What is EMC ?

The Electron Microscopy Center (EMC) is a research base with multiple users, designed for high performance scientific research and education/specialisation of young researchers. Its activities cover a large number of scientific domains: physics, chemistry, geology, mineralogy, geography, animal and plant biology (with special emphasis on cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry and physiology) pharmacology, human and animal medicine, ecology and environment protection, as well as industry areas, such as: food technology, mining, oil industry, metallurgy and chemical industry.

The main activities taking place in our seven laboratories include:

• scientific research programs in earth and life sciences;
• educational activities for the students enrolled in undergraduate, master, doctoral and post-doctoral programs, as well as specialisation courses for the research staff;
• technical assistance: electron-microscope analyses performed on request using high-tech devices.

History of EMC

      The Electron Microscopy Center (EMC) was established with the “Reform Program of Academic Teaching & Research” – RD 4096, co-funded by Romanian Government and World Bank (1996-2002). It could be accomplished by winning the project “Electron Microscopy Center as a Research Facility with Multiple Users” (RFMU), conducted by Professor Constantin Craciun. In 2010, EMC was accredited as a Center of Excellence of Babes-Bolyai University.

     The basis for setting EMC was the existing, since 1971, of a Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, established by the initiative and endeavor of Academician Professor Vasile Gh. Radu, the Head of Zoology Chair of School of Biology, Geography and Geology. This laboratory was organized and made operational by the researcher Constantin Craciun, who functioned as the Head of the Laboratory, from its establishment, in 1971, and until the constitution, in 2000, of EMC, when he became director of the Center.

     The Laboratory began functioning with a transmission electron microscope (TEM) TESLA BS 613, an ultramicrotome TESLA BS 490 and a vacuum evaporator JEE 4B, purchased with funds from the Ministry of Education. In 1976, the laboratory was equipped with a LKB III ultramicrotome. In 1982, it received by transfer from the Biological Research Center in Cluj Napoca a transmission electron microscope (TEM) TESLA BS 500, and in 1989 Babes-Bolyai University purchased a TESLA BS 340 scanning electron microscope (SEM). This acquisition was made possible with a substantial financial contribution of the Laboratory of Electron Microscopy itself, based on its research contracts. The Laboratory is, since 1985 until today, a self-financing research unit.

    In 2002, the TESLA BS 613 electron microscope was transfered to the School of Chemistry, Biology and Geography of the Western University in Timisoara; since 2005, the TESLA TEM BS 500 and TESLA SEM BS 340 microscopes can be found in the Museum of Babes-Bolyai University. By the project “Electron Microscopy Center” granted with 530.000 $, two new electron microscopes were purchased: a transmission JEOL TEM 1010, and a scanning JEOL SEM 5510 LV equiped with EDAX system for microanalysis of 92 chemical elements.

From further research projects conducted by Professor Constantin Craciun, were purchased an UC6 cryo-ultramicrotome, a knife maker, two critical point dryers, an AGAR autosputter coater, a high performance scanner for pellicle scanning, a computer network for immage processing, an Olympus BX 51 visible, fluorescent, DIC and phase contrast optical microscope, a Leica EM CPC universal cryo workstation, an IMACON FLEX TIGHT color scanner X5, a performant computer network (Apple Mac Pro Two) with specialized software for capturing and processing microscopy images.

All these equipments are manipulated by highly skilled specialists.

Colaborations

• Facultatea de Biologie si Geologie, UBB
• Facultatea de Chimie, UBB
• Facultate ade Fizica,UBB
• Faculatea de Educatie Fizica si Sport, UBB
• Facultatea de Stiinta si Ingineria Mediului, UBB
• Facultatea de Istorie, UBB
• Universitatea de Medicină și Farmacie „Iuliu Hațieganu”, Cluj-Napoca
• Universitatea de Științe Agricole și Medicină Veterinară, Cluj-Napoca
• Universitatea Tehnică, Cluj-Napoca
• Universitatea de Arta si Design, Cluj Napoca
• Institutul Național de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Tehnologii Izotopice și Moleculare, Cluj Napoca
• Institutul de Chimie „Raluca Rîpan”, Cluj Napoca
• Institutul de Cercetari Biologice Cluj
• Spitalul Clinic de Recuperare, Cluj Napoca
• Institutul Oncologic Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuţă, Cluj Napoca
• Spitalul Clinic Judetean Cluj
• Institutul de Cercetari pentru Instrumentatie Analitica (ICIA), Cluj Napoca
• Universitatea de Vest Timisoara
• Univesitatea Politehnica Timisoara
• Spitalul de Urgenta Timisoara
• Universitatea „Vasile Goldis”, Arad
• Institutul Național de Cercetare-Dezvoltare „Marină Grigore Antipa”, Constanta
• Univeritatea din Bucuresti
• Universitatea din Craiova
• Universitatea din Oradea
• Institutul National De Cercetare Dezvoltare Agricola Fundulea
• Statiunea de Cercetare Dezvoltare pentru Pomicultura Bistrita
• Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turcia
• University of Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Continental Automotive , Sibiu
• Thomas Plastic , Cluj Napoca