Information for users
Please read the below terms and conditions and complete the relevant user agreement form at the back of this document.
Instrument Training
- Only platform staff are to train researchers to use the Ian Holmes Imaging Centre (IHIC) instruments unless agreed and documented with the IHIC staff responsible for the equipment.
- Researchers will be provided with training documentation and are required to complete an online competency assessment (ammrf.org.au/myscope/) before they can book in a face-to-face training session.
- Face-to-Face training usually consists of a two-hour induction. Platform staff retain the right to require researchers to undergo further training if deemed necessary.
Equipment and Laboratory Usage
- The Facility is not a storage area. Please do not leave your equipment and samples in the facility. Unlabelled samples will be discarded without notice. If you want to store your equipment or samples ask the relevant unit staff.
- The cryo storage is for use by facility staff only. Please arrange for off site storage of your samples.
- Waste containing users sample should not be discarded in the facility but brought back to the department of origin and discarded properly.
- Any damage to a piece of equipment resulting from misuse or operator error will be charged back to the research group to which the researcher belongs (eg. damage to a pole piece of an SEM $65,000).
- Microscope computers and support computers are not to be modified in any way (installing software, changing settings ...) and are only to be used for image acquisition/analysis. Use your own laptop if you want to browse the internet, check your email ...
- Any cancellation is to be done at least 24h before the scheduled booking start. Failure to do so may incur full charges.
- User should bring their own tools and consumables (some consumables are available at IHIC, user shoudl discuss this with staff prior to booking)
Access and After Hours Usage
- The Bio21 IHIC is a OGTR PC2 certified facility, it is a requirement to follow the OGTR guideline and area specific EHS regulations. Please fill the following form.
- After hours use is only permitted after consultation with the relevant equipment staff and ONLY when not working alone. Please refer to the training files provided.
- Personal items (bags, coats ... ) should be left in the lockers provided outside the facility.
- Lockers are for temporary storage of personal items while working in the facility. they should not be used as a long term solution and will be emptied periodically
- The IHIC is not responsible for any theft or loss while using the lockers.
- Access cards must never be handed on to a third party.
Data Management Policy
- Images and data obtained on Ian Holmes Imaging Centre instruments remain the property of the researcher who acquired the data.
- The researcher is responsible for the archiving of these files. We suggest that this is performed immediately at the end of your session. Please allocate time for this within your booking.
- Under no circumstances are IHIC staff responsible for any loss of data.
Publication/Authorship Policy
- The platform should be acknowledged in any research output (e.g. publication, presentation and poster) that arises from data generated on IHIC instruments.
- Assisted use sessions are performed on a fee for service or collaborative basis. Any output that include data produced on a collaborative basis should include the relevant platform staff as a coauthor. The decision to undertake a standard fee for service or collaborative work should be discussed prior to the work starting. Platform staff should be considered for co-authorship if they have contributed significant technical, scientific or intellectual input to a study.
- In order to be funded one of our KPI is research output resulting form the use of the IHIC. hence researchers MUST notify the platform of any research output (e.g. publications, presentations and posters) that arise from use of IHIC instruments
Facility Staff
Name | Role | ||
---|---|---|---|
Assoc. Prof Eric Hanssen | Head, Structural and Cell Biology | ehanssen@unimelb.edu.au | |
Assoc. Prof Sergey Rubanov | Material science | sergey@unimelb.edu.au | |
Dr Andrew Leis | Structural Biology | andrew.leis@unimelb.edu.au | |
Dr Hamish Brown | Structural Biology | hgbrown@unimelb.edu.au | |
Mr Roger Curtain | SEM and microanalysis | rcac@unimelb.edu.au | |
Mr Zlatan Trifunovic | Biological sample preparation | zlatan@unimelb.edu.au |
Before you accept the terms and condition make sure you the following document ready:
- Signed OGTR behavioural training form
- MyScope online training and printed the certificate of completion
I ACCEPT the terms and condition of the Bio21 AMF |
Screening workflow before applying for time (assumes your have 2D class averages from negative staining for SPA):
1. Freeze 4-6 grids with your sample (macromolecule, cell or nano crystal)
same vitrobot conditions ( blot paper saturation, humidity, temperature ....)
