Intro to Electron Microscopy

(3 Credits)

Covers the theory and practical use of electron microscopy, in this case scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which is extensively used in biomaterials research. The course covers the basic physics of the electron microscope, electron interactions with samples of different types, use of different detectors to gain different types of information, and processing of all types of samples, from metals to biologic specimens. The course progresses from lectures on the theory and use of the microscopes, to supervised use in the lab, after which the students are approved to run the equipment on their own. They then begin to schedule their own time on the microscope and begin work on their individual projects. The final evaluation in the course is based on a combination of a final exam and an independent project, done partially with faculty supervision, and partly on an independent basis.