Courses and Training

The Microscopy and Imaging Center offers formal courses in SEM, TEM and Light Microscopy, as well as a sample preparation course for both biological and material sciences. These courses are offered through the Department of Biology.

For individual training on the light microscopes, please contact Stan Vitha (Tel. 845-1607; stanvitha@tamu.edu). There are no prerequisites, you do not need to take a quiz to get trained on the LM.  Depending on your prior experience and the type of microscope, 1-2 sessions (2 - 5 hours) are typically needed for the basic training.  Please see the corresponding Light Microscopy Training page for details;.

If you would like to receive individual SEM or TEM training outside the formal course structure, just stop by and check out some of the SEM or TEM reading materials and video tapes (optional) from our administration office, which is located here in the center. Once these items are checked out you may take them home or view them here. When you have familiarized yourself a little bit with the theoretical background, we ask you to take a quiz. This quiz is used to adjust the training to your individual needs. At this point you will begin your hands-on training with one of our staff members. Once you and your instructor feel you are capable of operating the equipment alone, you will be checked out. To arrive at this point depends on your background/previous proficiency with similar equipment etc. For somebody with no background about 3-4 sessions (8-10 hours) with an instructor are normally sufficient to get you to a competency level that allow you to operate the instrument by yourself during normal working hours. In order to get 24 hours access, you need to be checked out. At this point, you will leave a $10 deposit, and we will issue you a key to access the center 24/7.