A cryotransfer holder for mounting a specimen held at cryogenic temperature in an electron microscope is described. The holder includes a cylindrical dewar configured to maintain a constant center of mass about the holder axis regardless of orientation of the dewar. The holder further includes a sample shutter control mechanism that can be decoupled from the shutter to reduce vibration during imaging. There is also described a workstation for mounting specimens into the cryotransfer holder at cryogenic temperature. The workstation allows rotation about the cryotransfer holder axis to improve access to the sample placement area on the holder and to facilitate easy removal and retrieval of the sample after imaging.