Lvem User Profile-Wesley Sanders
Lvem User Profile-Wesley Sanders
Hi Dr. Sanders. I’m excited to learn more about you, been working at Salt Lake Community College
and how you’ve used the LVEM 5. To start, can you (SLCC) since 2010. I started out as an instru-
please tell our readers a little bit about yourself? mentation lab coordinator. I became a faculty
My name is Wesley Sanders. I received member in the Engineering Department in 2013.
a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Virginia Tech in 2008. As a faculty member, I’ve published two books,
After receiving my Ph.D., I started working as Basic Principles of Nanotechnology and Atomic
an ASEE Postdoctoral Researcher at the Naval Force Microscopy – Fundamental Concepts and
Research Laboratory in Washington DC. I’ve Laboratory Investigations.
The microscopy lab technician, Glen Johnson, provides students with training and supervision.
of the operation of scanning electron microscopy. to conducting the next step. When students watch
Students learn the importance of key parameters used the lab videos, prior to attending the lab, better opera-
in SEM imaging during lecture. During the lab com- tion performances are observed.
ponent students apply knowledge learned in lecture to
actual SEM instrumentation. Energy dispersive X-ray I think many people have a fear around this next
spectroscopy (EDS) is also covered in lecture and question. Have you encountered any issues with
a corresponding lab is performed during the same students accidentally breaking the instrument while
time. The SEM mode of the LVEM 5 is used during learning? Or said differently, how robustly has the in-
the lab component. The second half of the semester is strument help up during the lab course?
devoted to TEM. The lecture component of the course The microscope is very robust. It has held up
addresses the key parameters associated with TEM during student use. Our microscopy lab technician
imaging, in addition to basic TEM operation. In lab, demonstrates use of the microscope prior to stu-
students are guided through the usage of the LVEM 5 dent use, in addition to the lab videos he prepared
operating in TEM mode with our microscopy lab for viewing prior to student use. Heavy emphasis is
technician. placed on the insertion and removal of samples.
How do you use the LVEM 5 in the lab portion of Do you have plans for additional courses utilizing
the course? the LVEM 5?
Prior to the covid pandemic students used Yes. Currently, we are focusing on developing
the LVEM after receiving adequate training from the TEM portion of the electron microscopy course
the microscopy lab technician and under supervision. further. Developments include preparing and imaging
2
a wide variety of nanomaterials synthesized in house References:
(i.e. carbon nanotubes, silver nanoprisms, and quan-
tum dots). [1] https://www.slcc.edu/microscopy/index.aspx
Now for some rapid-fire questions; Sanders WC. Basic principles of nanotechnology. CRC
What advice do you have for someone who would like Press; 2018 Jul 11.
to develop a similar course at their institution?
Reach out to other faculty at different institu- Sanders WC. Atomic Force Microscopy: Fundamental
tions teaching similar courses to get ideas. Concepts and Laboratory Investigations. CRC Press;
2019 Oct 8.
What are your favorite things about the instrument,
now that you’ve owned it for some time?
The LVEM 5 can achieve very large
magnifications. About the author:
Robert I. MacCuspie, Ph.D., has over twenty years of
Where did you decide to place the instrument? experience in nanotechnology and materials character-
The LVEM 5 is located in our microscopy lab ization. Career highlights include leading the team that
(basement floor). developed the silver nanoparticle reference materials
at the National Institute of Standards and Technology,
Is this a shared resource for other researchers at your the first faculty and Director of Nanotechnology and
institution? Multifunctional Materials Program at Florida Polytechnic
The LVEM 5 is available for anyone in the scien- University, and over five years of consulting at the busi-
tific disciplines at our institution to use. ness-science interface from MacCuspie Innovations, help-
ing companies commercialize and educate on technolo-
How many users get trained on the instrument gies to improve human health.
each year?
2–9 users get trained on the LVEM 5 each year.