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Electron Microscopy Facility
Subsidiary of the Research and Graduate Studies Office of the AVP

Workshops

Training on BYU's Electron Microscopes is available to *anyone.

In order to operate the microscopes or ancillary equipment users must be trained by the Microscopy Facility Staff or Director. Please be aware that the BYU Electron Microscopy Facility also offers operator services to on and off campus researchers when needed. If it doesn't make sense to go through the training because the project is too small or to provide proof of concept for a project prior to committing to training please contact the BYU Electron Microscopy Facility for assistance.

  • Basic Operator Training for the SEM is conducted beginning the first week of each month during fall and winter semesters and on an as-needed basis during the spring and summer terms. Before attending Basic Operator Training, it is recommended that you view a set of training videos that are posted on the BYU training website.

    The Basic Operator Training for the SEM consists of four "hands-on" sessions on the microscope with either Mike Standing on the Low-Vacuum Apreo SEM, or the Helios Dual-Beam SEM/FIB in the McDonald building (MB), OR Paul Minson on the High-resolution Verios SEM in the underground lab facility of the Eyring Science center (ESC).  You may request Basic Operator Training (or attend a training session that has already been scheduled) by contacting Mike or Paul depending on which microscope you would like be trained on. The initial training session will be scheduled once a request has been made and additional participants will be encouraged to attend the session.

    The training is free for BYU Students, Faculty, and Staff if conducted in groups. However, if training is needed right away and cannot wait for another person to request the training, a billing code may be provided to the Facility Staff or Director and the trainee will be charged for the microscope time that is used for training (typically 6 hours for the SEM).

    Basic SEM training consists of the following hands-on training sessions:

    1) Demonstration of how to perform a basic imaging session (2 hours).

    2) Trainee performance of the items demonstrated in session #1. This is preferably conduced in pairs (2-trainees) (2 hours).

    3) One hour practice session to help solidify the training experience

    4) Practice session with additional pertinent instruction geared toward the trainee's research (1 hour). Following the final training session there will be an on-boarding session (30 to 45 minutes) where the trainee will be oriented to the scheduling software and informed of lab policies.

  • The Basic Operator Training for the TEM consists of several "hands-on" sessions on the microscope with Paul Minson on the Tecnai F20 TEM/STEM in the underground lab facility of the Eyring Science center (ESC). Please contact Paul to request TEM training.

    A training session will be scheduled once 2 or more persons have requested training. The date and time will be set to accommodate those that have initially requested training, but a general announcement for the training may then be made to inform any additional persons interested in the training.

    The training is free for BYU Students, Faculty, and Staff if conducted in groups. However, if training is needed right away and cannot wait for another person to request the training, a billing code may be provided to the Facility Staff or Director and the trainee will be charged for the microscope time that is used for training.

  • Training for other equipment in the facility or for more advanced microscopy techniques are listed below. Please use the links below to make the request. Include a brief description of the project for which you will need the equipment or technique.

    Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD on the Apreo or Helios)

    Cathodoluminescence (CL on the Apreo)

    X-ray Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (XEDS on the Apreo or Helios)

    X-ray Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (XEDS on the Verios)

    X-ray Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (XEDS on the TF20 TEM/STEM)

    Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM on the TF20 TEM/STEM)

    Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM on the Verios)

    Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM on the Helios)

    Focused Ion Beam milling or imaging (FIB on the HELIOS)

*IMPORTANT: Microscope training is available to those not affiliated with BYU for a flat fee of $1800 (6 hrs at the staff-assisted hourly rate).