Cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) is revolutionizing the biosciences by enabling the imaging of macromolecules, viruses, and cellular substructures at near-atomic to atomic resolutions. Advances in detectors, computation, and EM design now produce high-resolution images of rapidly frozen samples that disruptively surpass current methods (e.g., X-ray crystallography) because they require far less material, capture natural states, do not require crystallization, and enable time-resolved imaging.

A cross-campus initiative led by a coalition of partners including the Department of Biochemistry, the School of Medicine and Public Health, the Morgridge Institute for Research, the UW Carbone Cancer Center, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education, and the College of Engineering Material Science Center is working on multiple fronts to keep UW-Madison at the forefront of bioscience research enabled by CryoEM. These efforts now include:

• A CryoEM faculty position open at all ranks in the Department of Biochemistry
• Link to Dept. of Biochemistry letter describing the position and request to nominate candidates (PDF)


• To apply for the position, upload a cover letter, CV, description of research interests, and description of current and planned research to the "Jobs at UW" recruitment site (Position Vacancy 90281-FA, linked here). Research descriptions that exceed one page will be welcome.


• Review of applications will begin in Fall 2017 and will continue until the position is filled.

• A new CryoEM facility in a custom designed space in the Hector F. DeLuca Biochemistry Laboratories building
• A new Titan Krios high resolution electron microscope with phase-plate capability and both Falcon 3EC and K2 Summit Direct Electron Detectors is on order now for delivery and start of operations Fall, 2018


• A CryoEM Scientist/Facilitator, Dr. Desiree Benefield, began oversight of the new facility in August, 2017. Contact Dr. Benefield at benefield@wisc.edu if you wish to arrange a consultation to discuss your project and imaging goals. New users can be trained in sample preparation and imaging for negative stain EM grids or cryoEM conditions.


• News article about the new cryoEM facility


• Link to UW2020 Project that will help support the new facility

• Existing EM facilities at UW-Madison
• Materials Science Center
• Tecnai TF30-(side entry holder for single grids) cryoEM, tomography function with Serial EM, and Gatan K2 Summit camera
• FEI Mark IV Vitribot for cryo grid preparation
• Tecnai T12-(for room temperature samples) negative stain EM grids, and Gatan OneView camera


• School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) EM facility
• Phillips CM120 for negative-stained grids


• Microscopy at UW-Madison website with information about all available instruments on campus

• A seminar series, "The CryoEM Revolution" that brought leading CryoEM scientists to UW-Madison to help prepare the campus for the CryoEM Initiative
• List of speakers and presentation titles