: ULTRA_SERV@lists.upenn.edu