Core Facilities and Service Centers

Space Propulsion Laboratory

35-405

The Space Propulsion Laboratory (SPL) features state-of-the-art experimental facilities that complement our educational and research programs. MIT students, staff, faculty and approved visitors are eligible to work at SPL, provided that safety training requirements are met and users are familiarized with the laboratory environment.

Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel

17-200

The Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel is a subsonic, closed-circuit, closed return, atmospheric wind tunnel currently classified as having the largest test section of any wind tunnel in academia.

Digital Design and Fabrication Group

N51-328

The Design Fabrication Group is a center for education and research in areas of rapid prototyping and CAD/CAM fabrication for architects and designers. The group engages faculty, students and staff in research focused on the relationship between design computing and physical output used for design representation and reflection.

CEHS Bioimaging and Chemical Analysis Facilities Core

56-265

The Bioimaging and Chemical Analysis Facilities Core provides Center members with state-of-the-art tools and techniques for the characterization and quantification of chemical substances and modifications of cellular compounds ranging from small molecules, e.g., single metal ions, metabolites and reaction products, to nucleic acid oligomers and intact proteins.

The Core resources also include a suite of data-handling software for qualitative and quantitative analyses. As a resource for CEHS members, the Core allows researchers to use the facilities at two levels: fully trained users, and supervised analyses.

BioMicro Center

68-322

The BioMicro Center was founded as the core biofabrication and microarray processing facility at MIT, offering a wide range of genomic services to researchers. Majority of services rendered pertain to massively parallel sequencing using the Illumina platform, commercial array processing, real-time PCR, and informatics and computational support.

Biophysical Instrumentation Facility

68-470

The Biophysical Instrumentation Facility (BIF) is a BL1 facility which houses instruments to elucidate macromolecular structure and interactions.

The BIF instruments include a Sartorius Octet R8 BioLayer Interferometry instrument, Jasco J-1500 CD spectrometer, a Wyatt DynaPro NanoStar for dynamic light scattering, a Panta nanoDSF with parallel DLS, a Malvern PEAQ-ITC isothermal titration calorimeter, a Refeyn TwoMP Mass Photometer, and an Agilent HPLC with SEC-MALS detection.

The BIF is largely used by researchers in Chemistry, Biology, Biological Engineering and Chemical Engineering, but is available to anyone on campus and beyond.

The facility manager is available to train new users and advise those considering the potential application of the instruments in the facility.

Structural Biology Core Facility

68-588

The Structural Biology Core Facility is open to the entire MIT community in structural biology and provides access to state-of-the-art equipment for X-ray crystallography.

HealthLab

E25-201

HealthLab features an extensive array of equipment and spaces to accommodate all types of human subject research, with a focus on research related to accelerated medical innovation and health and wellness applications.

Our clinical services, research support, and preclinical platforms position researchers to successfully set up and execute safe and successful human subject research. The space is designed to be reconfigurable in form and function to meet your clinical research testing needs.

Cell Shop

E25-217

The CCTR Cell Shop is a BL2 facility designated for biological characterization of medical devices and therapeutics. The space includes a biosafety cabinet, CO2 humidified incubator, centrifuges, refrigerator, and -80 freezers which are available for culturing and storage of biological specimens. A chemical hood, a vacuum oven, SLA 3D printers, and a plasma cleaner are available for device prototyping and manufacturing as needed. Bright field, fluorescence, and acoustic microscopes are available for use for sample inspection and characterization.

Motion Capture Suite

E25-138

The CCTR Motion Capture Suite in E25-138 houses a marker-based 3D motion capture system supplied by Qualisys. The optical tracking system consists of twelve infrared (IR) cameras that track IR reflective markers within a 14’ x 30’ x 8’ capture space. Markers can be placed on research participants or rigid bodies to track biomechanics or 6DOF motion, respectively. The Qualisys software enables skeleton generation and solving for single and multiple human participants within the space.

