Instruments & Services

Instrument Reservation - Stratocore

 

Check out our new Hitachi FlexSEM 1000-II scanning electron microscope at the end of the page under "Electron Microscopes". 

 

Advanced Fluorescence Microscopes

 

Confocal Microscopes 

 

Nikon A1R-Ti2 confocal system
Laboratory microscopy workstation showing a person seated at a desk operating a microscope system. A microscope with camera attachment is positioned on the left side of the bench. A large computer monitor on the right displays fluorescence microscopy images with red and green structures over a dark background. The desk holds a keyboard, mouse, cables, sample boxes, and lab tools, with cabinets and equipment visible along the wall behind the workstation.
Nikon A1R-Ti2 confocal system
This confocal is best for live cell imaging analysis using cultured cells (in culture dishes or well plates). The cutting-edge imaging system includes a hybrid resonant dual scanner unit for ultrafast photo-activation imaging and integrated six-solid-state laser package (with 405nm, 440nm, 488nm, 514nm, 561nm, and 640nm laser lines). It also has an ultra-sensitive GaAsp hybrid 4+1 channel detector system and an advanced inverted microscope with a motorized stage and a stage-top incubator unit, which can be preprogramed to image samples using glass slides, culture dishes, or multiwall (6-96) plates.

 

Nikon A1-NiE confocal system

This confocal is integrated with an upright fluorescence microscope (Ni-E) with a motorized stage, which allows the user to carry out image analysis of large samples. This confocal also has an integrated six-solid-state laser package (with 405nm, 440nm, 488nm, 514nm, 561nm, and 640nm laser lines), and the NIS-Elements Confocal image acquisition and analysis program. Note: We also have a computer workstation for analysis of image data obtained using Nikon NIS-Element
Laboratory workspace showing a researcher seated at a desk beside a microscope imaging system. An upright microscope with attached illumination and camera is positioned on the left. On the right, a large computer monitor displays a high‑resolution fluorescence microscopy image with circular and ring‑like structures in orange, yellow, and red. A keyboard, mouse, sample containers, and lab supplies are arranged on the desk, with shelving and additional equipment visible in the background.
Nikon A1-NiE confocal system

 

Nikon Ti-2 Inverted Fluorescence Microscope
Laboratory workspace showing a researcher seated at a desk beside a microscope imaging system. A microscope with camera attachment sits on the left, while a large computer monitor on the right displays a colorful fluorescence microscopy image with purple, green, and yellow structures. The researcher operates a computer mouse on the desk, with a keyboard, cables, and microscope control units arranged around the workstation.
Nikon Ti-2 Inverted Fluorescence Microscope

It is equipped with automated stage and due digital cameras (Qi-@ mono with high sensitivity for low light/fluorescence, and F1-2 for colorimetric image). This system allows researchers to collect images using regular slides and dishes of cultured cells (or well plates) under sterile conditions for live cells imaging. The Ti-2 system has specific set of filter cubes (6 cube positions), including, DAPI, CFP, GFP, YFP, CY3/DsRed/RFP, mCherry/Texas Red, CY5, and CY7, allowing sequential image collections of samples with up to five fluorescent tags (including Cy7) with proper spectrum separation.

 

Upright Fluorescence Microscope 
(Olympus AX70) with digital camera.
Laboratory bench showing an Olympus upright fluorescence microscope centered on the workspace. The microscope has binocular eyepieces, an objective turret, and a mechanical stage. To the right, a computer monitor displays a magnified fluorescence image of circular cell or tissue sections in blue and pink. A keyboard and mouse sit in front of the monitor. To the left, power supplies and lab containers rest on the bench, with additional lab equipment visible in the background.
Upright fluorescence microscope (Olympus AX70) with digital camera.

 

 

 
Stereo Fluorescence Microscope Nikon SMZ25 with DS-Ri2 Camera
Laboratory bench showing a researcher leaning forward to view a sample under a large microscope with an illuminated stage. The microscope has a vertical stand, multiple optical components, and a camera mounted near the top. A bright green light illuminates the sample on the stage beneath the objective. Control knobs, cables, and a small adjacent instrument sit on the bench, with a plain light‑colored wall in the background.
Stereo Fluorescence Microscope Nikon SMZ25 with DS-Ri2 Camera

Stereo fluorescent microscope with dissecting illumination and epi-fluorescence illumination, 3 LED Light cubes (GFP (488), DS Red (560) and Long Pass (GFP and DS Red), 2 Lenses (.5X with Optical Zoom from .32 to 7.88) and (1X with Optical Zoom from .63 to 15.75) which allows users to screen fluorescent samples or capture images for phenotypic selections.

