Knowledge of the workflow

Safety

Specific safety SOPs for this merit badge.

• NCCAT SOP for work with ethane for plunge freezing

Relevant SDS (Safety Data Sheets)

• Airgas-SDS-LN2-001188
• Airgas-SDS-Ethane-001024

Vendor product information

Sample preparation equipment for electron microscopy – Cryoplunge 3 with GentleBlot for cryoEM

• Gatan CP3 data sheet | Gatan CP3 manual
• Gatan CP3 and Solarus950 overview by Wiley Analytical Science

Theoretical knowledge

Overview of vitrification for high resolution imaging

• Passmore, L. A., & Russo, C. J. (2016). Specimen Preparation for High-Resolution Cryo-EM. The Resolution Revolution: Recent Advances In cryoEM, 51–86. doi:10.1016/bs.mie.2016.04.011

Center specific guidelines

N/A

A pass/fail test

The knowledge assessment test primarily covering a safety quiz will be given and may be updated regularly. If a user has earned the merit badge and policies have been updated, then an updated information sheet would have to be reviewed ahead of doing cryogenic work at the center.

• MB1: Negative Stain Quiz

Center staff training

The workflow demonstration should be scheduled with center staff through the NCCAT User Office or your appointed user coordinator.

Center staff training

The workflow demonstration should be scheduled with center staff through the NCCAT User Office or your appointed user coordinator.

• NCCAT specific lab safety
• PNCC specific lab safety
• S2C2 specific lab safety

Supervised and unsupervised practice by the user

Center staff will assist in arranging dedicated time slots for access to the necessary equipment. Registered users will be issued scheduler accounts through the NCCAT User Office.

Two (2) separate center staff observing your proficiency at separate times

Center staff will assist in arranging dedicated time slots for access to the necessary equipment. Appointments may be made through the NCCAT User Office.