For research projects requiring electron microscopy, the FEMR offers聽consultation and advice in designing and planning experiments, sample preparation, imaging, and analysis.聽 The first step is to submit the Project Form.聽 Describe the research objectives on the Project Form so appropriate staff can participate in the interview.聽 Contact kelly.sears [at] mcgill.ca (S.聽Kelly Sears) to聽arrange an Assessment Interview.
In the Assessment Interview, scientific and technical staff will evaluate the project objectives and requirements聽to select appropriate聽equipment/instruments and techniques.聽 Students, post-doctoral fellows, and research assistants/associates must attend the interview.聽 Attendance from your聽supervisor聽is recommended聽to ensure a more effective project assessment.聽 Discussion of the project's costs also is part of the interview, and the facility manager will provide an estimate after the consultation.
After the meeting, a training schedule for the researcher will be provided if the researcher executes the project.聽 If the project requires assistance or will be performed by staff, the project will be added to the聽list of projects of the designated staff.聽 Typically,聽projects are added on a first-come, first-served basis.聽 A request for placing a project on the list using a different criterion (e.g., paper revision, conference, etc.) will be聽examined and approved if reasonable justification is provided.聽 Rush jobs incur additional costs.
Items you should bring to the Assessment Interview.聽 Be prepared to discuss your goals and research plan.
- Letter from your supervisor agreeing to cover fees associated聽with the project.聽 An email to stephen.sears [at] mcgill.ca (S Kelly Sears)聽also may be sufficient.
- Summary and specific aims of the research project.
- Risk assessment of the project.聽 Submit a聽one-page document describing hazardous or biohazardous materials (e.g., infectious聽organisms, radioactive substances, and highly toxic materials) and risks associated with samples to聽be analyzed.聽 Please note - only Containment Level 1 (CL1) or Biosafety Level 1聽(BSL1) samples can聽be accepted.聽 Potentially infectious or toxic materials cannot be accepted.聽 All biological samples must be fixed before bringing to the FEMR.
- In some exceptional cases, we can process Containment Level 2 (CL2) or Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2) samples for cryo-electron microscopy.聽 In this case, you must submit a copy of your McGill Application to Use Biohazardous Materials (/ehs/files/ehs/ehs-form-014_v2.1_biohazards_application_form_1.pdf).
- Hazardous materials and specimens, such as magnetic powders and wet, organic or other volatile substances, must not be inserted into sample chambers or EM columns without consulting staff.
- Publication(s) relevant to the project.
- Preliminary work that the researcher carried out.聽
EM Tool Kits
The FEMR provides tools and supplies for common use.聽 Regular facility users are advised to stock and maintain their tool kits and consumables (e.g., Autogrid tweezers for Vitrobot, grids, grids boxes, tweezers, etc.).