Course Announcement Two

[Hard, Robert]

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Course Announcement Two

Title: Optical Microscopy and Imaging in the Biomedical Sciences

When: October 7 - October 16, 2008

Where: Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA

Tuition: $2750 (Includes room and board, text, handouts, supplies)

Application Deadline: Applications accepted through June 27,2008

Admission application and information:
Carol Hamel, Admissions Coordinator
Marine Biological Laboratory
7 MBL Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1015
[phone]
Internet: [hidden email]
WWW: http://www.mbl.edu (Application forms available via Adobe Acrobat)

Course Directors:

Robert Hard, University at Buffalo
Phone: [716] 829-3521
Email: [hidden email]

Colin S. Izzard, State University of New York @ Albany
Phone: [518] 442 - 4367
Email: [hidden email]

Course Description:

For Whom:
Designed primarily for research scientists, physicians, postdoctoral trainees
and advanced graduate students in animal, plant, medical and material sciences.
Non-biologists seeking a comprehensive introduction to microscopy and digital
imaging will benefit greatly from this course as well. There are no specific prerequisites,
but an understanding of the basic principles of optics and imaging experience is desirable.
Limited to 25 students.

The nine day course consists of lectures, laboratory demonstrations, hands-on
exercises and discussions that will enable the participant to obtain and
interpret microscope images of high quality, to perform quantitative optical
measurements, and to produce digital records for documentation and analysis.
For some structured exercises, students, as small groups, will acquire, analyze,
interpret and present imaging data, thereby demonstrating their progress toward
mastering microscopic/imaging skills.

Live and fixed specimens will be provided for use in laboratory exercises and
demonstrations.

HOWEVER, STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BRING THEIR OWN BIOLOGICAL (PRIMARY
CULTURES, CELL LINES, PREPARED SLIDES, ETC.) AND MATERIAL SPECIMENS AND TO
USE THEM THROUGHOUT THE COURSE FOR EXERCISES, WHERE APPROPRIATE.
STUDENTS ALSO ARE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS WITH OUR EXPERIENCED
COMMERCIAL FACULTY TO EXAMINE THEIR CELLS OUTSIDE OF SCHEDULED CLASSES
USING THE STATE OF THE ART EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE TO THEM. Cell culture facilities
are available for student use. Students are highly encouraged to discuss their
individual research problems with the academic and commercial faculty.

Topics to be covered include:

Principles of microscope design and image formation

Bright field, dark field, phase contrast, polarized light, differential interference contrast,
interference reflection, and fluorescence microscopy

Video/digital imaging, recording, enhancement, and intensification digital image
processing and analysis

Advanced fluorescent techniques (eg. FRAP, FLIP, FRET, FLIM, fluorescence polarization,
multi-spectral and ratiometric imaging)

Confocal scanning microscopy, multiphoton excitation fluorescence microscopy and
structured illumination systems

Image deconvolution, digital image restoration and 3-D reconstruction

3D image acquisition, display, and analysis

Live cell imaging

Laser microdissection and microcapture of tissues/cells for molecular biology.

Super-resolution techniques (4PI, STED, PALM, etc.)

Applications to live cells will be emphasized; other specimens will be covered as well.

Students will have direct hands-on experience with state-of-the-art microscopes,
video and digital cameras, photometers, and image acquisition/processing/analysis
software provided by major optical, electronics, and software companies. Instruction
will be provided by experienced staff from universities and industry.


For faculty list and additional information, see: http://www.mbl.edu