Electron microscopy cores consolidated into single structure

Beginning on Oct. 1, electron microscopy cores throughout much of campus have been consolidated into a single structure under the oversight of Christopher Gilpin, director of the Purdue Electron Microscopy Center. This new center includes the cores in the College of Agriculture, materials science and those within Birck Nanotechnology Center and other Purdue University institutes and centers. It does not include the cryo-em transmission electron microscopes in Hockmeyer Hall. 

These changes are the result of findings of a year-long task force convened by my office to propose an integrated model for an electron microscopy structure. The five microscopy cores spread throughout the university were all independently managed with recharge centers, and that each had their own staff and operations. In 2021, the task force conducted a benchmarking study of other universities and developed a proposal for a more integrated structure. Task force members included:

• David Bahr, (Chair) Materials Engineering, College of Engineering
• Michael Titus, Materials Engineering, College of Engineering
• Carol Handwerker, Materials Engineering, College of Engineering
• Yoon Yeo, Industrial and Physical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy
• Bruce Hamaker, Food Science, College of Agriculture
• Richard Kuhn, Biological Sciences, College of Science
• Dallas Morisette, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Birck Nanotechnology Center
• Michelle Thompson, Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, College of Science
• Xinghang Zhang, Materials Engineering, College of Engineering
• Christopher Gilpin, Agriculture Research and Graduate Education, College of Agriculture. 

To enhance user experience, ensuring that researchers have access to the right tools, and improve training opportunities and cost-sharing, my office, with strong input from the colleges, enacted the task force’s plan to integrate these facilities. This includes integrating the staff members from each facility – all relevant staff members from the individual core facilities now report up through Christopher Gilpin. 

A central webpage will be developed regarding the cores and the new center. For more information on the new center or access to the cores, please contact Christopher Gilpin, gilpin@purdue.edu.