Sample Preparation
An on-site hands-on training course covering sample vitrification on Vitrobot and Leica GP2.
On-site
3 days
6-8
Trainees
Morning
Demonstration
Afternoon
Practical
No Cost
Dates: March 18-20th, 2025
Lodging: Room and Board provided
Accommodations: University Place Hotel or Hyatt House
Location: RLSB
Who: PNCC Awarded General Access Proposal members only
The Pacific Northwest Center for Cryo-EM (PNCC) is offering a three-day hands-on training workshop for 6-8 trainees on “Introduction to basic theory and hands-on practice in preparing cryo-EM specimens for Single Particle Analysis”. This workshop short course will be held at PNCC from dates to be determined with the last day being optional. Students do not require any pre-existing knowledge of cryo-EM specimen preparation. Previous experience with negative-stain sample preparation may be useful but is not required. By workshop conclusion, trainees will be able to:
- Successfully freeze one (or more) benchmark samples using one (or more) of the following PNCC devices: TFS Vitrobot Mk IV, Leica GP2
- Clip and prepare grids for loading into an Autoloader equipped system
- Safely manipulate frozen grids for storage and shipping
- Visually identify vitrification issues and propose fixes
Optionally, on day three, students may also:
- Practice using their own samples with feedback from PNCC trainers
- Practice using different grid substrates, such as Lacey Film, AuFoil, thin-carbon, and graphene-oxide.
- Vitrojet demoed with user samples.
- Mass distributions of user samples determined using TwoMP, with support from Refeyn.
Apply Now
NOTE: Application closes February 17th, 2025, at 10am (Pacific). Applicant must be listed on an active PNCC proposal. To maximize impact, PNCC prefers to train one lab member per group with the intention that member further trains others in their group. If a suitable number of applicants is not reached by the application close date, the workshop may be cancelled and applicants moved to next available date.
Agenda
From 9am to 5pm (Pacific) each day.
Hands-On Sessions, Group size 3 (max) per instrument.
Each user should get 4-6 hours of time practicing:
Day 1
- Onsite Badging and Introductions
- Demonstration by PNCC staff: freezing, clipping, handling, storage
- Supervised user practice, at room temperature
- Supervised User practice under cryogenic conditions
Day 2
- Groups Alternating Instruments:
- Supervised user practice under cryogenic conditions
- Grid evaluation on screening microscope
- Final Evaluation: Trainees demonstrate mastery of "Sample Preparation Workflow" on either TFS Vitrobot or Leica GP2
Day 3 (Optional)
- Users freeze their own samples with SPOC assistance
- Grid Evaluation on screening microscope