Research Facilities
Brandeis University operates several specialized research facilities in the life sciences. The electron microscopy facility houses four electron microscopes, three of which are equipped for low-dose, high-resolution cryo-microscopy. In particular, 200 and 300-kV field emission electron cryo-microscopes were installed in 2010 and 2005, respectively. In addition, there are two film scanners for digitizing electron micrographs, a computer-farm for processing images, cold stages for the microscopes, fast-freezing apparatuses, and other ancillary equipment.
The Science Complex buildings house five nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers used for chemical analysis, structure determination, and macromolecular dynamics. A 400 MHz machine is used for small-molecule analysis. A 500 MHz machine is dedicated to protein structure and general biochemical applications. A second home-built 500 MHz machine is used primarily for technique development. A 600 MHz instrument is used for high-resolution structure determination and protein dynamics. Finally, a 800 MHz spectrometer was installed in late 2005. These spectrometers employ modern probes for 1H,13C, and 15N (triple resonance, field gradients, etc.); probes for special applications requiring 31P, 35Cl, and 205Tl are also in use on these machines.