2. Screen one of those
on a 120kV microscope (eg. L120C) for SPA, or 200-300kV (eg. TF30) for tomo and microED
- A. if it is good, acquire 1 grid atlas (or very low mag, eg. x50), at least 2 grid squarres, at least 4 grid holes
- B. if it is not good try another of you 4-6 grids
- if it is good go to A
- if it is not good try again or start from scratch
- Apply for Single Particle project
You will need 2D classes of negative staining, an atlas, low lag, high mag of a cryoEM screening grid
VIEW - Apply for tomography project
you will need an atlas of a screening grid
VIEW - Apply for MicroED project
You will need an optical microscopy image of your crystal tray, an atlas, low mag magnification and high magnification of a cryoEM screening grid
VIEW
Electron microscopes charges 2020 from 18th of January 2021 | |
---|---|
Beam time for all Instruments^ | |
^ not for blockface imaging and Arctica (see below) | |
Subscription (only for The University of Melbourne research groups with Themis account string) | $ upfront |
50h per research group | 3890 |
100h per research group | 6962 |
200h per research group | 12285 |
400h per research group | 21294 |
User Operated | $/h |
University of Melbourne | 82 |
Other Research Institutes | 119 |
Corporate | 211 |
Unit Staff Operated ($/h) | $/h |
University of Melbourne | 177 |
Other Research Institutes | 211 |
Corporate | 306 |
Training ($/h) * | $/h |
University of Melbourne | 128 |
Other Research Institutes | 164 |
Corporate | 260 |
Block face imaging (VolumeScope) | |
Sample set up and acquisiton included (minimum 18h run) | $/h |
Standard overnight run LIEF partners | $35/h |
Standard overnight run Non LIEF partners | $57/h |
Arctica Automated cryoEM | |
Sample set up and acquisition included with 3 grids/autogrids, 1 day= 20h regulated access ^^ | $/day |
LIEF partners | $1460 |
Non LIEF partners | $2260 |
Ancillary equipment: | |
Carbon coater Emitech K950X (Loc: Bio21) | free# |
Plasma cleaner (Loc: Bio21) | free# |
Gold sputter coater Dynavac (Loc: Bio21) | free# |
Dynavac coating (Loc: Botany) | free# |
Vitrobot (Loc: Bio21 rate /1h) | free# |
Leica AFS2 (rate/run) | from $176 |
Leica EMPACT2 (rate/2h) | from $118 |
cryo ultra microtome (rate /2h) | from $57 |
ultra microtome (rate /h) | from $13 |
* Is considered "training" a session in which the aim is not too look at a sample but to teach the user how to use the instrument. The user can bring his/her own sample. After 4h it will be up to the unit staff to decide if further "training" is considered as "training" or "staff operated"
# When using microscope of the Advanced Microscopy Facility
It is the responsibility of the user to turn up on time. Charges will be made according to booking times. Cancellation have to notified at least 24h prior to booking starting time. Full charge will be incured if the notification is not received on time.
Subscription: The subscription is for each research group regardless of the number of group member. It is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, when all the hours are used the research group will revert to the standard hourly fee. Unused hours will expire after 12 months from the date of purchase. Only valid for user operated microscope time. Valid across all instruments. subscription will commence when payment has been cleared
^^Arctica access policy: users must have shown relevant staff negative staining and corresponding class averages as well as cryoEM screening grids micrographs. Application for access: Assoc Prof Eric Hanssen
- Societies
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Web resources
MyScope, microscopy tutorial (pre-requisite for one on one teaching at IHIC)
Leica Science-Lab, tutorials, article about microscopy and applications
EM University, large repository of knowledge on EM and cryoEM
CryoEM101, videos and animation about the cryoEM workflow
- Instrument manuals
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Calculators
Basic SPA box size calculator
Assuming 2.7 mm Cs
SPA refinement memory calculator
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What to bring
Tolls you will need:
Minimum kit:
- 2 sets of Dumont tweezers style #5, non-magnetic
- appropriate grids (see below)
- grid storage
Optional tools:
- ThermoFisher Vitrobot or Leica EMGP tweezers
- Diamond knife for ultrathing sections (35 degres for standard sections, 45 degres for hard materials) and cryo ultrathin sections (IHIC will provide glass knives only)
Recommanded grid types by application:
- negative staining and small nanoparticles: 400 mesh carbon coated grids (copper)
- plastic sections; 50-100 mesh formvar carbon coated grids (copper)
- plastic section tomography: 200 mesh formavar carbon coated grids (copper)
- immunolabelling: 100-200 mesh formvar carbon coated grids (gold, nickel or copper)
- routine cryoEM (liposome/exosome/cubosomes/phages/bacteria ...): 300 mesh lacey carbon (copper)
- single particle analysis: 1.2/1.3 (or smaller holes) UltraFoil (or equivalent).
Publication network 2010-2019 Bio21 AMF
199 research groups
541 publications in peer reviewed journals
173 co-authorship by Bio21 AMF staff members
Thank you to Mr Roger Curtain and Mr Zlatan Trifunovic who combed through over 20,000 publications.
Please acknowledge us in your publications to make the next iteration easier.