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Course Overview

The goal of this course is to empower graduate students in the Life Sciences to use light microscopy as a powerful experimental tool in their own research.  The course will consist of a mixture of didactic lectures, discussions and hands-on practice with the emphasis on practice over theory. In the first half of the course, daily lectures will introduce basic concepts, followed by intensive hands-on experience with different optical systems, microscopes, specimens and imaging modalities.  In the second half of the course, lectures will cover more advanced topics, such as image deconvolution, super resolution microscopy, photokinetics, and single molecule approaches, and lab time will be devoted to a set of modular projects in which students have the opportunity to choose and explore more advanced topics of interest.

Core topics will include:

• Fundamentals of microscope design, image formation, contrast and resolution
• Transmitted light microscopy (e.g. phase contrast, DIC and polarization microscopy)
• Fluorescence microscopy (e.g. laser scanning or spinning disk confocal, light sheet and TIRF)
• Fluorescent probes and multispectral imaging
• Cameras and detectors, the photon budget, signal-to-noise, strategies for optimal sampling in space and time.   
• Approaches to image processing, analysis and presentation of image data

Students will gain direct hands-on experience with a variety of state-of-the-art systems for light microscopy as well as a wide variety of different specimens.  In addition, students are encouraged to bring their own fixed (or if feasible live) biological specimens and to discuss their own research interests with course instructors.

Financial Information

Cost: $4000.00 including room and board
Please Note: Financial Aid is not offered for this course