An in-house Cryo-EM lab for development of new workflows and equipment for sample preparation, storage, transfer, and TEM imaging/data collection
The lab integrates JEOL JEM-2100Plus TEM capability with LN₂ cryo holders, Hummingbird-designed cryogenic workstations, and sample preparation prototype systems. Backed by in-house cryo-EM support and engineering/manufacturing teams, it provides a fully integrated environment for developing, testing, and refining cryo-EM workflows.
Cryo-EM and workflow infrastructure
Hummingbird Scientific’s Cryo-EM Lab includes the core microscope, cryogenic handling, and sample-preparation resources needed to evaluate cryo-EM technologies as complete workflows, not isolated devices.
JEOL JEM-2100Plus TEM
Configuration: 200 kV operation, LaB6 electron source, TVIPS TemCam XF416 camera
Primary cryo-EM uses: Vitrified sample screening, cryogenic workflow validation, cryo-holder testing, drift and stability evaluation, beam-condition testing, prototype testing, and evaluation of sample preparation hardware and sample-preparation workflows.
Cryogenic workflow tools
The lab also includes liquid nitrogen cryo holders, cryogenic transfer and handling tools, Hummingbird-built cryogenic workstations, sample preparation prototype systems, and sample-preparation support space.
These resources allow Hummingbird to evaluate the full cryogenic workflow, including sample preparation, freezing, transfer, sample loading, frozen sample screening, contamination risk, drift, usability, and hardware stability.
Integrated Cryo-EM development capabilities
The Cryo-EM Lab supports development across Hummingbird Scientific's cryogenic microscopy and sample-preparation programs, including:
- Cryo-EM sample-preparation workflow development
- Fast-freezing prototype development and iteration
- Frozen sample screening and microscope feedback
- Liquid nitrogen cryo-holder workflows
- Cryogenic transfer and handling evaluation
- Cryogenic workstation development
- Sample contamination and handling-risk evaluation
- Holder loading and unloading workflows
- Drift and mechanical stability evaluation
- Microscope compatibility and interface testing
- Custom cryogenic hardware development
- OEM and private-label cryogenic platform development
- NIH, SBIR, STTR, and other funded instrument-development programs
- Integration with engineering, manufacturing, microfabrication, calibration, and software teams
By developing cryogenic tools under real workflow conditions, Hummingbird Scientific can connect design decisions directly to microscope feedback, sample quality, usability, and application requirements.
Why we maintain an internal Cryo-EM Lab
Cryo-EM sample-preparation and cryogenic microscopy workflows cannot be fully developed through design review, benchtop testing, or isolated component evaluation alone. The full workflow matters: sample preparation, freezing, cryogenic handling, transfer, sample loading, frozen sample screening, and user operation all affect whether a cryogenic system is practical.
Many cryo-EM facilities are built primarily as user-access microscope cores. Hummingbird’s Cryo-EM Lab has a different role: it is an internal development environment for cryo-EM sample-preparation technology, cryogenic hardware, and complete cryogenic microscopy workflows under real workflow conditions. This gives engineering, applications, manufacturing, and product-development teams direct feedback from sample preparation, cryogenic handling, and microscope use.
For collaborators, OEM partners, and funded development programs, the lab provides an internal environment for moving cryo-EM technologies from concept to prototype, from prototype to microscope feedback, and from microscope feedback to improved hardware and workflows.
Integrated with engineering and facilities
Cryo-EM technology development requires rapid iteration between design, fabrication, assembly, cryogenic testing, microscopy, and workflow evaluation. At Hummingbird Scientific, these capabilities are connected within one organization.
When a prototype does not perform as expected, the issue can be evaluated across the full system: sample preparation, freezing method, transfer workflow, holder design, microscope interface, control software, or user handling. That full-system view is essential for developing reliable cryo-EM tools.
Building the Cryo-EM Sample Preparation Platform
Hummingbird’s Cryo-EM Lab supports development of the Cryo-EM Sample Preparation Platform: a connected workflow for preparing, handling, transferring, and screening cryogenic samples.
The platform is being developed around the full sample-preparation path, not a freezing step alone. Ice thickness, blotting artifacts, air-water interface effects, sample loss, preferred orientation, transfer contamination, timing sensitivity, and user-to-user variation can all affect whether a prepared sample is useful in the microscope.
