CryoEM Sample Preparation Workshop
May 2025
The Delaware Biotechnology Institute Bio-Imaging Center will host visiting scientists from the National Center for CryoEM Access and Training for a workshop on cryoEM sample preparation for single particle analysis. The target audience is researchers interested in using cryoEM for high-resolution structural studies who need more information and training to get started. There is no cost to attend the workshop, but any travel-related costs must be self-covered.
- Part one: Friday May 9. Two 1-hour seminars (One in the AM, one in the PM) covering common cryoEM workflows & current state-of-the art capabilities. Optional office hours/discussion with NCCAT staff can be scheduled during the day for 1-on-1 discussions on sample suitability and preparation for cryoEM.
- Part two: Monday May 19. Hands on practical: Sample preparation for room temperature and cryogenic EM imaging & Imaging room temperature samples at the Bio-Imaging Center. The practical will take place from ~10 AM to 3-4 PM, including breaks.
- Part three: Friday May 30. Group session on sample imaging and evaluation. Cryo samples made during the practical will be sent to NCCAT and screened. In this half-day interactive session we will review screening results and have a live remote control session on a cryo-electron microscope at NCCAT.
It is possible for participants to join one, or all, parts of the workshop. We recommend those who want to join the hands on practical attend all sessions.
Workshop Agenda (subject to minor changes)
Friday May 9, 2025: Part I: Introduction to cryoEM
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10 AM – 11 AM | Talk: Introduction to cryoEM and national center resources. Introduction to the workshop, and sample requirements for upcoming freezing session. | University of Delaware Main Campus: Chemistry building, Brown Laboratory Room 219 (BRL219) |
| 12:30 PM – 3 PM | Office hours to discuss sample requirements for hands on workshop or other cryoEM or national center inquiries. | By appointment |
| 4 pm – 5 pm | Departmental Seminar: Recent advances in cryoEM | University of Delaware Main Campus: Chemistry building, Brown Laboratory Room 219 (BRL219) |
Monday May 19, 2025: Part II: Hands-on sample preparation
Due to limited space and high-demand, the number of participants for Part II is limited. 12 attendees have been selected from the submitted applications and notified via e-mail of their acceptance.
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 AM – 4 PM with a lunch break | Rotation of four hands-on stations: grid handling, negative stain grid prepartion, negative stain grid screening, and cryo grid preparation | University of Delaware STAR Campus: Bioimaging Center |
Hands on workshop stations:
| Students cycle through all stations | Station 1: negative stain grid prep | Station 2: negative stain screening | Station 3: cryo grid prep | Station 4: break/grid handling practice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 am – 11 am | All together – intro and demo | – | ||
| 11 am – 12 pm | Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
| 12 pm- 1 pm | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group A |
| 1 pm – 2 pm | Group C | Group D | Group A | Group B |
| 2 pm – 3 pm | Group D | Group A | Group B | Group C |
| 3 pm – 4 pm | All together – wrap up and demo |
Friday May 30, 2025: Part III: Evaluating cryoEM samples
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10 am – 12 pm | Remote screening of cryoEM grids. Live demo of cryoEM screening on NCCAT’s Glacios TEM | TBD |
| 12 pm – 1 pm | Lunch break | |
| 1 PM – 3 PM | Review of cryoEM micrographs from samples made during the workshop | TBD |