We aim to empower users across UVA to harness the full potential of advanced 3D electron microscopy (EM) techniques—such as FIB-SEM serial sectioning, TEM tomography, and cryo-EM—for materials research. You can gain access to a growing community of collaborators from across multiple departments and benefit from shared expertise in both imaging and data interpretation.
Whether you’re studying biological tissues, engineered scaffolds, metal alloys, or multifunctional composites, these methods offer unprecedented access to nanoscale-to-macroscale architecture and structure–function relationships.
We Can Help With
- Instrument & User Fees
- Presenting at Regional Microscopy Conferences
- Speaker Honoraria/Travel
- Workshops & Seminar Support
- Supplies & Promotional Materials
Building Community
Through workshops, training sessions, collaborative discussions, and demonstrations at UVA’s core facilities—including NMCF, MEMC, and iFAB—users will learn and share how to apply EM techniques to their own research, we discuss integrating machine learning approaches, and pursuing new directions in regenerative medicine, implant design, alloy development, and beyond.
Our users share common challenges and seeking ways to:
- Better segmenting large, complex 3D datasets
- Identify hidden structural features, through AI-assisted pipelines and computational tools.
- Accelerate data analysis
- Uncover insights into mechanical properties, biological compatibility, failure mechanisms.
The interest group will also foster proposal ideation and expand the user base for these powerful tools, ultimately positioning UVA as a leader in multiscale, data-intensive materials characterization.