Users
Faculty members, students, post-doctorates, visiting scientists are or research staff at Montclair State University and external research institutions and industrial clients are all potential MMRL Users.
- Frequent instrument operators
- All students and researchers from the University whose work requires the use of one or more microscopes and the support equipment are encouraged to receive training of the instruments and to do their own work.
- Occasional users
- Researchers and industrial users who have only a limited need for the facilities
- Arrangements made by the Director of the MMRL
- All or portions of the work will be performed by MMRL staff
Researchers
A researcher must be trained by the MMRL Director, Co-directors, or EM related course instructors.
- Learner
- Use the instruments during the regular operating hours of the MMRL only
- Will be trained and supervised by a qualified instructor
- Day Independent Operator
- Use the instruments without direct supervision during the regular operating hours of the MMRL
- Expected to demonstrate an ability to operate the instrument properly and to understand instrument operation well enough to recognize problems when they arise
- Night Independent Operator
- Authorized by the MMRL Director or Co-Directors to have a swipe key to access the MMRL Lab whenever needed or desired
- Expected to be familiar enough with the operation of the instrument to troubleshoot problems (such as beam alignment, sample charge-up, etc.)
Training
To meet the varied needs of potential users of the instruments and other facilities of the MMRL, the MMRL staff will provide instruction and on-site operational training. This will cover all aspects of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), from specimen preparation to tissue thick/thin sectioning.
- Instrumental operation training
- Intended to teach the fundamentals of instrument operation
- Specimen preparation training
- Learn specific aspects of specimen preparation that are related to their research programs
Both instrumental operation and specimen preparation training will be offered as requested to faculty, postdoctoral researchers, technicians and graduate students. On-site training courses for new and experienced users are available upon request in the EM imaging facilities.
EM Courses
We host formal semester-long courses offered by the College of Science and Mathematics for advanced undergraduate students and graduate students using SEM and TEM in their thesis research, and on-site training for new users. Summer courses, workshops, seminars and demonstrations are in development.
Formal Instructional Programs
- BIOL 411 “Introduction to Transmission Electron Microscopy”
- Basic theory and practice of electron microscopy. Specimen preparation, ultramicrotomy, microscopy, photographic preparation of final print, operation of the TEM and interpretation of results. 4 sh.
- BIOL 406 “Scanning Electron Microscopy”
- Introduction to the theory and practice of scanning electron microscopy including specimen preparation, beam-specimen interactions, and operation of the SEM. 4 sh.
- EAES 525 “X-ray Microanalysis”
- An in-depth laboratory-oriented course in SEM Imaging and energy dispersive spectroscopy, qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis, and x-ray mapping. 3 sh.
- Instructor: Dr. Stefanie Brachfeld
Special courses and certificated programs may also be offered during Winter or Summer session. Contact Dr. Laying Wu for additional information.
Workshop, Seminar, and Demonstration Programs
The EM facilities provide workshops, seminars and demonstration programs to our students, research staff or faculty. Contact Dr. Laying Wu to be added to our mailing list for program announcements.