Merritt Microscopy Program

[Gisele Giorgi]

Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal

Greetings.

I am writing to tell you about an innovative new program in the Bay Area:  the Merritt Microscopy Program (MMP).  This program was developed by Merritt College and an Advisory Board of local scientists and microscopy experts.   The current renaissance in fluorescence microscopy has created a strong demand for microscopists in biotech companies and academic research labs.  The MMP was implemented in order to respond to this need: our program will provide technicians, core directors and imaging specialists that are rigorously trained in the art and science of microscopy, along with other common lab techniques.

Merritt College is located in Oakland and is known for its leadership in scientific education.  The faculty of the MMP are experienced in both optical and electron microscopy, but we are currently focusing on optical microscopy:  the Certificate in Bioscience Microscopy is already underway.  I am the program director, and I obtained my PhD from the MCB department of UCB, completed a postdoc at LBL, and recently completely an intensive training course at MBL in optical microscopy.  Our faculty includes Dr. Dani Behonick (UCSF), Dr. Silvia Foppiano (UCSF), Dr. Hank Fabian (ISU, histology) and Professors Melinda Downing (M.S. in SEM), and Remington Stone (M.S. in EM).   The Bioscience Department of Merritt College also has a groundbreaking program in Genomics, thanks to an unprecedented donation of 28 MegaBase sequencers from the DOE, and partnerships with SFSU, UCB, and local genomics companies.

We have a large number of imaging systems and are in the process of purchasing several more.  We have imaging systems from all four of the major manufacturers, Zeiss, Nikon, Leica and Olypmus.  By August of this year, our equipment will include:  a confocal system, a spinning disk system with environmental chamber, 5 motorized widefield fluorescence systems that can be accessed remotely, 11 non-motorized widefield fluorescence systems, tissue culture facilities, standard molecular biology equipment. 

We are interested in developing ongoing partnerships with Bay Area labs and industries that perform any sort of scientific digital imaging.  We have the ability, for instance, to hold short, customized workshops for employee training or skill updates.
 
Our first group of students is already being trained through extensive hands-on experience with a variety of widefield fluorescence systems, a rigorous GLP course, and experience working with Nikon Elements, Axiovision, and Adobe Photoshop.  They are building a strong academic foundation in the theory behind microscopy, along with the actual practice of digital imaging.   They have also completed a course in "Bioscience Business Practices" with Professor Ken Smith (a former Merritt College student with IBM and Harvard training, who ran his own multi-million dollar business venture).  In the fall they will be trained on confocal microscopes and in tissue culture, IHC, more imaging software (Image Pro, Metamorph), and other basic cell and molecular biology lab techniques.  Our curriculum stresses oral presentation skills, teamwork, critical thinking, research design, creativity, versatility, ongoing learning, and the ability to troubleshoot. 

Our students are very enthusiastic and hardworking.  They come from a wide diversity of backgrounds:  we have students who have professional experience in SEM, photography, graphic arts, computer programming, and environmental technologies, along with students who are at the beginning their career paths.  Furthermore, this program reflects the tremendous diversity in ethnic, cultural and academic backgrounds for which our campus is known.

The Advisory Board for the MMP guides the curriculum so that it is always up-to-date and responsive the needs of future employers.  Board members represent expertise in imaging and training from a variety of perspectives.  They include:  Holly Aaron (MIC, UCB), Dr. Susan Catalano (Drug Discovery Imaging), Annette Chan (SFSU), Danielle Crippen (Buck Institute), Dr. Viktor Kharazia (Gallo Institute, UCSF), Derek Leong (Technical Instruments), John Jordan (Olympus), Jared Pache (Zeiss), Robert Moody (JH Technologies), Damir Sudar (LBL), Dr. Mark Voelker (Biotime, Inc.), Delilah F. Wood (USDA), Steve Brown (Improvision, Inc.), Rick Staples (Olympus), Alex Wahl (Zeiss).

How can your lab or company get involved?

v Attend our open house!
 
Saturday, May 24th, 1-5 p.m., Merritt College

This is a great opportunity to meet the faculty and students of the program, to tour the facilities, and to see student presentations.  For more information, please see the attached flyer.

v Host a summer intern

Our students are available for both full-time and part-time or short-term summer internships (including nights and weekends).  The purpose of this internship is to expose them to the scientific work environment.  We are interested in both paid and unpaid opportunities in a variety of settings.  If you can use an extra pair of helping hands this summer, please contact us!

Please see the attached flyer for more information. 

v Contact us for more information

We are very interested in developing ongoing partnerships with local labs and companies.   The best way to reach me initially is through email:  Gisèle Giorgi, [hidden email].


Please feel free to pass this information along to anyone else who might be interested in the possibility of hosting an intern, or of exploring a partnership with the program.

Thank you for your time and attention.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any inquiries.

Sincerely,
 
Gisèle Giorgi, Ph.D
Merritt Microscopy Program
510-409-4837
[hidden email]
www.merritt.edu/microscopy

[Masur, Sandra]

Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal

Sounds like a terrific program. Congratulations. Minor thing: Add California to Oakland in the text.

Best regards,

Sandy,

Sandra K. Masur, PhD
Director, Shared Research Facilities
http://www.mssm.edu/research/resources/srf.shtml

Associate Dean for Faculty Development
http://www.mssm.edu/forfaculty/development.

