WORKSHOPS & COURSES
The Winter-Spring 2026 EM Course
About the course
Electron microscopy in combination with image analysis is increasingly powerful in producing 3D structures of individual molecules and large macromolecular complexes that are unapproachable by other methods. This course is focused on the concepts and theories behind electron microscopy. Each week guest lecturers and SEMC staff lead discussions on the practice of solving molecular structures by electron microscopy. Students will be responsible for watching relevant sections from Getting Started in Cryo-EM and cryoEM101 ahead of attending the lectures.
The course will be held at the New York Structural Biology Center at 89 Convent Ave (133rd St).
Course Schedule
Classes in NYSBC A-11 seminar room (Mondays 3:30-5pm and select Wednesdays 3:30-5pm)
EM fundamentals section
Jan 19: Martin Luther King Holiday (no class)
Jan 21: Lecture – Introduction & Basic anatomy of the electron microscope (Ed Eng – NYSBC/SEMC & SEMC staff)
Jan 26: Lecture – New cryoEM hardware and supporting a facility (Michael Alink – NYSBC/SEMC)
Jan 28: Practical – TEM use (SEMC staff [worksheet])
Feb 2: Lecture – Considerations for biological cryoEM (Ed Eng – NYSBC/SEMC & SEMC staff)
Feb 4: Practical – Sample Preparation & Support films (SEMC staff [worksheet])
EM crystallography section
Feb 9: Lecture – MicroED (Bill Rice – New York University)
Feb 11: Practical – Journal club (On sample vitrification)
Feb 16: President’s Day Holiday (no class)
Feb 18: Practical – Journal club (On the best keV for biological samples)
Feb 23: Lecture – Helical reconstruction (Hernando Sosa – Albert Einstein College of Medicine)
Feb 25: Practical – Journal club
Tomography section
Mar 2: Lecture – Tomography Alex Noble, NYSBC/SEMC)
Mar 4: Lecture – Tomography software (Alex Noble — NYSBC/SEMC)
Mar 9: Lecture – FIB-SEM (Bill Rice – New York University)
Mar 11: Practical – Journal Club
Single-particle section
Mar 16-20
The single particle section will be a 1-week short course. See more information on the SPA short course here. Students that attend the full course will be allowed to participate in the morning lectures, but would have to apply to be admitted to the afternoon practicals.
Future perspectives
Mar 23: Lecture – The future of cryoEM (SEMC staff)
Mar 25: Practical – Journal club
Mar 30: Practical – Journal club
Apr 1 Practical – Roundtable (SEMC staff)
Apr 6 Lecture – Wrap up (SEMC staff)
Previous courses:
Materials from previous courses may be found on our left bar.
The lecture slides are provided for educational purposes only. All rights are reserved by their original authors. Please contact them if you would like to use or repost their content.
Recitations:
Practicals/Journal club in the SEMC conference room (starts @3:30pm)
Course instructors:
Edward Eng (NYSBC, Manager): Course leader
Mahira Aragon (NYSBC): Teaching assistant
Ricky Pegeuro (NYSBC): Teaching assistant
Ian Hamel (NYSBC): Teaching assistant
Grading:
For researchers taking the course for credit, the final score will be tabulated as follows:
- Recitation 40%
- Practical Worksheet 10% x 4
- Attendance 20%
Suggested class structure (1.5 hr class)
- Part 1: Introduction by guest lecturer on applying the class topic to scientific questions with focus on the nuts & bolts of the technique. Examples may be from their own research or recent papers.
- Part 2: Open ended discussion on the topic. Conversation starters may come from concept check questions on the topic or presentation on newer developments in the field.
Note: If you are taking the course for credit make sure to sign up through your institution’s registrar as well.
- CUNY GC course BICM88900, class number 58654 – Special Topics in Biochemistry – 3 credits
- Columbia BCHM G6400 – Cryo-Electron Microscopy – 4 credits
To attend sign up for this course: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SEMC_course_Registration
IF YOU ARE TAKING THE COURSE FOR CREDIT MAKE SURE TO REGISTER THROUGH YOUR INSTITUTION’S REGISTRAR.