You must undergo training with the Microscopy Director before you can use the instruments in this facility. This applies to all students, faculty, and staff. There are no exceptions.

Training

Microscopes are not like other pieces of lab instrumentation: they do not make measurements for you like a pH meter, spectrophotometer, or DNA sequencer. Microscopes are sophisticated instruments that enable scientists to examine specimens and acquire data in the form of images. The scientist is an essential element of the process. Well-trained microscopists can acquire highly informative data and beautiful images; poorly-trained microscope “users” might generate good data and images, but might also generate poor, misleading, or even entirely false images. The purpose of our training program is to help you be a good microscopist, not a “user” who just knows how to push the right buttons.  

You must undergo training by the Director for each instrument that you wish to use. Ideally, you should start your training less no more than one month before you plan to start your experimental imaging. If you schedule too far in advance, you will forget everything between your trainings and your first use.

To request training:

1. Complete this short questionaire (JMU log-in required). Students: you may need your research mentor's help to answer some of the questions.
2. Email Dr. Kubow at kubowke@jmu.edu to schedule your training.

The Training Process

Your training will involve multiple short, asynchronous tutorials and typically at least two, one-hour, in-person trainings plus a final "driver's test." Depending on the complexity of the instrument and techniques you are learning, you may require additional training sessions. You can access the complete list of online training tutorials on the Microscopy Training Tutorials page and via the navigation bar on the left, but you only need to complete the ones that Dr. Kubow assigns.

Consulting

Dr. Kubow is happy to consult with you at all stages of your project including experiments, analysis, writing, and grant preparation. Email him at kubowke@jmu.edu.

Usage Fees

Hourly usage fees are determined by the user's type of institution/company and, in the case of academic and non-profit institutions, by the availability of funding. Users without any extramural or institutional funding should contact the Director to discuss options. The Microscopy Facility seeks to provide an open research and educational resource to JMU and the Northern Shenandoah region. JMU Biology Department faculty, staff, and students are not assessed fees, but are strongly encouraged to include funding for their anticipated use in their grant applications. 

All rates are in dollars per hour. Assisted use and training rates = usage fee + surcharge.

Attribution

Users must acknowledge the “JMU Biology Department’s Light Microscopy and Imaging Facility (RRID:SCR_021904)” in all publications and presentations that include data acquired in the facility. The RRID is unique number that identifies the facility similar to an ORCID number for researchers.