Facility for Electron Microscopy Research (FEMR)

McGill University, Montréal, Québec
What the facility does

One of the most comprehensive, dedicated and operational light, electron and ion beam microscopy facilities in Canada

Areas of expertise

As a world-class, shared, multiuser, fully integrated core imaging unit, the Facility for Electron Microscopy Research (FEMR) at McGill University delivers cutting-edge light, electron and ion beam microscopy and techniques as well as scientific and technical expertise for the imaging and analysis of inorganic, organic and biological matter, in particular hydrated and non-traditional, non-wet hybrid materials (hard/soft mixes, composites or beam and vacuum sensitive materials), that are critical for research in nanomedicine and biomedical sciences, pharmacology, bioengineering, chemical engineering, and nanobiotechnology / bionanotechnology with an emphasis on regenerative medicine, cell and tissue engineering, drug delivery, molecular programming, and systems biology. Additionally, the platform enables characterization of a wide range of engineering materials such metals, ceramics, and semiconductors, and nanomaterials for applications to catalysis, energy, medicine, and environmental remediation.

Research services

All aspects of electron microscopy, including sample preparation, imaging and analysis.

Sectors of application
  • Aerospace and satellites
  • Agriculture, animal science and food
  • Automotive
  • Chemical industries
  • Clean technology
  • Construction (including building, civil engineering, specialty trades)
  • Energy
  • Environmental technologies and related services
  • Forestry and forest-based industries
  • Healthcare and social services
  • Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
  • Manufacturing and processing
  • Mining, minerals and metals

Equipment

Function

FEI Titan Krios Cryo-STEM

300 kV cryogenic scanning-transmission electron microscope (cryo-STEM) with Gatan  BioQuantum LS Imaging Filter (GIF), K3 direct electron detector (DED), Falcon 2 DED,  and Volta phase plate

Thermo Scientific Talos F200X G2 STEM for Materials Sciences

200 kV scanning-transmission electron microscope with ChemiSTEM Technology, Super-X energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) microanalytical system and Gatan Enfinium SE Model 976 electron energy loss spectrometer (EELS) including ultrafast DualEELS spectrum imaging

FEI Tecnai G2 F20 Cryo-STEM

200 kV cryogenic scanning-transmission electron microscope with EDAX TEAM EDX microanalytical system and Octane silicon drift detector (SDD)

FEI Tecnai G2 Spirit Cryo-TEM

120 kV cryogenic transmission electron microscope with Gatan Ultrascan 4000 charge-coupled device (CCD) camera

FEI Tecnai 12 TEM

120 kV general-purpose transmission electron microscope with Advanced Microscopy Techniques (AMT) XR80C CCD camera

FEI Helios Nanolab 660 DualBeam

Cryogenic focused-ion-beam extreme-high-resolution scanning electron microscope (cryo-FIBSEM) with  Leica cryo-stage and EM VCT500 cryo-transfer system and EDAX TEAM EDS microanalytical system and Octane silicon drift detector (SDD)

FEI Quanta 450 FE-ESEM

Field-emission environmental scanning-transmission electron microscope (FE-SEM) with EDAX TEAM EDS microanalytical system and Octane SDD

Hitachi Ethos NX5000 FIB-SEM

Focused Ion and Electron Beam System

 

Hitachi SU8000 FE-SEM

Field-emission scanning electron microscope with Oxford INCA EDS microanalysis system and Oxford Nordlys II electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD).

FEI CorrSight Digital Fluorescence Light Microscope

Digital fluorescence light microscope with cryo-stage and live cell stage

Leica Microsystems EM VCT500

Vacuum cryo-transfer system

Leica Microsystems EM ICE HPF

High-pressure freezer system

Leica Microsystems EM PACT2

High-pressure freezer system

Leica Microsystems EM AFS2

Automatic freeze substitution system

Leica Microsystems Model CPD030

Critical point dryer

Leica Microsystems UC7/FC7

Cryo-ultramicrotome

Leica Microsystems UC6/FC7

Cryo-ultramicrotome

Leica Microsystems UCT

Cryo-ultramicrotome

Leica Microsystems BAF060

Freeze etching system

Leica Microsystems EM ACE600 w/cryo-stage

High-resolution sputter coater with Ir, Pt, and Au targets

Leica Microsystems EM ACE600

High-resolution sputter coater with Ir, Pt, Au, C targets

FEI Vitrobot Mark IV

Grid plunging system

Fischione Model 1020

Plasma cleaner

  • Anomera, Inc.
  • Apotex, Inc.
  • Argex Titanium
  • BioVectra
  • Québec Consortium for Drug Discovery (CQDM) - AstraZeneca, Merck, Pzifer
  • INRS Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications
  • EnGene Inc.
  • Eubiologics Company Ltd
  • Hitachi High-Tech Canada
  • Hôpital Notre-Dame
  • Invacare
  • INRS Institut Armand-Frappier
  • Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM)
  • Magnus Chemicals Ltd
  • Medicago Inc.
  • Micropharma Ltd
  • NanoBrand
  • Neomed Institute
  • NHP Laboratories
  • PreciThera Inc.
  • Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC)
  • Rio Tinto
  • Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre
  • Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre
  • Starpax Medical Inc.
  • Systems for Research (SFR)
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific
  • Two-Photon Research
  • UCB Pharma
  • Zinc Electrolytique du Canada Limitée (CEZinc)