Prospective Users
Who can use the Cryo-EM facility at MSU?
Our facility offers services to internal MSU researchers, external academics, nonprofits, and commericial/industry clients. All non-MSU users must sign a Testing Services Agreement (TSA), which can be initiated by the core facility manager.
Where do I start?
Review our Instrumentation page for a list of our primary capabilities. Reach out directly to the core facility manager to get your project started.
Fees
Please review our current fee table here.
Onsite and External Use
We encourage onsite use by any type of user, including MSU students, faculty, staff, or external academic or commerical users. Non-MSU onsite users will need to establish a Facility Use Agreement (FUA) with the core facility manager.
Cryo-EM staff can run samples for external users. Please contact the facility manager to discuss shipping and sample analysis needs.
User Agreement
All users of the facility implicitly agree to a set of basic guidelines when using facility instrumentation. These guidelines are the minimum that are expected of users, and additional agreements may be decided upon by both parties as needed.
Instrument Care
- All users of the facility must leave the instruments as they found them, in good working order. If a user violates usage policy and directly breaks or damages an instrument, that user will be responsible for any repair costs. If an instrument is left broken, the last user will be assumed responsible for any damage. If an instrument is broken in an unexpected way at the beginning of use, it is the user's responsibility to immediately notify facility staff.
- All users must clean up their space after they are done. This includes returning all equipment to where it belongs, removing any samples or used supplies, replacing used supplies as expected, notifying the facility any issues or low supply stocks, and removing all personal items, tools, and samples from work areas.
- If a user is uncertain about whether an action they are going to take will damage an instrument, or alter a calibration or setting that they are not authorized to alter, they are expected to immediately stop, and contact a member of facility staff.
Required Training
All new onsite users must complete the Biosafety and Chemical Safety Training. Please register for upcoming training sessions for each below. If doing negative-stain work, you must complete Radiation Safety Training - Uranium and Thorium Safety Training.