Events

Quantification of surface topography is a critical first step for understanding and improving materials and devices. Surface profilometry is an important step in the recreation of surface structures on a micron-scale. The techniques for doing so are varied and each have their own benefits and considerations.  Here we review and compare the methods of stylus profilometry and optical profilometry – including different modes of the latter – over an array of hard and soft materials. This will include a remote demo of CharFac's new Keyence VKX-3000 Optical Profilometer. 

Please register using the following google form link:

https://forms.gle/2TCouD1epTkXqT777

This year’s workshop will focus on materials challenges in biomedical applications and how fundamental materials research can contribute to enhancing efficacy and functionality of devices, delivery systems and therapeutics. Topics will include areas such as: 

• New approaches for precisely engineering the structure and function of poloxamer hydrogels for non-invasive therapeutic delivery
• Interfacial rheology of surfactants and their application in the lungs
• Harnessing albumin hitchhiking as a biomaterial delivery strategy for mucosal vaccines
• Biodegradable and implantable elastomers
• An injectable on-demand dissolvable (IODD) polymers for drug delivery
• Designing novel biodegradable polymers for drug delivery
• Tackling materials design challenges through collaboration with the Bakken Medical Devices Center
• Ensuring Material Biostability and Biocompatibility for Chronically Implanted Medical Devices
• Understanding small crystallinity changes in PET affecting mechanical function

We will end the day with a tour of the UMN College of Science and Engineering’s Materials Characterization Facility.

Full details on the IPRIME website: https://cse.umn.edu/iprime

The Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics is recruiting a Research Assistant Professor with expertise in cryo-transmission electron microscopy that will work in the Characterization Facility (CharFac), which houses a variety of transmission and scanning electron microscopes in addition to other biological and advanced materials characterization instruments. The candidate will oversee new acquisitions that include a cryo-electron transmission microscope (cryo-TEM; Glacios 2) and a cryo-focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope (cryo-FIB-SEM; Aquilos 2).

Please join us on Wednesday, December 11th at 9 AM in 6-135 Jackson Hall for a seminar by our second candidate, Dr. Ryan Abdella. Zoom information is listed below.

Join Zoom Meeting https://umn.zoom.us/j/98785352064?pwd=P6gqqptavmpXbQKyJkvofMWjyLQRDf.1 Meeting ID: 987 8535 2064 Passcode: fQmK7U

Please join us on Monday, December 9th at 9 AM in 6-135 Jackson Hall for a seminar by our first candidate, Dr. Nathan Hardenbrook. Zoom information is listed below. 

https://umn.zoom.us/j/94655815138?pwd=ALp81jakuBbdD7U0bt2CiRoKcaqjSd.1 Meeting ID: 946 5581 5138 Passcode: jBG9Uw 

Symposium CH03-Towards Quantitative Characterization of Soft Materials by Scanning Probe Microscopy—Beyond Imaging

Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) stands as a formidable technology capable of visualizing, characterizing, and even manipulating nanostructures through the use of a sharp probe. The versatility of SPM makes it a valuable tool for addressing diverse challenges across a wide array of domains considering soft materials, such as energy harvesting, organic electronics, biosensors, self-assembly, biotechnology, life sciences, mechanobiology, cosmetics, and medical applications, particularly in the field of nanomedicine. This cutting-edge field has seen remarkable advancements in recent years, continually introducing new techniques and applications, especially in the realm of soft materials and biological specimens, including disease-related samples with diagnostic potential. Nevertheless, SPM is not without its own set of challenges. Precisely measuring the mechanical properties of materials and effectively handling the substantial amount of data generated by SPM techniques remain major hurdles.

The primary aim of this symposium is to provide an international platform for the exchange of research findings among globally recognized experts actively engaged in the domain of scanning probe microscopy applied to soft polymeric (bio)materials and living organisms. Industrial partners will also be part of the dialogue, facilitating discussions on the potential of novel SPM approaches. This symposium serves as a unique opportunity to both showcase and deliberate on the current state of SPM methods when dealing with challenges and to chart the course for future applications in the context of soft polymeric (bio)materials and living organisms. Furthermore, this symposium is part of the broader Materials Research Society series focused on SPM techniques. The track record of this series in uniting leading figures from academia and industry, as well as attracting budding researchers and students, has been remarkable. Importantly, this event is expected to span a range of disciplines, encompassing material sciences, engineering, biophysics, condensed matter physics, and the development of cutting-edge instrumentation.

https://www.mrs.org/meetings-events/fall-meetings-exhibits/2024-mrs-fall-meeting/call-for-papers/detail/2024_mrs_fall_meeting/ch03/Symposium_CH03

CharFac will be an exhibitor at BioInterface 2024. Please follow the link below to learn more about the event:

https://www.surfaces.org/event-5568804

There will be an introduction from CharFac followed by a series of talks by CharFac users in the morning, with lunch and a poster session by CharFac staff in the afternoon. 

The current agenda can be found here. 

Please be sure to register using the following google form: https://forms.gle/QHwosvhRjt6m9ZYA8

Lunch will be provided to those who register by August 14th. 

SPMConnect is an annual AFM-based conference to foster and support the AFM community in terms of idea exchange, best practices development, mentoring, and career development. In addition to research talks, in line with the industrial/innovation theme of the broader TCW meeting, SPMConnect will feature panel discussions and plenty of opportunities for AFM researchers and scientists to meet, network and exchange ideas.

This conference aims to bring together users from a wide variety of disciplines including polymer science, biology, energy, computing, materials science, and more who share an interest in SPM as an instrument to explore nanoscale phenomena and characterization. SPMConnect aims to include scientists and researchers from a wide variety of backgrounds including industry, instrumentation vendors, academia, and national labs. Technical abstracts for both oral and poster presentation are welcomed with topics for SPMConnect listed below.

https://www.techconnectworld.com/World2024/sym/SPMConnect.html

The 2024 IPRIME Annual Meeting will be held May 28-30, 2024 on the UMN Twin Cities Campus. 

Visit the IPRIME website for more information: https://cse.umn.edu/iprime/2024-annual-meeting

Discover the Latest Advances in BioAFM Technology

Bruker is pleased to co-host a BioAFM Workshop in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Characterization Facility (CharFac) on February 21-22, 2024. During this free two-day event, there will be presentations from distinguished research groups as well as Applications Expert, Dr. Yi Wei (Bruker) showcasing the unique and powerful capabilities of the technique.

We will also provide hands-on demonstrations with Bruker’s NanoWizard V BioAFM. If interested in seeing what this technology can do for your research project, please follow the instructions in the email you receive shortly after registering for the event.

Space is limited. Register today to secure your spot.

Register: https://mbns.bruker.com/acton/fs/blocks/showLandingPage/a/9063/p/p-03db/t/page/fm/4?sid=TV2:cYh27pKRd

Flyer: https://mbns.bruker.com/acton/attachment/9063/f-520ea8e5-00d0-4c5c-871e-9595e9d410eb/1/-/-/-/-/UOFMBI_1.PDF?sid=TV2:cYh27pKRd