Provides access to state-of-the-art optical and electron microscopes with expert training and dedicated support to researchers across diverse disciplines.
Equipped with a wide range of cutting-edge optical and electron microscopes, the UBC Bioimaging Facility supports diverse research needs in both life sciences and material sciences.
Optical microscopy infrastructure includes systems for light, fluorescence, confocal, multi-photon, lifetime microscopy, and live-cell imaging, enabling high-resolution visualization of dynamic biological processes and properties of materials samples.
The facility also houses extensive electron microscopy capabilities, offering routine and advanced techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Focused-Ion Beam (FIB-SEM), and cryo-preparation methods. Specialized techniques, such as Cryo-SEM, CryoFIB-SEM, Cryo-TEM, allow for visualization of hydrated samples in their native state. TEM tomography and FIB-SEM enable detailed structural analysis at the nanoscale and three-dimensional reconstruction.
Expert staff provide hands-on training and ongoing support to ensure researchers can effectively use the equipment and advance their scientific goals. The UBC Bioimaging Facility is a critical research infrastructure that support researchers across and beyond the University of British Columbia, through state-of-the-art technology and in-depth technical expertise.
Imaging services including free consultations, sample preparation, data acquisition with confocal microscopes and electron microscopes, and user training.
- Agriculture, animal science and food
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Forestry and forest-based industries
- Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
- Mining, minerals and metals
Specialized labs and equipment
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| Zeiss Crossbeam 350 Focused-Ion-Beam Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM) with an Oxford XMAX 170mm Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) Spectrometer | SEM imaging, EDX analysis, FIB milling, Cryo-FIB and Cryo-SEM, 3D FIB-SEM and 3D CryoFIB-SEM, TEM lamella preparation |
| Hitachi High-Tech SU8700 Ultrahigh-Resolution Schottky Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with a Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) detector and an Oxford Instruments Ultim Max Inifinity 100 Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) | SEM imaging, Low-vacuum mode SEM imaging, SEM tiling and stitching, STEM imaging, EDX analysis |
| FEI Tecnai G2 200 kV Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) | High-resolution TEM, CryoTEM, 3D electron tomography |
| FEI Tecnai Spirit 120kV Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) | TEM imaging, negative staining TEM |
| Leica STELLARIS 8 DIVE Multiphoton Microscope | Confocal, multiphoton, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) |
| Evident Scientific IXPlore SpinSR Super Resolution Microscope System | High-resolution and fast imaging system for live samples |
| Olympus BX53 Light/Fluorescence Microscope | Brightfield, phase contrast/Differential Interference Contrast (DIC), widefield fluorescence imaging, tiling and stitching |
| Olympus SZX10 Stereomicroscope | Brightfield and darkfield imaging, equipped with high-resolution color and monochrome camera |
| Leica EM ICE High Pressure Freezer | Cryofixation of samples |
| Leica EM AFS2 Freeze Substitution System | Automated freeze substitution machine for cryofixed samples |
| Leica EM UC7 Ultramicrotome with EM FC7 Cryochamber | Making semi-thin and ultra-thin sections (< 100 nm) of resin embedded materials for light microscopy and TEM |
| FEI (now ThermoFisher Scientific) Vitrobot Mark IV System | Plunge freezing (vitrification) of aqueous samples for CryoTEM imaging |