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BIOL 602 - TEM I: Fundamentals of Transmission Electron Microscopy

BIOLOGY 602

TEM I: Fundamentals of Transmission Electron Microscopy

Fall Semester

Description: This course introduces the students to the fundamentals of transmission electron microscopy based on theory and hands-on experience with operation and imaging. The goals of the course are to provide students with:

  • A detailed understanding of the theory and operational procedures for transmission electron microscopes.
  • Hands-on experience with basic specimen preparation.
  • Sufficient practical experience to attain a proficiency level permitting independent operation of one of the TEMs in the MIC.

The course is suitable for students in both Life and Material Sciences, but enrollment is limited to 10 students.

Required reading: Lectures will be supplemented by handouts and the e-book available through the Texas A & M libraries (or hardcopy if the student wishes to purchase it) Bozzola, J. J. and Russell, L. D. 1999. Electron microscopy principles and Techniques for Biologists. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. [It is possible for students to purchase used, discounted copies from Amazon.com.] N.B. This text is also appropriate for TEM beginners from the Material Sciences.

Grading: There are three pieces of assessed coursework: the poster (accounting for 20% of the grade), a written exam (accounting for 30%), and a successful instrument exam (practical exam) accounting for 50% of the final grade. Being eligible for the practical examination is contingent upon passing the written exam (minimum score 70%; only one re-take allowed). In order to pass the course, a student must have passed the instrument exam, i.e. been found to be properly qualified to independently operate one of the TEMs. This will be confirmed by a certificate handed out to the student.

Lectures: There will be two one-hour lectures (Tue and Thu 1-2 pm ). These lectures will be coordinated with a three-hour laboratory (2-5 pm). This format has been carefully chosen to allow students sufficient time on the electron microscopes as well as time to assimilate the theoretical background knowledge while keeping an overall workload compatible with a 3-credit course.

Laboratory: The laboratories each week will involve demonstrations by the MIC staff and hands-on experience by each student at each laboratory. Laboratory handouts will be provided by the MIC staff and students should come to laboratory having read the laboratory hand-outs ahead of time.

Homework: Each student is required to prepare a poster describing a basic structural analysis of a specimen examined in the TEM during the course. The poster should be comprised of three sections: Introduction, Materials & Methods and Results & Discussion (incl. presentations of micrographs, EM-specific annotations, figure legends, image interpretation).

Course outline:

  • Welcome and introduction to the course (1h) Lab: First TEM demonstration (3 h)
  • Safety first (1 h) Lab: Grid preparation (3 h)
  • Data recording and presentation (1 h) Lab: Negative and image processing (3 h)
  • Electron sources and Vacuum Systems (1 h) Lab: Basic TEM image acqusition (3 h)
  • Electron optics and interaction of electrons with matter (1 h) Lab: TEM alignment (3 h)
  • Basic alignment of TEM (1 h) Lab: TEM practice and alignment (3 h)
  • Theory review (1 h) Lab: TEM operation (3 h)
  • Written Exam (1.5 h)
  • Basic specimen preparation techniques (total 1.5 h) Lab: Sample preparation (total 2.5 h)
  • Troubleshooting: Questions and answers (1 h) Lab: Specimen preparation of students' own specimens and examination in the TEM (3 h)
  • Application-oriented theory sessions: specialized and student's project-based applications and poster preparation, presentation and discussion sessions (2 x 1 h Tue and Thu) Labs: Supervised practice sessions towards independent TEM operation, preparation for the instrument exam and specimen preparation where required (3 h)

Additional time-slots for supervised practice sessions will be made available upon arrangement with the instructors. Each student is entitled to a maximum of 2 hours additional practice time over the 5-week period outside the regular course schedule.

Coordinator: Dr. Andreas Holzenburg

Instructors: Ann Ellis, Rick Littleton, Dr. Zhiping Luo, Dr. Michael Pendleton

 

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