The Molecular Analysis Facility (MAF) at the University of Washington (UW) is an open-access instrumentation facility located in the Molecular Engineering & Science Building. The MAF's extensive microscopy, spectroscopy, and surface science capabilities are available to UW researchers as well as researchers from other academic institutions, industry, and government labs. Users can be trained to independently perform experiments, or an experienced staff member can perform experiments for users.
MAF staff scientists have expertise in in biology, chemistry, clean energy, photonics, and nanomaterials. In addition to training users and performing experiments, MAF staff scientists are available to consult on experimental design and can help identify the best available technique for a particular scientific inquiry. Existing and prospective users are encouraged to contact staff about their research needs.
The MAF is part of the National Science Foundation's National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI), a network of fabrication and characterization facilities that provide researchers with the tools and training necessary to engineer at the nanoscale. NNCI consists of 16 sites, including the Northwest Nanotechnology Infrastructure (NNI), which encompasses a collection of fabrication and characterization facilities at the UW and Oregon State University.
The MAF was formed in 2014 through the consolidation of the UW Nanotech User Facility (NTUF) and the Surface Analysis Recharge Center (SARC) followed by the incorporation of the Analytical Biopharmacy Core (ABC) in 2016, allowing users to seamlessly access nano characterization tools through a single facility.