STOCKTON  — Microscopy: The study of extremely small objects using a microscope. 

Electron Microscopy: Microscopy in which an electron beam replaces light to form images of structures at nanoscale magnifications.

Delta College’s Electron Microscopy (EM) Program will receive two valuable electron microscopes from Applied Materials, Inc., and JEOL USA. Each will replace aging microscopes.

 “These donations will give our students exposure to the kind of microscopes they will use in contemporary labs,” says Electron Microscopy professor, Frank Villalovoz. “When these instruments were new, they cost in the multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

Delta’s high-tech EM program was started in 1970 under the leadership of Victor Remillard and Dr. Betty Mathews. It’s the only program of its kind at any community college in the U.S. The job market for trained microscopists is excellent. Students have the opportunity for employment with research scientists in laboratories, manufacturer’s labs, health fields, and more. Students can earn upwards of $50k on graduation.

Applied Materials, Inc., a multibillion dollar company that produces semiconductor manufacturing equipment, is donating the Hitachi S-4800 FE Scanning Electron Microscope. In addition, Hitachi High Technologies America is donating $20,000 for the installation, including a 25% discount on service and repairs for the coming year. “This instrument allows us to easily obtain a very high magnification – much better than our present instruments,” adds Villalovoz.

JEOL USA, an internationally known manufacturer of electron microscopes, is donating the JEOL 1200 EX II Transmission Microscope. In 2014, JEOL loaned the EX II to the program with free installation and service. The JEOL 1200 EX II can magnify samples up to 500,000 times. JEOL has a long-standing relationship with Delta’s EM Program, contributing microscopes, maintenance, and scholarships. 

“Each company has hired our graduates in key positions,” says EM lab tech, Cathy Davis. “They are extremely happy with our students’ job performance.”

EM professor, Dr. Jon Krupp, appreciates the significance of these donations. “Without the generosity of our industry partners, we probably would never be able to purchase new instruments equivalent to these. We thank Applied Materials, Hitachi, and JEOL for their support of Delta’s EM program and our students through the years.”

Interested in an exciting high-tech career? Check out Delta College’s Electron Microscopy Program.

Fall classes start Aug. 21.