Observation Suite

E25-216

The CCTR Observation Suite serves as the audio-video control center for ceiling-mounted cameras and microphones installed throughout the clinical research areas. Professional-quality audio and video capture capability enhances the research data collection process for any project and is ideal for studies that require remote monitoring, recording, or webcasting.

Department of Chemistry Instrumentation Facility

18-0090

The DCIF provides user-access to a wide range of high value analytical instruments. Our NMR facility has 7 instruments in the 400-600MHz range, full heteronuclear capabilities, high sensitivity nitrogen and helium-cooled probes, solids capability, and extensive automation over a range of methods suitable for chemists, chemical biologists, and engineers.

Our mass spectrometry facility has both low-resolution and high-resolution MS systems with electrospray, MALDI, EI, CI and DART ionization modes. Our X-band CW EPR operates down to approximately 4.5K with helium gas recycling.

Staff are a free resource available to provide training for established techniques, to help with novel experimental design, and to advise you on data interpretation.

X-Ray Diffraction Facility

2-325

The Department of Chemistry’s X-Ray Diffraction Facility is equipped with two modern and versatile Bruker diffractometers. These diffractometers are coupled to extraordinarily sensitive Bruker APEX and APEX2 CCD detectors that give rise to high-resolution data even on very small crystals (down to 10μm) and facilitate the collection of complete and highly redundant datasets in any given Laue class. Modern low-temperature devices from Oxford Cryosystems, covering a temperature range from 90 to 500K, complete our setup.

The X-ray Diffraction Facility offers full single crystal X-ray structure determination at two wavelengths (Cu or Mo), including the determination of absolute configuration of chiral molecules from anomalous scattering.

Department of Materials Science and Engineering Shared Research Facilities

Multiple locations

DMSE’s shared laboratory facilities include spaces and equipment for teaching, research, experimentation, and manufacturing and are available to the MIT Community.

Electron Microprobe Facility

54-1221

The MIT Electron Microprobe Facility serves as the centerpiece of analytical instrumentation used in EAPS for research and teaching activities in geochemistry, petrology and mineral physics. The instruments in the facility form part of the Center for Geochemical Analysis (CGA), which comprises six instrument-oriented facilities. The microprobe facility serves a broad spectrum of research scientists at MIT, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), neighboring universities, academic institutions and the industry. Analytical services are available for the faculty and professionals. User training is also available. An hourly fee is charged.

ISN Facility Service Center

500 Technology Square, 4th Floor

The ISN is an Army-sponsored Department of Defense University-Affiliated Research Center (UARC) that is wholly part of MIT. It is a team of MIT, DOD, industry, and other partners working together to enable unprecedented advances in warfighter protection, survivability, and mission capabilities.

ISN team members work together on fundamental research to create new materials, devices, processes, and systems useful to both US warfighters and civilians alike. The ISN facilitates the rapid and efficient transitioning of promising research results by collaborating with DOD and industry and by participating in and leveraging MIT’s culture of entrepreneurship and its defense and innovation ecosystems.

The ISN maintains approximately 40,000 square feet of space and a significant collection of instrumentation in a dedicated Technology Square facility that is available for use by members of the MIT community.

The Barbara K. Ostrom (1978) Bioinformatics & Computing Facility

Building 76

The Barbara K. Ostrom (1978) Bioinformatics Facility is a shared institutional resource providing KI investigators with support, assistance and training in a wide range of bioinformatics topics. The core also maintains a high-performance computing resource offering many bioinformatics applications, substantial processing power and secure storage.

Biopolymers & Proteomics Core Facility

Building 76

The Biopolymers & Proteomics Core Facility provides MIT researchers with integrated synthetic and analytical capabilities for biological materials, including DNA, proteins and nanoparticles.

Services include mass spectrometry-based proteomics approaches for identification, characterization, or quantitation of proteins, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, peptide synthesis and purification, and high-pressure liquid chromatographic analysis and purification.

Flow Cytometry: Nanowell Cytometry

Building 76

The Nanowell Cytometry platform provides MIT researchers access to technologies for single cell analysis including nanowell array-based single cell sequencing, robotic micromanipulation for isolation of single cells and automatic, extended time-lapse image acquisition and analysis of cells in physiologically relevant environments.

Glassware Preparation

Building 76

The Glassware Preparation Core Facility provides participating KI labs and Core Facilities with a wide variety of sterile and non-sterile glass and labware. Our primary goal is to consistently provide sterile glassware at an exceptionally high, tissue culture-grade standard.

High Throughput Sciences

Building 76

High Throughput Sciences (HTS) offers automation and screening capabilities to MIT and external collaborators. Equipped with environmentally-controlled high-content microscopes, automated liquid handlers, plate washers and readers, and robotic platforms, HTS aims to accelerate experiments from small-scale assays to large screening campaigns.

The lab provides BL2 and BL2+ spaces and conducts assay development and chemical/genetic screening using cell-free systems, cell lines, or freshly collected clinical samples.

Available screening methods include cell-based and biochemical assays, high-content fluorescence or label-free imaging, pooled lentiviral libraries, and multiplexed deep sequencing.

Consultation (grant writing, sample preparation, liquid handling, engineering, data analysis, and cross-core pipelines) and training in lab automation is provided.

The HTS team also engages in technology-focused research and development projects with collaborators, such as developing novel cell models, assays, and devices.

The Hope Babette Tang (1983) Histology Facility

Building 76

The Hope Babette Tang (1983) Histology Facility assists investigators in generating quality histological slides. We have the equipment and expertise to produce sections from frozen and paraffin-embedded tissues.

The Hope Babette Tang Histology facility produces stained slides (hematoxylin and eosin, immunohistochemical, and special stains) and offers brightfield slide scanning. With these tools, the investigator will be better able to evaluate the pathologic consequences of various mutations or treatments.

Integrated Genomics & Bioinformatics: Genomics

Building 76

Facilities for genome-wide analyses, including:

Broad spectrum of sequencing technologies including Illumina short read (NextSeq, HiSeq, MiSeq), and Pacific Biosciences and Oxford Nanopore long read.

Library preparation from a broad spectrum of sample types and qualities including DNA, RNA and chromatin. Services are available on a sample-by-sample basis or through high-throughput protocols.

Support for numerous single cell sequencing applications using microfluidic, nanowell and plate-based methodologies. Quality assessment by real-time PCR, Varioskan, Fragment Analyzer and FemtoPulse Oligo synthesizer for atypical production is available for walk-up use.

Metabolite Profiling

Building 76

The Metabolite Profiling Core Facility is to support research projects at Whitehead Institute, Koch Institute and MIT community by enabling investigators to profile small molecules (metabolites & lipids) in a variety of biological samples using state-of-the-art high resolution accurate mass Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS).

Microscopy Core Facility

Building 76

The Microscopy Core Facility provides experimental consultation, instrument training, and assisted imaging for light microscopes and related data analysis software. Services include light and epifluorescence microscopy, laser scanning and spinning disk confocal microscopy, deconvolution-based microscopy, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, super-resolution microscopy, and high-throughput fluorescent slide scanning.

Peterson (1957) Nanotechnology Materials Core Facility

Building 76

We have a broad range of equipment and expertise to work with nanomaterials for the purposes of both characterization and imaging.

Core imaging capabilities include a high performance field emission transmission electron microscope (equipped with STEM, EELS, EDS and cryo-imaging), high performance field emission scanning electron microscope and focused ion beam (equipped with STEM and cryo-imaging), a cryo-fluorescent confocal microscope for CLEM workflows, and an atomic force microscope (equipped with a liquid cell).

Instrumentation for material characterization includes high throughput dynamic light scattering, nanoparticle sizing and counting, and rheometry.

PMIT: Preclinical Modeling

Building 76

We support researchers who utilize in vitro and in vivo model systems to study processes involved in healthy and diseased cells, tissues, and rodents.

Our extensive experience with specialized and standard cell cultures allows us to support in vitro disease modeling via i): Establishment of new primary mouse cultures, ii) Cell transfection, iii) Directed stem cell differentiation, iv) Optimization or troubleshooting of finicky cell cultures, v) Distribution of common cell lines amongst MIT researchers and vi) Weekly testing for mycoplasma contamination of cultures.

Our Modeling Facility features state-of-the-art in vivo services, including:

• CRISPR Cas9/Cas12a/Prime Editor mRNA microinjection and Cas9 RNP microinjection for targeted gene editing in mice
• DNA construct microinjection
• Embryonic Stem (ES) cell targeting and microinjection

Zebrafish Core Facility

Building 76

The KI Zebrafish Core Facility was established to provide expertise to KI and MIT researchers who wish to utilize zebrafish as a model organism for any kind of research along with professional daily care of the animals and aquarium systems. The facility can meet a wide range of needs, from one-off experiments of limited scope, to long-term maintenance of dozens of transgenic and/or mutant lines.

Martinos Imaging Center

Building 46-3160

The Martinos Imaging Center is a core facility that provides access to state-of-the-art brain imaging technologies for MIT researchers and their collaborators, including human MRI, small-animal MRI, EEG and MEG.

Major research themes at the center include: brain mechanisms of perception, memory, emotion, executive function and social cognition; developmental studies of children; and translational studies on the neural basis of many different psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Marine Hydrodynamics Water Tunnel

3-269

This lab is dedicated to the study of all aspects of marine hydrodynamics. The main facility is a variable pressure recirculating water tunnel that is capable of speeds up to 10 m/s.

Experiments with conventional and novel propulsion devices, drag reduction using MHD (magneto-hydrodynamics), flow control by unsteady swimming motion and flapping foils, offshore cylinder testing and vortex-induced-vibrations are performed using state of the art measurement techniques and instrumentation.

Ocean Engineering Testing Tank

48-015

The MIT Towing Tank is an experimental hydrodynamics testing facility consisting of a 100 ft x 8 ft x 4 ft testing tank with a functional wave maker and beach, and an 8 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft flow visualization tank.

The 100 ft long tank was originally used for ship model resistance testing, although it has been refitted to accommodate experiments associated with the study of biomimetics in marine creatures and vortex-induced vibrations, while maintaining the original model testing capabilities.

The smaller visualization tank, consisting of a three axis motor system, and outfitted with a high-speed particle image velocimetry (PIV) system, is used primarily for the quantitative visualization of fluid flows.

Microsystems Technology Laboratories Facilities

Building 12

MTL offers access to a wide range of hardware and software tools for CAD design and simulation for the benefit of the entire MIT community including access to many Computer-aided Design tools and Process-design Kits. 

If you are interested in using the MIT.nano facilities please visit MIT.nano Users and follow the instructions on becoming a new user.

Fab.nano

Building 12

Fab.nano is the shared fabrication facility at MIT where users carry out controlled processing of micro- and nanoscale structures. Our advanced cleanroom facilities offer capabilities ranging from lithography, etching, and deposition to diffusion, wet processing, and packaging.

If you are interested in using the MIT.nano facilities please visit MIT.nano Users and follow the instructions on becoming a new user.

Characterization.nano

Building 12

Characterization.nano provides a set of shared focus facilities where users can carry out controlled characterization of micro, nano, and sub-nanoscale structures.

State-of-the-art toolsets are assembled for dimensional science of surfaces and interfaces, advanced imaging spectroscopy (ambient, Cryo and in-vivo), and nanoscale analysis that will promote technological innovation and serve as a hub for scientists with widely different expertise. 

If you are interested in using the MIT.nano facilities please visit MIT.nano Users and follow the instructions on becoming a new user.

Cryo-EM Facility

Building 12

The Cryo-EM Facility is a focus facility in Characterization.nano. Instrumentation includes Aquilos Cryo-FIB, a focused ion beam/scanning electron microscope system; Chameleon, an automated, blotless, high-speed vitrification instrument; Talos Arctica state-of-the-art (200kV) cryogenic transmission electron microscope optimized for high-throughput single-particle cryo-EM imaging; Titan Krios, a state-of-the-art (300kV) cryogenic transmission electron microscope; and the Thermo Scientific Vitrobot Mark IV System for semi-automated vitrification.

