Center for Nanotechnology- Nanotech User Facility
University of Washington

Expertise: Biology and Life Sciences Applications of Nanotechnology

NanoTech User Facility (NTUF) at the University of   Washington (UW) is an NNIN node committed to educating the nanotechnology workforce of tomorrow and providing access to nanoscale tools with an emphasis on the applications of nanotechnology in Biology and Life Sciences.  NTUF has the leading-edge instruments for the characterization of biological samples at the nanoscale in both air and water.  These include a Zeiss LSM 510 laser scanning confocal microscope with integrated Veeco Boscope SPM, a Leica inverted fluorescence microscope, a Renishaw inVia confocal Raman microscope, an FEI field emission SEM (Sirion) integrated with an EDAX system and Nabilty system for electron beam lithography system, a Veeco Dimension 3100 SPM and a Multimode SPM.  We also offer custom soft lithography services for rapid micro- and nanoscale prototyping.  Well-established training programs allow users to master these tools quickly.  NTUF operates as a cost facility on a 24/7 system for qualified users from both academia and industry.

NTUF gives critical support to research in many areas, e.g., catalysis, nano- and bio-materials, motor proteins, microfludics, and bio-nanosystems.  Because UW uniquely has both a large medical school on campus and good ties to bioengineering and biological sciences in general, we will concentrate on developing “Bio/Medical-Nanotech” through a two-way educational process: (1) we will raise “biomedical” awareness of Nanotech capabilities through short courses and seminars to educate potential users about Nanotech tools; (2) we will teach the Nanotech community about biomedical research needs by inviting biomedical researchers (and users) to come on campus to educate the Nanotech community about research problems and needs,  so that nanotechnologists can develop tools and processes that address specific needs.

NTUF is adjustment to the Washington Technology Center (WTC) Microfabrication Lab.  WTC has excellent user-training programs in thin-film deposition, photolithography, and etching.  Through Joint Institute for Nanosence (JIN), NTUF collaborates on research and education with the Pacific Northwest national Laboratories Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (PNNL-EMSL) which houses world-class analytical and characterization resources.  Together, NTUF-WTC-EMSL formulates a “technology triangle” that expands the research and industrial bases, and provides the needed highly trained technical workforce.

For Information and Access Contact:

Dong Qin
Associate Director
(206)-616-2118
dqin@u.washington.edu

http://depts.washington.edu/ntuf/index.php