Policies & Procedures

Core Policies & Procedures

Scheduling and Billing
  • Users will be charged for the full duration of their reserved time, regardless of early completion or late arrival. Please plan accordingly.
  • The minimum booking time for screening sessions is 3 hours.
  • In the event that a technical error causes a session to terminate, users will not be billed for the remaining reserved time. However, it is the user’s responsibility to promptly report the issue to core staff.
  • If a screening session is followed by a scheduled data collection session and no suitable grids are identified for collection, the reserved data collection time (including overnight sessions) will still be charged.
  • Microscope reservations may be modified or canceled up to 24 hours before the session start time. Cancellations within this 24-hour window will incur charges if the time slot cannot be reassigned.
New User Requirements

Before accessing any equipment (Vitrobot, clipping station, or microscopes), new users must complete the following:

  • Set up an iLab account with an appropriate funding source accessible to the core (BCBP CR).
  • Provide copies of the required EHRS certificates:
    • Introduction to Laboratory and Biological Safety
    • Electron Microscope Training – Radiation Safety
  • Provide a valid PennID to enable access to facility spaces
  • Complete the required training/ first supervised session 
Training Policy
  • Lab members are not permitted to train new users. All training must be conducted through the core facility.
  • Users with prior cryo-EM experience must inform the core of their experience level before beginning work.
  • Regardless of prior experience, the first sessions for grid freezing, clipping, screening, and data collection will be supervised to ensure compliance with facility procedures.
Facility Access
  • If you would like to bring an observer to your session, please notify the core facility in advance.