The process for becoming a MIT.nano user includes different tiers of safety training required when selecting services. If you are interested in using the MIT.nano facilities please visit MIT.nano Users and follow the instructions on becoming a new user. 

Data Management Services

7-238

Data Management Services (DMS) helps MIT faculty and researchers manage, store, and share data they produce. DMS can help create data management plans, assess needs of your project, and help to identify solutions.

We are available to help you, your lab, or center understand your data management needs and recommend best practices for keeping your data usable, now and in the future. Email data-management@mit.edu to request an in-person or virtual consultation.

Central Machine Shop

38-001

Assistance with your projects, large and small, from concept to completion. This can include advice in component material selection and design for practical machining applications as well as overall mechanical device design and drafting.

Office of Research Computing and Data

NE36-7th Floor

ORCD is focused on supporting all of MIT's campus-wide high-performance computing resources, and is familiar with other resources on campus as well as commercial services.

ORCD operates and provides support and training for a number of cluster computer systems available to all researchers. These systems all run with a Slurm scheduler and most have a web portal for interactive computing. These are Engaging, SuperCloud, Satori, and OpenMind.

Center for Nuclear Materials (MIT certificate required)

NW13-213

The Center for Nuclear Materials (CNM) is MIT's one-stop shop for materials characterization specifically amenable to, but not exclusively for, radioactive materials. Most instruments in the CNM are similar to those you'll find elsewhere at MIT (SEMs, DSCs, multi-target PVD, XRD, furnaces, mechanical testing...), but they are approved for radioactive material use.

We have some MIT-unique systems too, including nanocalorimeters, a positron annihilation spectrometer (PAS), a particle accelerator, and multiple transient grating spectroscopy (TGS) systems.

Crucially, all facilities are safe for anyone to use without radioactive materials, and you do not have to be a radiation worker to use them. EHS measures relevant equipment weekly to ensure no contamination. All facilities in the CNM are open to the full MIT community.

Nuclear Reactor Laboratory

NW12

The MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory (MIT-NRL) is an interdepartmental center that operates a high performance 6 MW research reactor known as the MITR-II. NRL has an extensive array of facilities for performing neutron and gamma irradiations, for studying neutron physics, and for examining radioactive materials.

NRL staff also provide technical assistance for research projects for high school students, undergraduate and graduate students, university researchers and faculty members, and national laboratory users.

CLARITY Core Facility

Building 46

CLARITY makes tissue, like the brain, completely see-through. With these techniques, an exceptionally detailed map of neuronal pathways can be made—inaccessible even from our best technologies a few years ago.

CLARITY technology equipment includes a high-content rapid throughput imaging microscope system from Leica Microsystems and Leica supporting software. The equipment is available to all Picower labs.

iPS Core Facility

Building 46

Starting from fibroblasts or other cells brought by users, the iPS Core Facility is equipped for the specialized production, maintenance, expansion, preservation, and distribution of iPS cell lines, iPS- and ES-derived neuronal progenitor cells, iPS-and ES- derived neurons, induced neuronal (iN) cells, and neural organoids.

The facility also offers karyotyping of iPS cells, training on working with iPS cell cultures and their differentiation, and consulting on how to produce isogenic pairs of cell lines.

Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory

Building NW14

Our focus combines expertise and instrumentation in solution-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), solid-state NMR, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP), microwave technology, magnet design, probe and console design, synthesis of polarizing agents for DNP, and the development of biochemical labeling strategies.

Our combined core and collaborative research effort covers essentially all aspects of magnetic resonance that are important for structural biology and many areas of magnetic resonance imaging.

W.M. Keck Microscopy Facility

Whitehead Institute

The W.M. Keck Biological Imaging Facility provides scientists with the equipment, training and support necessary to generate and interpret microscopic images. In addition to serving Whitehead and MIT, the facility is open to the local research community.