NMCF Instrument Training

General and instrument specific safety training is required for all users prior to instrument usage. Students and researchers are then instructed by an NMCF instrument specialist for several sessions, cumulating in a "driver's test" that must be passed before utilizing the equipment independently. Successful completion of a "driver's test" with the instrument specialist is required, allowing the user access to the instrument, the instrument calendar, instrument room, and NMCF email list.

Safety and careful instrumentation usage are paramount; NMCF reserves the right to revoke instrument access if safety interlocks are overridden, instruments are damaged, or scheduling is abused.

**A minimum of 24-hours is required for instrument session cancellations, with additional good-faith effort to fill the slot (e.g. email to users). Financial penalties may be incurred if these rules are not observed.**

Safety Training

All users need to complete the required online EHS Chemical Safety and Waste Module for Researcher Personnel and Students prior to any instrument training. This training must be retaken on a yearly basis. The online EHS training module can be found HERE.

Additional supplementary safety modules for X-ray emitting equipment will be required.

Training Videos

Instrument TRAINING MODULES created for a large number of NMCF instruments/analysis techniques are available on video. Access to training videos requires a Netbadge Login; please use a standard internet browser such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Chrome. If you are using an Apple product (Mac, Iphone, Ipad, etc.) note that Quicktime player does not provide sound, and another video player is required.

Sample Preparation

Training modules for sample preparation can be found HERE.

Training and operation information may also be found on individual equipment pages: MAGER CUTOFF SAW, HITACHI IM4000 ION MILL, GATAN PECS, TECHNICS SPUTTER COATER, MULTIPREP POLISHER, GATAN PIPS, HENNIKER PLASMA CLEANER, or the TINIUS OLSEN HARDNESS TESTER.

 

Instrument Specific Training Information

 

Instrument

Contact

Typical Training Time and Information

Themis STEM/TEM

(WH B013, B011)

Helge Heinrich
Richard White

3 sessions (3 hour/session) + previous training on Titan TEM + Driver's Test (3 hours)

add'l training for EELS (3 hours)

User Documents

Titan STEM/TEM

(Jesser 158)

Helge Heinrich
Richard White

 3 sessions (3 hours); add'l training required for STEM

User Documents

Quanta 650 FE-SEM

(WH B003)

Richard White
Joe Thompson

>80% SEM Test + 4 Sessions (2 hours) + Driver's Test (1 hour);
add'l training for EBSD (2 hour + driver's test) and training videos for quantitative EDS

User Documents and Videos

Phenom SEM

(Jesser 139)

Richard White
Joe Thompson
Cathy Dukes

 >80% Test + 1 Session (2 hours) + Driver's Test (1 hour)

User Documents and Videos

Helios FIB/SEM

(WH B001)

Helge Heinrich
Richard White

2 sessions ( 2 hours + previous training on Quanta 650 FE-SEM)

OR  3 sessions (2 hours w/ no previous training) + Driver's Test (2 hours)

User Documents and Videos

Empyrean XRD

(Jesser 108)

Diane Dickie

1 session (2 hour incl. Driver's Test)*

User Documents

X'Pert Pro XRD

(Jesser 108)

Diane Dickie

1 session (2 hour incl. Driver's Test)*

User Documents

SmartLab XRD

(Jesser 108)

Diane Dickie

1 session (2 hour incl. Driver's Test)*

User Documents

Bruker FTIR

(Jesser 162)

Cathy Dukes

1 session (2 hour incl. Driver's Test)

User Documents

Epsilon3x XRF

(Jesser 108)

Cathy Dukes
Helge Heinrich

1 session (1.5 hour)  + driver's test (1 hour)**

User Documents

Versaprobe XPS

(Jesser 148)

Cathy Dukes
Helge Heinrich

2 session (3 hours each) + driver's test (3 hours);
add'l training for AR-XPS; mapping & line scans; Hot/Cold Stage; Prep/Reaction Chamber Use***

User Documents and Videos

Renishaw Raman

(Jesser 262)

Joe Thompson

1 session  (2 hours) + 1 driver's test (1 hour)

User Documents

Bruker AFM

(Jesser 262)

Joe Thompson

1 session  (3 hour) + 1 driver's test (1 hour)

User Documents

Zygo Profilometer

(WH B001)

Joe Thompson
Richard White

1 session  (2 hours) + 1 driver's test (1 hour)

User Documents

Hirox Microscope

(Jesser 139)

Joe Thompson
Richard White

1 session  (2 hours) + 1 driver's test (1 hour)

User Documents and Videos

MultiPrep Polisher

(Jesser 131)

Helge Heinrich
 Richard White

1 session  (TBD) + 1 driver's test (TBD)

User Documents and Videos

 

* Supplementary XRD X-ray Safety Training is required

** Supplementary XRF X-ray Safety Training is required

*** Supplementary XPS X-ray Safety Training is required

 

Questions? Comments?

Richard White

Laboratory Manager, Materials Science & Engineering NMCF Facility Manager NMCF Principal Scientist for SEM, TEM, Optical, Metallography

Richard White is the NMCF Laboratory Manager and Electron Microscopy & Metallurgy Specialist. He specializes in Scanning Electron Microscopy imaging and compositional analysis; Optical Microscopy; Hardness Measurements; and Metallurgical Techniques for SEM and TEM. 

Helge Heinrich

Research Scientist, Materials Science & Engineering Principal Scientist for HR-S/TEM & FIB-SEM

Dr. Helge Heinrich joined the NMCF as the Principal Scientist for High-resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy, with expertise in focused ion beam sample preparation and cross sectional electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) from the University of Central Florida.

Diane Dickie

Senior Scientist, Depts. of Chemistry and Materials Science & Engineering Principal Scientist and Crystallographer for XRD

Dr. Diane Dickie joined the Chemistry Department in January 2018 as a Senior Scientist and X-Ray Crystallographer. She is has a joint appointment with the Materials Science Department. Her office is Room 103 in Jesser Hall (Materials Science and Engineering). 

Joe Thompson

Laboratory Specialist, Materials Science & Engineering and VDOT NMCF Principal Scientist for Raman, AFM, SEM/Optical Microscopy, & Metallurgy

Joe Thompson joined the NMCF as a Laboratory Specialist, also providing analysis for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). He specializes in Raman Spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, and Optical and Electron Microscopies. 

Catherine Dukes

Research Scientist, Materials Science & Engineering Director, Laboratory for Astrophysics and Surface Physics NMCF Principal Scientist XPS/XRF/FTIR

Catherine Dukes directs the Laboratory for Astrophysics and Surface Physics (LASP) and provides expertise in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for the University of Virginia's Nanoscale Materials Characterization Facility (NMCF). Her NSF and NASA funded research focuses on the interaction of radiation with surfaces.