BOT/MICRO/ZOOL 5364
Transmission Electron Microscopy
Fall, 2008

The format for the focus and stigmation exercise is given below:

• Use the standard carbon-coated holey film in the Zeiss 10 TEM
• Operating conditions: 80 kV
• 125,000 X magnification
• Correct astigmatism

Take a set of three matched negatives showing the same hole in the holey film:

• One electronmicrograph at true focus
• One electronmicrograph at optimum underfocus
• One electronmicrograph at overfocus
• It is not necessary to print the negative

Label the set of negatives with your name and hand it in by October 8, 2008.

• Instructional staff will critique the electronmicrographs for stigmation and focus quality and return them to you when they have been evaluated.
• It would usually be to your advantage to repeat the exercise after the evaluation. If so, the next target date is November 1 for a set of additional electronmicrographic negatives. The final target date for acceptance of a new set of focus/stigmation electronmicrographs is December 5, 2008 (end of second to last week of classes).
• Your grade on this exercise will be based only on your most recent series of micrographs. You may choose not to re-submit.

Student Project Guidelines: Each student in the course will be required to prepare a course project entailing:

1. A brief research prospectus (1-2 pages) with a description of the project and methods to be used. This is due Wednesday, October 1, 2008 (at class). A brief progress report will be requested by email at the end of October/beginning of November.
2. Preparation and observation of a material using TEM.
3. Including no fewer than 4 transmission electron micrographs (minimum size: 5 x 7") in a poster explaining the research.
4. Presentation of these results to the class during the regularly scheduled final exam period on December 18, 2008 10:30 am.

Typically, the project will be a sectioned specimen. Project transmission electron micrographs will be graded on the same basis as the standard material, but difficulty of the material may taken into consideration.

Student Project Evaluation: criteria for evaluation will include:

1. Whether the project answered the questions posed.
2. Quality of microscopic work (from preparation through printing).
3. Possible artifacts that may have influenced whether the results obtained answered the questions posed.
4. Quality and clarity of presentation.

Notes:

• The poster is to be in the same general arrangement as a scientific paper, with an Introduction, Materials & Methods, Results, Discussion and Literature Cited.
• Student projects will be graded on the basis of microscopic accomplishment rather than scientific accomplishment. Therefore ability to discern, photograph and interpret specimens are most important.
• All scheduled class activities stop in the first week of November to allow independent student progress.
• Electron microscopes will generally be "up" during the semester, but there are no guarantees. Microscope problems and service calls during the last week are not uncommon.
• Plan to complete your project early and accomplish your major goals before December. That is the best way to assure that you receive the highest mark you can.
• Keys must be turned in at the end of the course to receive a grade, but can be checked out again as soon as needed for continuing research.

Some final comments:

• It has been said that "Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on our part" -- especially with an over-full class. Please try to keep in mind that we try to please many clients in a multiuser facility and sometimes repairs cannot be made fast enough.
• We will grade you based on submissions received before the end of the course. Incompletes are given only for extenuating circumstances such as health (yours, not the instruments!). We believe that any student who takes the course could receive an 'A' given the investment of enough time.
• We will help you however we can to accomplish these goals.