Access
We are a fully open-access facility with users from many Cambridge University Departments, external academic institutions and industry.
Access is initiated through contact with the Facility Manager (Dr Dima Chirgadze, dyc21 at cam.ac.uk), and usually followed by a meeting with facility staff to discuss the experimental approach, sample requirements, and whether training or supervision is needed. Facility staff can offer advice and troubleshooting as required.
Booking
Once access is approved, University of Cambridge members (i.e. internal users) may book using our online booking system (Raven credentials required). Please ensure you confirm staff availability if you will require support (we reserve the right to charge for pre-booked time that is unused or cancelled at short notice).
External academic/industrial users and all service-mode users must book through the Facility Manager only.
Costs
Please note that there are access charges related to instrument use. For University of Cambridge members are as follows:
- Vitrobot, 2-hour session - £52
- Talos Arctica, 1-day session (9am to 8am next day) - £790
- Titan Krios, 1-day session (9am to 8am next day) - £1,034
The rates are reviewed regularly. The 1-day sessions on electron microscopes cannot be subdivided into individual hours or half-days. For information regarding the rates for external academic groups and industrial users, please contact the Facility Manager.
Waiting times
Waiting times for getting time on our electron microscopes are typically about 1-2 weeks. However, at busy times, it can be more than a month. If you require beamtime urgently, contact the Facility Manager, we'll do our absolute best to accomodate you.
Consumables
The access charges listed above do not include any consumable items, i.e. grids, C-clips and autogrid cartridges, storage boxes, etc. We do, however, stock some of them. Please ask for details.
When you visit
The Cryo-EM Facility is located in level 00 of the Sanger Building. Access is via the reception desk:
- Tel: +44 1223 766001 (facility extension: 66059)
- Email: reception at bioc.cam.ac.uk
- Opening times: 08:00-13:00 and 14:00-17:00
- Precise location: https://w3w.co/swung.senior.abode
Directions for parking in a pre-booked space:
