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The cryoEM & the Molecular bioinformatics & Computational biophysical chemistry facilities in Forschungszentrum Jülich campus offer 1) cryoEM imaging & 2) computational techniques to relate biomolecular structures, dynamics, interactions & function.
The Ernst Ruska-Centre (ER-C) for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons, founded in 2004, is an inter- / national user facility open to universities, research institutions and research laboratories in industry. The ER-C is run conjointly by Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University and houses some of the world’s most advanced electron microscopes and tools for nanocharacterisation, several of which have been funded by the German Research Foundation and the Helmholtz Association. The ER-C is located on the campus of Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, a major interdisciplinary research centre and member of the Helmholtz Association.
The cryoEM facility was initiated 2019 with the appointment of Prof. Dr. Carsten Sachse, expanding an existing material science facility. In 2022 first external users were accepted to bring samples for vitrification and imaging. Since then, more than 80 external users with more than 140 projects used the services offered at the ER-C. The cryoEM facility encompasses 3 TEMs and 1 FIB-SEM as well as vitrification equipment needed to prepare the samples. Services cover (1) sample vitrification, (2) focused ion beam (FIB) sample thinning, also fluorescence guided leading in correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) and (3) high-resolution cryo electron tomography (cryoET) or single particle analysis (SPA).
The Structural and Molecular Bioinformatics part of IBG-4 at Forschungszentrum Jülich develops computational methods to understand biological systems across scales. In particular, it focuses on modeling and simulating biomolecular structures, dynamics, and interactions to infer function and enable rational design of proteins and enzymes. The institute thus bridges data-driven bioinformatics with computational biophysics, providing tools and workflows for structure-based analysis and prediction. The director, Prof. Dr. Holger Gohlke, is known for developing methods to predict and analyze biomolecular interactions and dynamics. His work combines physics-based simulations with AI approaches to understand, modulate, and design complex biomolecular systems.
The Molecular bioinformatics & Computational biophysical chemistry facility contributes computational expertise that complements experimental structural biology within Instruct-ERIC. By linking structure, dynamics, and function, the facility enables users to extract mechanistic insight and supports integrative, structure-guided research across Europe.
The Molecular bioinformatics & Computational biophysical chemistry facility operates a modern high-performance compute cluster for GPU- and CPU-based computations in the context of physics-based simulations and molecular AI approaches and is experienced in using the supercomputers JURECA, JUWELS, and JUPITER at Jülich Supercomputing Center.
For Instruct-ERIC, the facility can offer advanced computational services spanning physics-based simulations and molecular AI approaches, supported by the above mentioned resources. Rather than high-throughput service provision, the facility aims to support a limited number of projects in depth, providing tailored computational strategies alongside close personal consultation, method development, and hands-on guidance to ensure scientifically robust and impactful outcomes.
We invite interested scientists to approach us early on to discuss a tailored computational strategy for supporting integrative, structure-guided research on their biomolecular system of interest.
The ER-C cryoEM facility is located at the Forschungszentrum in Jülich. It can be reach by bus from Jülich and Aachen as well as by train. Site entry has to be arranged before visit, more details can be found under travel information. Remote access or sample send in is possible depending on requested service.
Website: https://er-c.org/index.php/facilities-2/life-science/cryo-electron-microscopy-facility/
Contact Email Address (generic support address): er-c@fz-juelich.de
How to find
The facility is reachable via train coming from Düren main station with the Rurtalbahn RB21 to Jülich Forschungszentrum changing into bus 219 or walking 2km to “Forschungszentrum Strahlenschutz”. From there it is 500m by foot to the facility.
The Molecular Bioinformatics & Computional biophysical chemistry facility is situated on the campus of the Forschungszentrum Jülich, a major interdisciplinary research centre and member of the Helmholtz Association.
Opening hours: Access to the facility is usually possible during general business hours.
Physical access is preferred and possible in the context of a guest scientist or guest student stay to jointly work on the tailored computational strategy for integrative, structure-guided research.
Remote access may be granted in the context of completing the tailored computational strategy for integrative, structure-guided research but usually requires physical access first.
How to find
Directions to facility from nearest station/airport:
For directions to the facility in building 14.6y of the Forschungszentrum Jülich campus, please see here: https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/ibg/ibg-4/about-us/contact-visitor-information .
List of accommodation options internal/external:
Forschungszentrum Jülich operates a guest house (https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/about-us/contact-visitor-information/guest-house) for guest scientists and students. Additionally, there is a range of hotels and pensions available in the city of Jülich: https://www.juelich.de/hotelsundpensionen .
The cryoEM facility of the ER-C is situated on the campus of the Forschungszentrum Jülich, a major interdisciplinary research centre and member of the Helmholtz Association. With state-of-the-art equipment, like the Titan Krios G4 (TFS), the facility is specialised in cryoEM sample preparation and imaging of SPA- or cryoET- projects of biological specimen.
View All Electron Microscopy at Instruct
