Spectral Imaging Facility FAQ

The FAQs below address some of the most frequently received inquiries about this facility.

What instruments are currently available at the Spectral Imaging Facility?

The NEAT ORU Spectral Imaging Facility currently has a state-of-the-art combination of an atomic force microscope and a laser scanning confocal microscope.

The atomic force microscope is the MFP3D AFM system from Asylum Research Corp. Please check http://www.asylumresearch.com for technical details and specification.

The laser scanning confocal microscope is the FV1000 system from Olympus America. Please check http://www.olympusamerica.com/seg_section/seg_confocal.asp for technical details and specification.

When can we use the AFM/Confocal microscope?

The facility has been open for users since 9/13/05. Please contact the facility's development engineer, via e-mail at sif-info@ucdavis.edu to make arrangements.

How do I use the Facility?

You may submit your samples for imaging, or bring your samples into the facility for assisted imaging. Alternatively, you may elect to receive in facility training and become a certified user. All service options are available on a recharge basis. Certified users will have access to the facility after normal business hours resulting in more flexible scheduling options. Our goal is to certify as many users as interest warrants and to every extent possible.

Why do I need training and certification before using the facility unassisted?

For the safety of the researchers and the instrument, training is a requirement before becoming an independent user. The provided training will allow users to take full advantage of the capabilities of this state-of-the-art instrument.

How do I sign up and schedule training?

Please email sif-info@ucdavis.edu to schedule training sessions. Training sessions are generally in the afternoons, Monday through Thursday. Each session may take between 3 to 4 hours to complete. At the first session, you will need to provide a completed copy of the “Recharge Authorization” and “Record of Initial Safety Training” forms available from the “Spectral Imaging Facility” section of the NEAT ORU website (http://neat.ucdavis.edu). Each user can supply their own consumables, e.g., cantilevers, slides, cover slips, sample dishes, gloves, etc. These materials are also available at the facility on a recharge basis.

What information will be presented during the training sessions?

Training will concentrate on three focus areas, AFM alone, Confocal alone, and combined AFM and Confocal. The total number of hours required to complete the training will undoubtedly depend on the individual. Though the curriculum content is in flux and will depend on student focus, each student can plan on at least 9 sessions (three for each focus area) and three to four hours in duration for each session. The actual number of sessions and hours required will depend on the individuals experience and skills in AFM and Confocal Microscopy. Successful completion of the final practical exam will allow users to work unassisted in the facility. The practical exam will consist of each student demonstrating their ability to independently running the following sample types: 1.) AFM analysis of rough gold (or equivalent sample) in air using contact and tapping modes, processing the data and creating a report, 2.) confocal analysis of a standard sample in 2D and 3D and creating a report based on the spectroscopy data, and 3.) combined AFM and confocal analysis of a standard sample, e.g., pollen grains, and creating a report based on the imagery.

What kind of samples may I use during the training sessions?

Every student or group, up to 3 individuals, should prepare and bring samples of interest for the AFM or the Confocal initial imaging. In this way, the early training sessions can reflect the immediate needs and interests of the student. If you do not have access to specific samples, there is an assortment of standard samples available at the facility.

How is the training organized?

Session 1

Facility safety issues, user authorizations (forms are available online at http://neat.ucdavis.edu), ascertain sample holding and cantilever requirements, determine fluorescent dyes to use, start up/shut down procedures, introduction to instrument controls, first images using AFM and Confocal with prepared slides.

Session 2-6 AFM and Confocal Microscopy

AFM- contact mode imaging, non-contact mode imaging including tapping mode, force-distance curve, and imaging parameter optimization.

Confocal- fluorescence spectroscopy, 2D scanning confocal imaging basics, wavelength selection, filter sets, and zoom, 3D scanning confocal imaging basics, and data processing.

Session 10+

Advanced topics and training as required or requested.

How much will it cost?

For UCD researchers, the hourly charge rate is $50.00 per hour from now until Feb. 28, 2006. Users will also be responsible for consumables, supplies and other non-equipment related expenses. The future rate will be discussed and reviewed one month before Feb. 28, 2006.

For non-UCD researchers, an hourly rate of $129.50 per hour is applied in addition to the costs associated with supplies and peripherals. This rate is also subject to review every six months.

Additional requirements?

Any public publication that benefited from the use of or reporting work enabled by the use of the facility must acknowledge NSF-MRI (DMR-0421521), University of California, Davis and NEAT ORU Spectral Imaging Facility . Please also send a note of any public presentation information, a copy of pre-print or reprint of any such publications to Professor Gang-yu Liu (liu@chem.ucdavis.edu) for inclusion in annual and final grant reports to NSF.

The NEAT ORU has the right to terminate any users' privilege to access the facility based on a users conduct involving inadequate laboratory safety and misuse of the instrumentation.

The Spectral Imaging Facility welcomes your support, comments, and suggestions for the maintenance and improvement of this new facility. Please send comments and suggestions to the Principal Investigator, Dr. Gang Yu Liu, gyliu@ucdavis.edu.

We look forward to working with you.

Acknowledgments

The National Science Foundation has provided funding for instrumentation acquisition under NSF-MRI program, DMR-0421521. NEAT-ORU, the University of California, Davis, Office of Vice Chancellor for Research, College of Letter and Science, College of Engineering, the Department of Chemistry, and Department of Applied Science have also contributed additional funding.