Microscopy & Digital Imaging
  • Type Learning
  • Level Foundational
  • Time Weeks

Microscopy & Digital Imaging

Issued by University of New England

Earners become proficient with state-of-the-art imaging instrumentation and techniques: transmitted light microscopy, widefield epifluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy, image collection, and image analysis of biological samples. Proficiency will be demonstrated in a culminating product of the earner's accomplishments that would be integrated into a specific research project overseen by a UNE Principal Investigator, and feature a figure(s) suitable for publication.

  • Type Learning
  • Level Foundational
  • Time Weeks

Skills

Earning Criteria

  • Prepared biological samples will be analyzed by Transmitted Light Microscopy. Learner will be trained on the operation of the transmitted light microscope  Use Nikon e800 or Leica DM2500 to demonstrate brightfield, Keyence to demonstrate phase contrast. Earners will learn and operate to collect an image. Earners then demonstrate their skills, evaluate their progress and create a new product using refined techniques.
  • Prepared biological samples will be analyzed by Widefield Epifluorescence Microscopy. Learner will be trained on the operation of the widefield microscope using DM2500 and Olympus VS200 to demonstrate. Learner will learn and operate to collect an image. Earners then demonstrate their skills, evaluate their progress and create a new product using refined techniques.
  • Prepared biological samples will  be analyzed by Confocal Microscopy.  Learner will be trained on the operation of the confocal microscope  Use Leica TCS SP5 confocal to demonstrate principles and operation of LSCM. Student will learn and observe only, but images will be acquired. Earners then demonstrate their skills, evaluate their progress and create a new product using refined techniques.
  • Specialized software and images included in prior competencies will be analyzed using principles of Digital Image Analysis. Learner will collect digital images using an area detector (camera) and point detector (PMT) in the course of learning each microscopy technique. Learner will learn about fundamentals of digital image processing, extract data from an example image, and provide a written method for the analysis used.