Common questions about access, equipment, training, and fees
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The Keck Microscopy Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Facility access outside these hours may be available for approved users — contact us to discuss after-hours arrangements.
Yes. We welcome collaborators from other institutions. Please contact us to discuss your project needs, instrument availability, and applicable external rates.
Equipment is reserved through our online scheduling calendars. First-time users must contact our team to arrange a training session and set up a billing account before booking.
The center supports:
Yes. We strongly recommend consulting with our imaging staff before your session to confirm that your samples and preparation method are compatible with the instrument you intend to use. Some samples require special handling.
Instruments save data in instrument-native formats (LIF for Leica, CZI for Zeiss) as well as TIFF and LZW-compressed TIFF. All formats can be exported for use in Fiji/ImageJ, IMARIS, or other analysis software. Data can be transferred via USB drive or through our data management system.
Yes. All users must complete instrument-specific training before independent operation. Training sessions are typically 1–2 hours and cover equipment operation, image acquisition settings, and facility safety. Contact us to schedule.
Yes. Our staff can assist with processing, quantification, and interpretation of microscopy data using IMARIS, Fiji/ImageJ, and custom analysis pipelines. Schedule a consultation to discuss your analytical needs before your imaging session for best results.
Absolutely. We encourage early consultation — before sample preparation if possible — to ensure your experiment is optimized for the instrument and analysis pipeline. Our staff can advise on fluorophore selection, acquisition parameters, and sample preparation protocols.
Rates vary by instrument and user affiliation (UW student, UW staff/postdoc, UW faculty, or external user). The IMARIS workstation is free for UW students. Contact us for a current rate sheet or project estimate.
Cancellations with 24 hours or more notice incur no charge. Cancellations with 6–24 hours notice incur a 25% fee; less than 6 hours, 50%; no-show, 100%. See our Policies page for the full schedule.
Notify staff immediately. We will work to resolve the issue. If the instrument cannot be restored, your session can be rescheduled at no charge or your fee refunded. We maintain rigorous maintenance schedules to minimize downtime.