Industry access to Princeton's high-end labs
Princeton University offers top-of-the-line scientific research facilities that welcome external users. Each facility has its own fee structure and participation requirements. Users must demonstrate familiarity with the specialized equipment before independent use is allowed; however, training by staff members is available.
The Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Center offers a range of services and collaborative opportunities for large- and small-scale projects in mass spectrometry-based biological research. The Center serves as a scientific partner in activities ranging from project design to sample preparation, MS data acquisition and analysis, write-up, dissemination, and grant-related activities. The Center is equipped with state-of-the-art MS instrumentation.
The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility offers access to state-of-the-art equipment for probing the structural and chemical properties of molecules, as well as a variety of software tools for data processing and analysis. The facility houses seven highly automated NMR spectrometers, including instruments featuring robotic liquid handlers, and most equipped with large capacity auto-samplers for high-efficiency throughput operation. The NMR facility provides tools for liquid-state and HR-MAS studies of small and large molecules, as well as other materials.
The Micro/Nano Fabrication Center (MNFC) consists of class 100-1000 clean room space providing a variety of material deposition, wet chemical and dry etch pattern transfer processes in conjunction with photo and electron beam lithography and metrology capabilities, for use in fabricating devices and structures for electronics, photonics, micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS) and biological applications. The MNFC also has a companion packaging lab which provides capabilities—including wafer dicing, wire bonding, and substrate lapping and polishing—commonly associated with meeting back-end processing needs.
The Macromolecular Crystallography Core Facility offers researchers the most effective tool for understanding macromolecular structure. Staff can assist with setting up crystallization trials, x-ray data collection for both macromolecular and small-molecule samples, structure determination and analysis, interpretation of existing structures available in the Protein Data Bank, and homology modeling.
The Imaging and Analysis Center offers high-end, state-of-the-art instrumentation and expertise for characterization of both hard and soft (including biological) materials for research and education. It is one of the most advanced materials characterization facilities in the world and is utilized by numerous departments across campus. IAC also collaborates with researchers in industry and other academic institutes. The IAC boasts a suite of Princeton University’s consolidated transmission (TEM) and scanning electron microscopes (SEM) that include both the premiere echelon hard materials TEM capable of resolving individual atoms and life science cryo-TEM used to reconstruct 3D atomic resolution protein structures. When combined with micro/nano chemical, thermal and structural analysis capabilities, a dual-beam focused ion beam system for materials manipulation, atomic force microscopes, X-ray diffractometers, 3D X-ray microscope, XPS/UPS, computer simulation and image processing capabilities, as well as materials preparation facilities, IAC has an unparalleled breadth and depth of imaging and analysis capabilities.
The Genomics Core Facility houses state-of-the-art, high-throughput sequencing technologies; is fully equipped for all aspects of microarray labeling, hybridization, and data acquisition; and offers sequencing library preparation services, consultation on experimental design, and data analysis. Collaborations on developing novel sequencing applications are also welcome. This facility works closely with the Research Computing Staff to provide computing power and consulting services to analyze the Sequencing and Microarray data.
The Flow Cytometry Resource Facility provides equipment, training, and support for flow cytometry and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). This facility is equipped with state-of-the-art multi-laser instrumentation for up to 17-color fluorescence detection and handles a wide variety of cell types, including human, murine, porcine and insect cell lines, as well as primary murine leukocytes, stem cells, bacteria, yeast, C. elegans , and seawater samples. Staff members can assist in experimental design, sample preparation, data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, publications, and grant-related activities. This facility participates in a consortium with the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
The Confocal Microscopy Facility, including the Nikon Center of Excellence, provides laser scanning confocal microscopy and super resolution microscopy (structured illumination and localization types), which offer the highest light microscope resolution obtainable. This technology can image single or multiple labeled specimens and can be used to study intact samples, such as developing fish embryos or sections from brain and other tissues that have been tagged with fluorescent probes.