 

EVOS® FL Auto Cell Imaging System
EVOS® FL Auto Cell Imaging System with an automated microscopic stage (computer controlled X-Y-Z movement), dual cameras, selectable excitation/emission filters from 5 LED Light Cubes (DAPI, GFP, RFP, Texas Red, and Cy5), and 3x optical zoom over different lenses (4x, 10x, 20x, 40x, 60x, and 100x). This system is user friendly and suitable for single or multi-labeling fluorescence or colorimetric image acquisitions from sections or live cells using single culture dish, 6, 12, or 24-well culture plates, or 96 well ELISA plate.
Laboratory workspace showing a person seated at a desk operating an EVOS imaging system. A digital microscope is positioned on the left, and a computer monitor displays a colorful microscopic image of biological tissue. The workstation includes a keyboard, mouse, and computer tower, with printed charts and notes posted on the wall behind the desk.
EVOS® FL Auto Cell Imaging System



 

 

 

Electron Microscopes

 
Transmission Electron Microscope
Laboratory room showing a person operating a large scientific instrument with a vertical column and control panel. Two computer monitors on a nearby desk display grayscale microscopy images of biological samples. The workstation includes a keyboard, mouse, control console, and chairs, with printed notices posted on the wall in the background.
Transmission Electron Microscope
Hitachi HT-7800 TEM is an advanced electron microscope for a) ultrastructural analysis on ultrathin sections of samples, b) assay of conductive particles, and c) examination of negative stained microbial particles (such as virus) and nanoparticles. A side-mount high-resolution CCD camera is installed with this system.

Magnification range: 50x to 200,000x using high contrast mode at 80 KV; Up to 600,000x under the high-resolution mode. 

 

Hitachi FlexSEM 1000-II scanning electron microscope

The SEM (installed on Feb 12 2025) combines innovative technological features with an intuitive interface, to deliver adaptability and flexibility in a powerful, automated, lab-friendly package with the following newer capabilities and specs: 

a) Allow users to use uncoated biological samples;  

b) Ultra-Variable Pressure (UVD) Detector; 

c) Uni-Bias (Even emission across entire voltage range); 

d)Integrated Oxford EDS (The X-ray system-EDS can operate on the same PC; 

e)Variable pressure operation (6 to 100Pa range); 

f) Dual=operation mode (user-friendly, Easy Mode beginning users or student to get great images. Advanced Mode for experts); 

g) large sample size allowed: up to 80 mm diameter of surface area and up to 40 mm of sample thickness; 

h) 3-axis (X/Y/R) Motor Driven Stage: X:50mm, Y:40mm, Z:5-33mm, Rotation: 360 degrees, Tilt: -15 to +90 degrees; Magnification Range: 16x to 800,000x (display); Accelerating Voltage Range: 0.3kV to 20kV

Laboratory room showing a person seated at a workstation operating a Hitachi FlexSEM 1000-II (scanning electron microscope). The microscope unit is positioned to the left, with dual computer monitors on a desk displaying imaging and analysis software. The person is using a keyboard and mouse while viewing microscope data. Reference charts are posted on the wall above the workstation.
Hitachi FlexSEM 1000-II scanning electron microscope


 

 

 

Other equipment and services

Cell culture unit with a tissue culture hood (Biosafety Cabinet)

This cell culture unit was designed for live cell image analysis so that users do not have to transport live cells to the core and can do different cell treatments within the imaging core.

Sputter coating systems

  1. Techniques Sputter is used for larger sputtering particles and thicker coating for large samples such as rocks, leaves, and food products.
  2. Denton Desk V Sputter is used for small sputtering particles when using high-resolution topographic analyses of cells and biological tissues at high magnification.

Microtomes and sectioning services

  1. Leica Cryostat is used for the preparation of frozen sections for animal or plant tissues for immunofluorescence or histochemical localization analyses of specific molecules or proteins of interest.
  2. Leica Rotary Microtome is used for paraffin sectioning for thin sections for histological and immunochemical image analyses.
  3. Leica EM UC7 Ultramicrotome is used for the preparation of semi- and ultra-thin sections of biological samples, including animal/plant cells or tissues and microorganisms.

Other Services

The core has staining tools for immunofluorescence labeling for confocal Microscopy and immunogold labeling for electron microscopy. We can also provide training for users to carry out such experiments in their own labs.