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.  

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 with a list of days and times you are available for your first training session. The first session will last approximately 1 hour.

The Training Process

1. Dr. Kubow will assign you several readings and/or videos to complete prior to your first training. Access the readings here: Light Microscopy Training Primer, but only read the sections you have been assigned.
2. You will meet with Dr. Kubow for your first training session.
3. Dr. Kubow will assign additional readings and a worksheet to complete.
4. You will meet with Dr. Kubow for your second training session.
5. (Depending on the difficulty of the instrument and techniques you are using, you may require additional training sessions.)
6. Dr. Kubow will ask you to review the User Guidelines document.
7. You will meet with Dr. Kubow for a "driver's test" to demonstrate you can use the microscope independently.
8. Upon completion of the training, you will sign a user agreement form and your research mentor may then request JACard access to room 2035 via the Biology Department’s online form. Non-JMU users will arrange access options with Dr. Kubow.

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.

Acknowledgement

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.