The lab gives Hummingbird a place to develop and refine the workflow as an integrated system, including:
- Ultrafast freezing technology
- Cryogenic sample handling
- Cryo workstations
- LN₂ cryo-holder workflows
- Microscope screening and feedback
- Sample-preparation feedback loops
- Hardware and workflow integration
- Future automation and data capture
- Open integration with microscope and laboratory workflows
This approach helps Hummingbird improve sample-preparation tools around real cryo-EM workflow requirements, not just isolated hardware performance.
Cryogenic handling and transfer workflows
Cryogenic handling is one of the places where small workflow details can have large effects. Transfer geometry, LN₂ access, loading position, contamination exposure, temperature stability, and operator access all influence the final sample condition.
The Cryo-EM Lab gives Hummingbird a place to evaluate these details directly using Hummingbird-built cryogenic workstations, transfer tools, and holder-loading workflows. This includes sample handling, holder loading, transfer preparation, and prototype evaluation under real workflow conditions, where timing, access, and contamination exposure can affect whether a frozen sample can be reliably prepared and screened.
Microscope feedback and frozen sample screening
The JEOL JEM-2100Plus TEM gives Hummingbird Scientific direct microscope feedback during cryogenic workflow development.
Frozen sample screening helps show whether a workflow is producing usable results and where problems may be coming from: freezing, transfer, contamination, holder behavior, microscope interface, or user handling.
This feedback helps guide the next design revision, so cryogenic workflow improvements are based on real microscope results rather than bench performance alone.
Sample-preparation support
The Cryo-EM Lab is supported by sample-preparation and chemistry workspace for practical workflow-development activities, including grid or device preparation, buffer preparation, prototype freezing experiments, and sample-handling evaluation.
This support helps connect biological and chemical sample-preparation steps with the cryogenic hardware, transfer tools, and microscope workflows being developed by Hummingbird Scientific.
Grant-funded cryo-EM instrument development
Grant-funded instrument-development programs often need more than a promising concept. They need a path to feasibility data, prototype testing, technical risk reduction, and workflow-based evidence.
The Cryo-EM Lab supports this work by giving Hummingbird internal access to:
- Cryo-EM sample-preparation development
- Fast-freezing prototype testing
- Cryogenic handling workflows
- Frozen sample screening
- Microscope feedback
- Preliminary data generation
- Technical risk reduction
- Engineering iteration
This helps support NIH, SBIR, STTR, and other funded programs from early feasibility through technology translation.
OEM, licensing, and private-label development
The Cryo-EM Lab supports collaboration with microscope manufacturers, life-science instrument companies, sample-preparation companies, and other OEM partners.
Because cryo-EM sample preparation depends on the full workflow, new technology is difficult to evaluate in isolation. Freezing performance, cryogenic handling, transfer workflow, holder stability, microscope compatibility, contamination control, software behavior, and user operation all affect whether a system is ready for broader use.
Hummingbird can support licensing, private-label development, co-development, and custom OEM integration for fast-freezing systems, ultrafast vitrification workflows, LN₂ cryo-holder integration, licensed cryo-EM sample-preparation technology, and related cryogenic microscopy instrumentation.
Partner with Hummingbird Scientific on cryo-EM technology
Hummingbird Scientific is developing cryo-EM sample-preparation, fast-freezing, cryogenic handling, cryo-holder, and cryogenic workflow technologies for advanced microscopy applications.
We welcome conversations with research collaborators, NIH-funded development partners, microscope OEMs, life-science instrument companies, and strategic partners interested in licensing, private labeling, co-development, or custom cryogenic microscopy systems.
Related capabilities and systems
Cryo-EM Sample Preparation Platform
Hummingbird is building toward a connected cryo-EM platform that links freezing, cryogenic handling, holder workflows, microscope feedback, and future automation.
Engineering
From first-principles analysis and 3D CAD to prototyping, testing, and validation, see how Hummingbird develops advanced microscopy systems through integrated engineering, software, electronics, and manufacturing.
Manufacturing and Assembly
Our precision machine shop is the foundation of our in-house manufacturing, producing high-tolerance components for in situ microscopy. Paired with dedicated assembly and inspection, it ensures every part meets exacting performance and quality standards.
In-house microfabrication
Our work is supported by a dedicated microfabrication division that develops MEMS chips and custom devices for in situ microscopy systems, including gas, liquid, heating, and electrical biasing applications.
Calibration and inspection lab
Every instrument is checked and refined in our in-house Calibration Lab before it leaves our facility. We measure thermal, electrical, and magnetic performance to ensure stable, accurate readouts that you can rely on from the start of every experiment.
TEM Lab
Hummingbird maintains internal TEM capability for product testing, validation, applications development, and microscope-based evaluation.