This page explains how the Advanced Microscopy Facility actually runs day to day, the people you will meet, the path from request to first measurement, what you pay, and who is responsible for what. If you are looking for the access form or the booking system, those live on the Access page.
The working model
The facility runs on three layers of expertise. Every instrument has a named super-user; every project can be supported by an imaging scientist; and the facility as a whole is run by a Lab Manager and a Head of Microscopy Facility. You can see who currently fills each role on the People page.
- Super-users, technique experts and power users for a specific instrument. They give peer training, provide first-line help, enforce SOPs, and sign off new users for booking. Each instrument has at least one dedicated super-user; they are your first point of contact for that microscope.
- Imaging scientists, methodology specialists you consult when an experiment is genuinely hard: tricky sample prep, unusual modalities, multi-instrument workflows, or quantitative image analysis. They join projects for consultation rather than routine acquisition.
- Lab Manager and Head of Microscopy Facility, daily operations, infrastructure, vendor relationships, safety, procurement, and escalations. The Lab Manager handles maintenance, scheduling, consumables and IT; the Head of Microscopy Facility owns the strategic and technical roadmap, high-end maintenance, and external engagements.
Training pathway
From first contact to your first independent booking, expect four steps:
- Fill the AMF access form on the Access page.
- Email superresolution@tue.nl with the form and a brief project description (what you want to image, on which sample, with which fluorophores or labels).
- Get an introduction from a super-user, lab tour and instrument basics. Depending on the instrument, this is one to three sessions before you are signed off as an independent user.
- Once signed off, log into Calira via TU/e SSO to book the instrument. Stick to the booking rules of the lab and the instrument.
Fees
Internal TU/e users are free at the point of use. The facility is funded centrally; you do not pay an hourly instrument fee. You only carry the cost of your own time and any consumables specific to your experiment.
External users, equipment sharing is conditionally possible and handled case by case. Engagements with academic or industrial partners outside TU/e are typically structured through the ICMS Industrial Consortium, which provides the contractual and IP framework. Contact us via superresolution@tue.nl to discuss the right route for your project.
Public RACI
Below is a simplified, public RACI for the facility. R = Responsible (does the work, your first contact), A = Accountable (owns success or failure), C = Consulted (gives feedback before action), I = Informed (told the outcome).
| Activity | User | Super-user | Imaging Scientist | Lab Manager | Head of Microscopy Facility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial training | R | R | C | I | I |
| Booking approval | R | I | I | A | I |
| Daily troubleshooting | R | R | C | I | I |
| Maintenance & calibration | I | C | R | C | A |
| Safety compliance | R | R | C | A | I |
| Data management | R | I | C | I | A |
| Billing (external) | I | I | I | I | R |
This is a simplified, public version of the full internal RACI. It captures who you go to for what, not internal escalation paths.
Safety basics
The optics labs are Class 3B/4 laser environments. Before your first session you must complete the TU/e laser safety induction; the lab manager schedules this. For any laser-safety concern, contact the Laser Safety Officer (LSO) directly.
Some labs are designated biosafety levels ML-1 or ML-2 because biological samples are handled there. Follow the lab manager and the Biosafety Officer (BSO) instructions for sample handling, disinfection, and waste disposal in those rooms.
Detailed lab rules (eye protection, working hours, what not to clean an objective with) are summarised in the on-site lab manual. Ask your super-user on day one.