Access Information
The Biophysics Common Equipment is available on a cost-sharing basis. If you have questions regarding use and support, please send an email to biophysics.common.equipment@umich.edu.
Access for Biophysics Program
Biophysics Common Equipment is available to the laboratory members of all Biophysics Core Faculty. All users must have current EHS-mandated laboratory safety training, and must schedule instrument-specific training with Biophysics staff. Send us an email to schedule training.
Access for Other Users at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor faculty who are not Biophysics Core Faculty can obtain access for their research groups by joining the Biophysics Common Equipment cost-sharing group. The faculty member must sign a memorandum of agreement governing their use of the equipment, and pay a nominal annual fee, due July 1st of each year. Please note that this fee must be paid from discretionary funds and cannot be paid from sponsored funds. For up-to-date information and a copy of the MoA, please send us an email.
All users must have current EHS-mandated laboratory safety training, and must schedule instrument-specific training with Biophysics staff. Send us an email to schedule training.
Access for Users Outside the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
The Biophysics Common Instrumentation is not available to users outside the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. We suggest reaching out to Biophysics Core Faculty laboratories to initiate a collaboration.
Available Instruments & Information for Users
All users must receive training from Biophysics staff for each instrument they wish to use. Users may not be trained by other users or by members of their labs. Please send us an email to schedule training.
To reserve an instrument, users must schedule their time on the designated Google Calendar for that instrument. After completing the required training for a specific instrument, users can reserve time by creating an event on the corresponding Google Calendar during their preferred time slot. The table below lists all available instruments and links to their respective calendars.
If you have any questions, problems, or concerns with the equipment or reservation system, please email us. We work in the building and can often help on short notice if there is a problem.
| Instrument | Calendars | Capabilities | Room |
| Horiba Jobin Yvon Fluoromax 4C |
Add / View | L-format fluorescence and anisotropy. | 3020 |
| Wyatt Dynapro Nanostar DLS (“Old DLS”) | Add / View | Dynamic light scattering measurements. | 3020 |
| Wyatt Dynapro Nanostar II DLS (“New DLS”) | Add / View | Dynamic light scattering measurements, particle counting (with user-provided quartz cuvette). | 3020 |
| Molecular Devices Spectramax iD3 Plate Reader |
Add / View | Absorbance, fluorescence (monochromator-based), luminometry with dual injectors. | 3020 |
| BMG Labtech PolarStar Omega Plate Reader |
Add / View | Absorbance, fluorescence (filter-based), single-injector luminometry. | 3020 |
| Thermo Scientific Nanodrop 2000 * |
Add / View | Micro-volume UV-vis spectrophotometer. | 3020 |
| Bio-Rad ChemiDoc MP Imaging System * |
Add / View | Gel documentation - UV, white, blue, and NIR illumination. Also western blot detection with chemiluminescence. | 3020 |
| TA Instruments Nano DSC (Old One) |
Add / View | Differential scanning calorimetry; cell volume 1100 uL. | 3020 |
| TA Instruments Nano DSC (New One) |
Add / View | Differential scanning calorimetry, cell volume 300 uL. | 3020 |
| TA Instruments Nano ITC Gold Low Volume |
Add / View | Isothermal titration calorimetry; cell volume 300 uL; no beta-mercaptoethanol or dithiothreitol in the cell. | 3020 |
| Beckman Avanti “A” Centrifuge |
Add / View | Superspeed floor centrifuge; rotors JA-10, JA-14, JA-20, JS-13.1, and JLA-10.5 available. Users provide their own Beckman-Coulter bottles and tubes. | 4080 |
| Beckman Avanti “B” Centrifuge |
Add / View | Superspeed floor centrifuge; rotors JA-10, JA-14, JA-20, JS-13.1, and JLA-10.5 available. Users provide their own Beckman-Coulter bottles and tubes. | 4080 |
| Beckman Allegra Benchtop Centrifuge |
Add / View | Benchtop centrifuge with swinging bucket rotor for conical tubes and microtube rotor. | 4080 |
| VWR Gravity Incubator |
Add / View | General-purpose microbiology incubator. | 4080 |
| VWR Gravity Oven |
Add / View | General-purpose drying oven. | 4080 |
| SP Scientific Lyophilizer |
Add / View | Lyophilizer with -80 C condenser. Defrosted weekly on Monday nights. | 4080 |
| Thermo MaxQ Floor Shaker |
Add / View | Floor shaker. Can refrigerate. | 4080 |
* Calendar reservations not required unless using for an extended period.
