The UIC is Phasing Out Electron Microscopy Services
Announcement: UIC Phasing Out of Electron Microscopy Services
Important Update Regarding UIC Service Offerings
Date: June 23, 2026
To our valued University of Minnesota research community,
After careful consideration and a comprehensive review of our long-term operational sustainability, the University Imaging Centers (UIC) will begin phasing out electron microscopy (EM) as a core service within the next fiscal year (FY27). This difficult decision is driven by significant budgetary concerns and the escalating costs of maintaining specialized EM resources.
The UIC has long taken pride in providing high-quality TEM and SEM services, and we understand the impact this change may have on your ongoing research projects. Our primary goal during this transition is to ensure that current users can successfully complete their existing studies while we assist in identifying alternative resources for future work.
Transition Timeline and Impacted Services
The decommissioning process will be conducted in stages starting July 1, 2026. The following services and systems will be affected:
- Standard Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM): Services provided via the JEOL 1400 Plus TEM will be progressively scaled back.
- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM): Routine imaging on the Hitachi S3500N SEM will conclude by the end of the 2027 fiscal year.
- EM Sample Preparation: Specialized preparation services for new projects, including fixation, mounting, resin embedding, and sectioning, will remain available until Nov 1, 2026. Researchers with existing projects will be contacted by staff to coordinate project wrap-up. Training requests on equipment and sample preparation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Serial Block-Face (SBF) SEM Partnership: Our current partnership with the Mayo Clinic for SBF-SEM will continue; we can assist new projects to work directly with Mayo Clinic staff for sample submission.
- Characterization Facility Partnership: We will be expanding our relationship and collaboration with the Characterization Facility to support UMN electron microscopy needs.
Recommended Alternative Resources
We remain committed to supporting your scientific endeavors. For researchers requiring electron microscopy beyond this transition period, we recommend the following University of Minnesota and regional resources:
| Facility | Services Offered | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Characterization Facility (CharFac) | Comprehensive SEM and TEM sample preparation and imaging, including cryo-EM and microanalysis. E-mail: [email protected] CharFac Website |
UMN East Bank Campus, Minneapolis |
| Mayo Clinic Electron Microscopy Core | Advanced 3D EM approaches and standard TEM for partnered projects. E-mail: [email protected] MCEMC Website |
Rochester, MN |
Next Steps for Current Users
We encourage all researchers with active or pending EM projects to reach out to our staff as soon as possible to develop a completion plan.
- Project Wrap-up: Please aim to submit all final samples for processing by November 1, 2026, to ensure completion.
- Consultations: If you have questions about how this transition affects your specific grant or research timeline, please schedule a consultation with UIC Program Director Mark Sanders, [email protected].
- Data Retrieval: Ensure all EM-related data are migrated from UIC servers to your primary storage solutions well in advance of final system shutdowns.
We want to extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Gail Celio for her years of dedicated expertise and support.
Thank you for your continued partnership and understanding as we navigate these changes to better align our resources with the evolving needs of the University imaging community.
Sincerely,
Mark A. Sanders
Program Director, University Imaging Centers
[email protected]
