The CU Boulder EM Services Core Facility, located in the MCDB department, specializes in transmission electron microscopy imaging and sample preparation of biological specimens. The facility carries on the missions of the former Boulder Laboratory for 3D Electron Microscopy of Cells and the MCDB Electron Microscopy Service. Collectively, we have pioneered 3-dimensional imaging of cellular and molecular structures by electron tomography and the use of state of the art cryofixation methods by freeze-substitution, and cryo-EM of vitrified samples.

We welcome investigators from all of the University of Colorado campuses, other academic institutions and hospitals, as well as the private sector. Facility users may be trained to operate the microscopes and specimen preparation equipment independently; we also offer full specimen preparation and imaging services, particularly to those at other institutions who may not have access to this technology.

Supported services include: Specimen Preparation - negative staining & plunge freezing (cryoTEM samples), chemical fixation, high-pressure freezing, freeze-substitution, plastic embedding, ultramicrotomy and immuno-labeling; TEM Imaging - conventional, immunoEM, electron tomography and single-particle analysis (neg stain and cryo).

Inquiries - Please email us at the following address with any questions or to discuss potential projects:  BoulderEM@colorado.edu

Booking - Go to the following link to access our Stratocore PPMS booking system, follow the instructions to create a new account:  https://ppms.us/cuboulder/login/?pf=3