The IGB Core will host the first annual Summer Optical Microscopy Intensive Training (SOMIT) course from June 22nd–26th. This intensive program is designed to provide advanced undergraduate and early graduate students with a strong foundation in optical microscopy, covering sample preparation, optics and instrumentation, widefield and confocal imaging, and image analysis.
Each day will feature two lectures followed by a two-hour hands-on lab, giving students the opportunity to apply concepts from the lectures and complete lab reports. The day will conclude with a guest lecture by an imaging specialist, highlighting real-world applications and advanced techniques.
Enrollment is limited. For registration and housing options, please contact Glenn.
Fee $800.00
Schedule
Monday June 22nd
- Morning Lecture: Collecting tissue samples, fixation, sectioning
- Morning Lab: Cryostat operation, microtome operation, antibody staining tissue
- Afternoon Lecture: Fixed vs live cell imaging, transfection vs staining, choosing an imaging technique
- Afternoon lab: Fixing and permeabilizing cells, transfection, primary antibody staining
- Special lecture, TBA
Tuesday June 23rd
- Morning Lecture: Microscope light path, resolution, aberrations, contrast methods
- Morning Lab: Build a microscope and measure PSF, resolution vs numerical aperture (NA)
- Afternoon lecture: Microscope care and cleaning, filters, cameras, point detectors
- Afternoon Lab: Kӧhler illumination, camera calibration, phase imaging, darkfield Imaging
- Special lecture TBA
Wednesday June 24th
- Morning Lecture: Confocal microscopy light path, pinholes, scanners, laser lines
- Morning Lab: 4 color confocal imaging, z stack
- Afternoon lecture: 2-photon, SHG, Airyscan, spinning disk,
- Afternoon Lab: Spectral imaging, Airyscan imaging, live cell imaging, SHG imaging
- Special lecture TBA
Thursday June 25th
- Morning Lecture: Image histograms, PSF in digital images, background, rendering
- Morning Lab: FIJI exercises- Filters, thresholding, particle counting, Measurements
- Afternoon lecture: Data analysis, AI in imaging,
- Afternoon Lab: MitoNet, measure areas, plotting and interpreting data
- Special lecture TBA
Friday June 26th
- Morning tour: Imaging techniques available in the Core and typical projects
- Finalize lab reports