President, Women Faculty Group
http://www.mssm.edu/wfg

Professor, Ophthalmology

Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Box 1183
1 Gustave Levy Place
New York NY 10029-6574

telephone: [phone]
fax: [phone]

email: [hidden email]

----- Original Message -----
From: Gisele Eliane Giorgi <[hidden email]>
Date: Thursday, May 15, 2008 1:56 am
Subject: Merritt Microscopy Program
To: [hidden email]

> Search the CONFOCAL archive at
> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
>
> Greetings.
>
> I am writing to tell you about an innovative new program in the Bay
> Area:  the Merritt Microscopy Program (MMP).  This program was
> developed by Merritt College and an Advisory Board of local
> scientists and microscopy experts.   The current renaissance in
> fluorescence microscopy has created a strong demand for
> microscopists
> in biotech companies and academic research labs.  The MMP was
> implemented in order to respond to this need: our program will
> provide technicians, core directors and imaging specialists that
> are
> rigorously trained in the art and science of microscopy, along with
> other common lab techniques.
>
> Merritt College is located in Oakland and is known for its
> leadership
> in scientific education.  The faculty of the MMP are experienced in
> both optical and electron microscopy, but we are currently focusing
> on optical microscopy:  the Certificate in Bioscience Microscopy is
> already underway.  I am the program director, and I obtained my PhD
> from the MCB department of UCB, completed a postdoc at LBL, and
> recently completely an intensive training course at MBL in optical
> microscopy.  Our faculty includes Dr. Dani Behonick (UCSF), Dr.
> Silvia Foppiano (UCSF), Dr. Hank Fabian (ISU, histology) and
> Professors Melinda Downing (M.S. in SEM), and Remington Stone (M.S.
> in EM).   The Bioscience Department of Merritt College also has a
> groundbreaking program in Genomics, thanks to an unprecedented
> donation of 28 MegaBase sequencers from the DOE, and partnerships
> with SFSU, UCB, and local genomics companies.
>
> We have a large number of imaging systems and are in the process of
> purchasing several more.  We have imaging systems from all four of
> the major manufacturers, Zeiss, Nikon, Leica and Olypmus.  By
> August
> of this year, our equipment will include:  a confocal system, a
> spinning disk system with environmental chamber, 5 motorized
> widefield fluorescence systems that can be accessed remotely, 11
> non-motorized widefield fluorescence systems, tissue culture
> facilities, standard molecular biology equipment.
>
> We are interested in developing ongoing partnerships with Bay Area
> labs and industries that perform any sort of scientific digital
> imaging.  We have the ability, for instance, to hold short,
> customized workshops for employee training or skill updates.
>
> Our first group of students is already being trained through
> extensive hands-on experience with a variety of widefield
> fluorescence systems, a rigorous GLP course, and experience working
> with Nikon Elements, Axiovision, and Adobe Photoshop.  They are
> building a strong academic foundation in the theory behind
> microscopy, along with the actual practice of digital imaging.  
> They
> have also completed a course in "Bioscience Business Practices"
> with
> Professor Ken Smith (a former Merritt College student with IBM and
> Harvard training, who ran his own multi-million dollar business
> venture).  In the fall they will be trained on confocal microscopes
> and in tissue culture, IHC, more imaging software (Image Pro,
> Metamorph), and other basic cell and molecular biology lab
> techniques.  Our curriculum stresses oral presentation skills,
> teamwork, critical thinking, research design, creativity,
> versatility, ongoing learning, and the ability to troubleshoot.
>
> Our students are very enthusiastic and hardworking.  They come from
> a
> wide diversity of backgrounds:  we have students who have
> professional experience in SEM, photography, graphic arts, computer
> programming, and environmental technologies, along with students
> who
> are at the beginning their career paths.  Furthermore, this program
> reflects the tremendous diversity in ethnic, cultural and academic
> backgrounds for which our campus is known.
>
> The Advisory Board for the MMP guides the curriculum so that it is
> always up-to-date and responsive the needs of future employers.
> Board members represent expertise in imaging and training from a
> variety of perspectives.  They include:  Holly Aaron (MIC, UCB),
> Dr.
> Susan Catalano (Drug Discovery Imaging), Annette Chan (SFSU),
> Danielle Crippen (Buck Institute), Dr. Viktor Kharazia (Gallo
> Institute, UCSF), Derek Leong (Technical Instruments), John Jordan
> (Olympus), Jared Pache (Zeiss), Robert Moody (JH Technologies),
> Damir
> Sudar (LBL), Dr. Mark Voelker (Biotime, Inc.), Delilah F. Wood
> (USDA), Steve Brown (Improvision, Inc.), Rick Staples (Olympus),
> Alex
> Wahl (Zeiss).
>
> How can your lab or company get involved?
>
> v Attend our open house!
>
> Saturday, May 24th, 1-5 p.m., Merritt College
>
> This is a great opportunity to meet the faculty and students of the
> program, to tour the facilities, and to see student presentations.
> For more information, please see the attached flyer.
>
> v Host a summer intern
>
> Our students are available for both full-time and part-time or
> short-term summer internships (including nights and weekends).  The
> purpose of this internship is to expose them to the scientific work
> environment.  We are interested in both paid and unpaid
> opportunities
> in a variety of settings.  If you can use an extra pair of helping
> hands this summer, please contact us!
>
> Please see the attached flyer for more information.
>
> v Contact us for more information
>
> We are very interested in developing ongoing partnerships with
> local
> labs and companies.   The best way to reach me initially is through
> email:  Gisèle Giorgi, [hidden email].
>
>
> Please feel free to pass this information along to anyone else who
> might be interested in the possibility of hosting an intern, or of
> exploring a partnership with the program.
>
> Thank you for your time and attention.  Please do not hesitate to
> contact me with any inquiries.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Gisèle Giorgi, Ph.D
> Merritt Microscopy Program
> 510-409-4837
> [hidden email]
> www.merritt.edu/microscopy
>
>
>
>