The Materials Characterisation and Fabrication Platform (MCFP) supports materials research through advanced instrumentation, analysis and characterisation. The MCFP welcomes all users across the scientific community, from universities and research institutes to industry.
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Mass cytometry
Uniquely combining time-of-flight mass spectrometry and metal-labelling technology, mass cytometry allows single cell resolution within complex biological systems.
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Super-resolution microscopy
High-speed deconvolution microscopy, live-cell imaging, stochastic illumination.
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Atomic force microscopy
The MCFP hosts four Atomic Force Microscopes. These are available to carry out a wide range of imaging and measurements.
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X-ray diffraction and residual stress
X-ray diffraction provides information on the structure of your material.
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Multi-ion beam microscopy and nanofabrication
The Zeiss Orion NanoFab is an advanced scanning microscope that utilises an interchangeable multi-ion beam (helium and neon) for nanofabrication and sub-nanometre imaging.
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Particle characterisation
The MCFP hosts a number of complimentary techniques for particle characterisation including the recently installed NanoSight NS300.
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Nanofabrication
The MCFP Nanofabrication platform supports University of Melbourne (UoM) researchers accessing the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication (MCN) located in Clayton.
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Confocal and deconvolution microscopy
A versatile range of confocal and deconvolution microscopy is available for access.
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Flow cytometry
Flow cytometer, with extreme sensitivity and resolution, is suitable for a wide range of experiments.
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Nanoindentation
Nano-indentation, micro-indentation, scratch testing, impact testing, liquid cell, nanopositioner stage for imaging of samples.
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Contact angle and surface tensiometry
Contact angle measuring device for the measurement of the static and the dynamic contact angle, the surface free energy of solids, and the surface and the interfacial tension of liquids.
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Mechanical testing
Mechanical Testing provides information on the mechanical properties of you material
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Scanning Electron Microscopy
SEM
All instrumentation on the MCFP platform is available for University of Melbourne researchers, external universities, institutes and research organisations as well as industry partners.
New users
Please register for an iLab account by clicking on the following link and clicking Register.
Please take a look at the MCFP Access and Usage Handbook for more information on the platform.
You can download the MCFP logo for presentations here.
Registered users
The MCFP has implemented a new booking system called iLab
- For new users, please click Register in the above link to create an iLab account
- For registered iLab users, please login via the link above.
iLab allows you to:
- Create a booking on MCFP instruments
- Request training on MCFP instruments
- submit samples for analysis on XRD, CyTOF and HIM
- Submit a service/consultation request
MCN Users
University of Melbourne researchers receive a 30% discount on the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication (MCN) instrument rates when accessing the facility through the MCFP's pre-paid block account. UoM researchers can also take advantage of the MCFP's platform support officer, Dan Smith, who is based at MCN. Dan can help you with access, training, process development and technical support. Dan's time is free for all UoM researchers.
Lauren has a background in nanotechnology and a PhD in biomaterials science. Previously, she has managed the Vibrational Spectroscopy facility at the University of Sydney and was a beamline scientist on the infrared microspectroscopy beamline at the Australian Synchrotron. Lauren has joined the MCFP team as the technical support coordinator and manager of the MCFP. She has experience with many surface topography and chemistry preparation methods as well as surface analysis experience including infrared and Raman microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
t: 03 834 40176 (x40176)
Dan previously worked at Hewlett Packard and he has over 25 years of experience in micro/nanofabrication, MEMS and semiconductor manufacturing, process development, integration and characterisation. Dan is based at the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication (MCN) where he assists University of Melbourne researchers in accessing and using the facilities at MCN. He provides project support including experimental design, equipment training, process development and characterisation.
e: dan.smith@nanomelbourne.com
t: 03 9902 4377
Paul has previously worked at the University of Chicago and in the Biological Imaging Facility at Northwestern University. He has a background in molecular biology and optical microscopy, with a focus on confocal microscopy. Paul is responsible for the Advanced Fluorescence Imaging node of the MFCP. He has experience in imaging a wide range of samples, including live cells and nanoparticles.
e: paul.brannon@unimelb.edu.au
t: 03 903 57749 (x57749)
Liz has a background in Materials Characterisation including; X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Mechanical Testing, and Chemical Analysis. She worked for CSIRO for 12 years in the X-ray diffraction and mechanical testing facilities. At the University of Melbourne Liz is the platform support officer for the X-ray Diffraction node of the MCFP. She has extensive experience in XRD sample preparation, analysis, and data interpretation for a wide variety of materials.
e: liz.goodall@unimelb.edu.au
t: 03 903 56682 (x56682)
Andrew has a long background in the use of flow and mass cytometry. He previously worked for more than 20 years as a researcher in both academic and industry environments, where his research focused on the immunopathology of infectious diseases. Prior to joining the University of Melbourne he was the Cytometry/CyTOF specialist at the University of Sydney. At the University of Melbourne he supports researchers in the design, implementation and analysis of multiparameteric mass cytometry based experiments.
e: andrew.mitchell1@unimelb.edu.au
t: 03 834 46850 (x46850)
e: anders.barlow@unimelb.edu.au
t: 03 903 59639 (x59639)
e: tian.zheng@unimelb.edu.au
t: 03 903 58587 (x58587)
PROF. RAYMOND DAGASTINE
Academic Leader, MCFP, Nanomaterials Characterisation, Nanofabrication
Ray Dagastine is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in the Melbourne School of Engineering. Ray is the Academic leader of the Materials Characterisation and Fabrication Platform as well as a Senior Technology Fellow at the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication (MCN). He is also a member of the Particulate Fluids Processing Special Research Centre (PFPC).
His research interests are in the area of particulate and droplet interfacial phenomena, emulsion stability and deformable surfaces. He is a leading researcher in developing experimental methods and theoretical analytical tools to study interaction forces between deformable liquid-liquid interfaces using both optical techniques and atomic force microscopy. He also has research interests in structure in complex fluids, non-equilibrium surface forces, and protein interactions and nanomechanical properties of living cellular systems.
Dr Francesca Cavalieri is a Future Fellow in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The University of Melbourne. Her research focuses on polymeric biomaterials for drug/gene delivery, engineering and characterization of nanostructured soft materials and interfaces.
e: francesca.cavalieri@unimelb.edu.au
George Franks is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and has over two decades of research experience in the ceramics and minerals processing fields. His research interests include suspension rheology, advanced ceramics powder processing, mineral processing, particularly flocculation and flotation, colloid and surface chemistry, alumina surfaces, oxide crystal growth and materials modelling. He is a member of the Particulate Fluids Processing Centre, Melbourne Materials Institute and the Defence Materials Technology Centre.