A probe includes a solid elongate body disposed along a long axis of the probe and terminating in a probe tip, and a solid planar beveled surface at or adjacent an end of the probe tip formed at a non-zero beveled angle relative to a normal of the long axis of the probe, The solid planar beveled surface is configured to impart Van der Waals attractive force to a sample surface positioned immediately adjacent the solid beveled surface of the probe so that the sample can be detached from and lifted from the bulk material and transported to a grid for investigation. Various embodiments of the beveled surface are described, including an elliptical probe tip surface beveled between 10 and 45 degrees to the normal to the probe long axis and planar surfaces formed in the sides of the probe body that are parallel to the probe long axis.