CryoEMGroup home page

IBBR CryoEM user group is organized to support users involved in cryoelectron microscopy research and utilizing experimental facilities at IBBR.  This space will feature relevant announcements and pertinent information.

IBBR CryoEM capabilities

FEI Talos Arctica 200kV microscope.  This is our first microscope installed in the summer of 2019.  It was originally equipped with the Falcon3EC camera.  After multiple upgrades, it currently features the Direct Electron Apollo detector that provides for high dose rate (up to 60 e/pix/s) and the Dectris SINGLA detector optimized for the microED experiments (data collection workflows are currently under development and full functionality is expected later in 2026).  Both detectors were installed as part of the major upgrade in 2025 (funded via DoC-NIST award 60NANB24D147).

FEI Glacios 200kV microscope.  This is our second microscope installed in the fall of 2020.  It was originally equipped with the Gatan K3 camera.  In the fall of 2023 the major upgrade was completed on this microscope to replace the detector with the FEI Falcon4I and to upgrade the system with the FEI Selectris energy filter.  The system also features the phase plate to support high contrast imaging of nanoparticles.

CryoTEM grid preparation capabilities. IBBR CryoEM center is fully equipped with all the auxiliary equipment to support sample preparation (glow discharge units, cryogenic storage, etc).  For the grid making, we have 3 manual cryoplungers, 2 FEI Vitrobot Mark IV units, and SPT Labtech Chameleon robot.

Data management and processing. IBBR IT unit developed the comprehensive user management platform (cryoDB), which covers all the aspects of user access, microscope queuing, grid and data management.  2Pb large storage array houses raw microscopy data, and cryoEM users have access to the GPU cluster for data processing using state-of-the-art software such as Relion and CryoSPARC.  Off-site download capabilities are provided via Globus.  We have also developed the highly automated data collection protocols and workflows using SerialEM data collection software, and these now fully integrate with the data management database (cryoDB), data transfer from camera attached storage servers to the large storage data array and on-the-fly data processing.

New users

New and aspiring users must read the onboarding notes.  You may request access to that and other information here.  If you subsequently lose the link to shared folder, here it is again.  Check out the copy of the main onboarding document if you are looking just for a quick overview of your further steps (this may be outdated, the most recent version is in the shared folder).

Training is mandatory to all wishing to prepare grids at IBBR. Book your appointment here.  

Group membership is granted to all users that establish cryoDB account (generally only provided to trained users).  If for some reason you need one but not the other, you may request group membership here.  This is unusual situation, so do provide an explanation.

Active users

• Room 1121 checklist (aka the “Vitrobot rules”) - any changes will be posted to the group email, but check periodically
• Instructions for non-IBBR users delivering grids
• Suggested shopping list
• How to get into the instrument queue
• Data collection procedures and general rules
• Training documents (keep in mind that these could sometimes be out of date - go to shared folder (onboarding, see above) to make sure you are looking at the most recent version)
• Some mandatory reading
  • Note on clipping grids
• Some frequently answered questions will be highlighted as they become frequent.
• You can find microscope status on the front page of the cryoDB.  "NIST queue" is not a microscope, it is a queue that NIST users should use for their requests.
• Access to CryoSPARC (IBBR users only) and CryoSPARC use guide.
• Detailed negative stain protocol. We do permit NS work on our scopes but only at cryo temperatures.  You can bring negative stain grids and store them for data collection on site.  If interested in preparing these types of grids at IBBR, contact the lab safety officer for instructions regarding radiation safety training.  When cleared by UMCP radiation safety, contact us for further directions.

All the inquires should be directed to Ed Pozharski (UM, epozhars@umd.edu) and/or Tom Cleveland (NIST, tclevela@umd.edu).  E-mail communication is strongly preferred, but if you feel that your issue is an emergency or otherwise warrants an oral communication, you can try calling 240-314-6870.

Acknowledgement

Any use of the CryoEM Center resources (including microscopes, grid preparation instrumentation and computational resources) should be acknowledged in publications and presentations.  Include the following statement: "IBBR CryoEM Center is supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (DoC grant 70NANB21H105) and by the University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State."