NCCAT Merit badges
To broaden access to high-resolution cryoEM for biomedical researchers and cultivate a skilled workforce.
What are cryoEM merit badges?
These proficiency badges are awarded to users of the facility in three main skill areas (Sample preparation, Microscope operations and Data processing). After trainees complete a necessary set of requirements they may apply for a merit badge. Receipt of a merit badge will qualify the user for independence, and be cross honored at another national service center for instrumentation use.
Each merit badge has a worksheet with information on the requirements necessary to be completed for the badge. Users should contact the NCCAT User Office to begin working on a particular merit badge. Once the requirements are completed, the user may meet with your User Coordinator to complete the theoretical portion and arrange an appointment to demonstrate the practical portion of the worksheet. After successful completion of the merit badge requirements, the user can then receive a merit badge.
The merit badge award includes several steps:
- Theoretical background (knowledge),
- Knowledge test (pass/fail shared test),
- Demonstration (center staff training),
- Practice (supervised and unsupervised by user), and
- Practical test (2 separate staff observing at separate times).
A researcher may need to obtain several merit badges to have sufficient skills to conduct a cryoEM research project. The advantage of obtaining a merit badge at NCCAT is that it certifies that you are independent on particular instrument or skill area to operational staff. Also, merit badges will be cross honored at other national service centers after completing an orientation program and verifying proficiency.
What merit badges are available?
Our list of merit badges may be revised yearly as instrumentation and best practices evolve. Each merit badge has a worksheet with information on the requirements necessary to be completed for the badge. Users should contact the NCCAT User Office to begin working on a particular merit badge. Once the requirements are completed, the user may meet with your User Coordinator to complete the theoretical portion and arrange an appointment to demonstrate the practical portion of the worksheet. After successful completion of the merit badge requirements, the user can then receive a merit badge.
Sample preparation
The start of a cryoEM project.
Microscope operations
Microscope use and data collection.
Phase II under development.
How long is merit badge certification valid for?
Each merit badge will have its own expiration date to ensure a high level of proficiency is maintained. There is no one time interval that fits each category. After a merit badge’s certification period elapses center staff will verify proficiency to renew the certification.
Recertification periods
Sample preparation
Room temperature work ~1yr
Cryogenic work ~6mo
Microscope operations
General ~3mo
Direct detectors ~6mo
Side entry systems ~3mo
Autoloader systems ~1yr
Data collection programs ~1yr
Processing
General ~1yr