Rates and Technical Assistance
The rates listed below apply to independent users who operate FEMR instruments after completing the required staff training.
In addition to instrument time, FEMR offers technical assistance from our staff for users who require support. This includes:
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Hands鈥憃n training
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Assisted operation
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Method development
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Sample preparation support
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Troubleshooting and workflow optimization
A technical time hourly rate is applied for all staff鈥慳ssisted work, including training sessions.
| Electron Microscope | Regular Hours (8:00 - 18:00) | Afterhours and Weekends |
|---|---|---|
| FEI Titan Krios 300 kV Cryo-S/TEM | $1,250 day-1; SPA applications | |
| $1,000 day-1; Cryo-ET applications | ||
| $750 day-1; Screening(*) | ||
| Thermo Scientific Glacios 2 Cryo-TEM | $1,250 day-1; SPA applications | |
| $1,000 day-1; Cryo-ET applications | ||
| $750 day-1; Screening(*) | ||
| Thermo Scientific Talos F200X for Materials Science | $80.00 hr-1 | $70.00 hr-1 |
| FEI Tecnai G2聽Spirit 120 kv Cryo-TEM | $70.00 hr-1 | $60.00 hr-1 |
| Thermo Scientific Hydra Bio PFIB-SEM | $110.00 hr-1 | $110.00 hr-1 |
| FEI Quanta 450 FE-ESEM | $70.00 hr-1 | $60.00 hr-1 |
| Hitachi Ethos NX5000 FIB-SEM | $110.00 hr-1 | $110.00 hr-1 |
| FEI CorrSight Digital Fluorescent Light Microscope | Live Cell Module $50.00 hr-1 | |
| Cryo module $70.00 hr-1 | ||
(*)If the screening day evolves into a data collection day, the cost is $1,250 day-1.聽 Data collection projects approved by the Cryo-EM Committee have priority over screening projects.
| Sample Preparation Equipment | Fees | |
|---|---|---|
| Bal-Tec BAF060 Freeze Fracture System | $50.00 hr-1; min. 3 hr charge | |
| Bal-Tec BAF030 Jet Freezer | $40.00 hr-1 | |
| Edwards Carbon Coater Model 306A | $30.00 hr-1 | |
| Cressington 208A Carbon Coater | $25.00 hr-1 | |
| Gatan Precision Ion Polisher System | $40.00 hr-1 | |
| Thermo Scientific Vitrobot Mk IV | $40.00 hr-1 | |
| Leica EM GP2 | $40.00 hr-1 | |
| Leica Microsystems UCT Ultramicrotome | $35.00 hr-1 | |
| Leica Microsystems EM PACT2 High-Pressure Freezer | $40.00 hr-1 + HPF consumables at cost | |
| Leica Microsystems EM AFS2 | $40.00 day-1 | |
| Leica Microsystems Critical Point Dryer CPD030 | $35.00 hr-1; min 2 hr charge | |
| Leica Microsystems EM ACE600 Sputter Coater | $30.00 hr-1 | |
| Technical Assistance | $75.00 hr-1 | |
Typical costs for conventional electron microscopy laboratory services. Actual costs may depend upon the project and the type of sample(s).
| Services | Fees |
|---|---|
| Technical time | $75.00 hr-1 |
| Consultation on experimental design | No charge first hour;聽$75.00 hr-1 each additional hour |
| Training on TEM | $150.00 hr-1; min. 3 hrs |
| Training on SEM | $140.00 hr-1; min. 2 hrs |
| Conventional sample preparation for TEM (fixation, dehydration, embedding) | $525.00 (up to ~12 samples) + ~10% material fee (fixatives, buffers, resins, etc.); each additional sample; $50.00 each additional sample |
| Ultramicrotomy | $80.00听丑谤-1聽+ cost of consumables |
| Cryo-ultramicrotomy | $125 hr-1+ cost of consumables |
| Pre-embedding immunogold labelling |
$180.00 sample-1+ cost of consumables(#) |
| Post-embedding immunogold labelling | $300.00 sample-1+ cost of consumables(#) |
| Cryo-immunogold labelling |
$220.00听蝉补尘辫濒别-1+ cost of consumables |
| Negative staining |
$80.00听丑谤-1+ cost of consumables |
| Cryo-sample preparation (grid plunge freezing or Vitrobot) of one sample | $120.00 hr-1+ cost of consumables |
| Freeze-fracture preparation + TEM imaging | $550.00 |
| Fixation and CPD for imaging in SEM (up to six samples) | $260 + cost of consumables (maximum of six samples) |
| Specimen mounting and sputter coating for SEM |
$50 run-1+ cost of consumables |
| Image Processing |
$75 hr-1 |
(#)Consult with staff for details
For more information about services or the availability of equipment E-mail聽kelly.sears [at] mcgill.ca.
Publication & Authorship Policy
The Facility for Electron Microscopy Research (FEMR) provides electron microscopy services on a fee鈥慺or鈥憇ervice basis. While FEMR staff are responsible for instrument operation, basic processing, and routine microscopy workflows, the interpretation of all resulting data remains the responsibility of the submitting investigator.
To recognize the role of the facility and its staff in supporting your research, the following guidelines apply:
Acknowledgment
Users must acknowledge the FEMR in any publications, presentations, theses, or reports that include data acquired using FEMR instruments or services. Proper acknowledgment helps demonstrate the value of shared research infrastructure and supports future funding.
Authorship
Co鈥慳uthorship should be offered when FEMR staff contribute substantial scientific or intellectual input beyond routine operation. Examples include, but are not limited to:
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Developing or optimizing experimental workflows
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Providing significant data interpretation or analysis
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Designing or troubleshooting complex experiments
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Contributing to figure preparation or manuscript writing
In such cases, authorship is appropriate and should follow standard scholarly guidelines (e.g., ICMJE, CRediT taxonomy).