About CCEM

Overview

Imaging Materials for a Brighter World

The Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy (CCEM) is located at McMaster University and was opened in 2004. Since 2014, CCEM is funded by the Major Science Initiatives (MSI) program as one of 17 national research facilities in Canada. CCEM houses best-in-class electron and ion microscopes; a team of 13 full-time professional expert staff operate the facility, perform microscopy services, and train users. CCEM has a diverse, national user base of more than 500 users annually. The research published by CCEM users has steadily grown to more than 140 peer-reviewed journal articles annually. CCEM serves users from academia and industry, from all over Canada and internationally. The research projects range from biology to chemistry, geology, and engineering.

CCEM features a state-of-the-art suite of instrumentation and experienced, dedicated staff capable of getting the best out of each instrument. Our goal is to enable our users and partners to solve tomorrow’s material problems for a brighter world.

Strategic Plan and Frameworks

Our new Strategic Plan provides a bold vision for CCEM as a national research facility. It has been informed by feedback from the national user community, partners and CCEM management and builds on the successes and lessons from our previous Plan. The Governing Board has actively participated in shaping the plan. The strategic goals of CCEM over the next five years will strengthen CCEM’s position as a national electron microscopy research facility with international recognition for excellence that serves a growing and diverse national academic and industrial user base.

The development of the Plan has been inspired by a value proposition built on three pillars:

a national enabler of breakthrough materials research
a global leader in electron microscopy education and training
a provider of accessible specialized electron microscopy services

Through our EM research, training and services, we catalyze tomorrow’s materials innovations.

Click here for the new Strategic Plan.

CCEM’s other public documents

Through CCEM’s robust Management plan, CCEM updates its Frameworks following an annual cycle. Below are the most recent versions of the Frameworks.

Click here for CCEM’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) Framework FY25.1

Click here for CCEM’s Data Management and Cybersecurity Framework 2022.2

Governance Structure

Governance Structure of CCEM

CCEM is a McMaster University Research Institute and Center (RCI) and Core Research Platform (CRP), reporting to McMaster University’s Office of VPR. CCEM’s Governing Board has overall responsibility for the governance and management of CCEM, on behalf of the University.

Executive Committee: Make decisions pertaining to instruments of governance and in-year performance of CCEM between meetings of the Governing Board.

International Scientific Advisory Committee: Provide scientific advice to the Scientific Direction and to the Governing Board with respect to CCEM’s ambition to be an internationally recognized Centre of Excellence in electron and ion microscopy.

Management Committee: Serves as a formal structure to make decisions on management and operations of CCEM, and inform and get feedback from stakeholders of the host institution.