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IMAGES

a network for developers and users of imaging and analysis tools
 

The course takes place in the Laboratory of the Marine Biological Association from Wednesday 02 – Saturday 12 April 2014.

There will be 2–3 lectures each day throughout. Lectures will cover topics from basic optics, detectors and light sources through to photochemistry involved in the development of novel fluorescent probes and the application of advanced super-resolution optical microscopy techniques. The first 3 days will be spent setting up microscopes for brightfield and epifluorescence microscopy, including polarisation and interference contrast methods. The final 6 days will be organised in rotations around the 9 experiments listed below. The experiments will be in the large classroom at the MBA and in rooms nearby. Use will be made of marine specimens where possible and student may have an opportunity to trawl for benthos and plankton, depending on weather and availability of the MBA research vessel.


Developmental Biology

Experiments with confocal imaging.  CCD imaging and deconvolution, microinjection, genetically encoded probes, gene gun.

Cell Physiology

Confocal imaging with electrophysiology
CCD imaging with electrophysiology
Photolysis and photometry
Total internal reflection fluorescence imaging
Laser traps
Marine bioluminescence

Special demonstrations and hands-on exercises

  • Multi-photon and confocal imaging
  • Quantitative interference microscopy
  • Use of an optical bench for basic experiments on scanning and apertures
  • Spectroscopy and filters
  • Abbe’s experiments on the role of diffraction in microscope image formation with absorption and phase objects.

Preparations

Preparations used will include: invertebrate preparations (tunicates, molluscan neurones), zebra fish, mammalian brain slices, Fucus, Arabidopsis, and cell lines.

Poster Session

Students at the course will be invited to display a small poster of their current research and time will be allocated for presentation and discussion.

Applications

There is usually a 3:1 ratio of applications to places, and there will be up to 20 places on the course.

Please submit the Application Form by email, attaching your Curriculum Vitae and Research Project (giving a concise description of your research, your reasons for wishing to attend and your experience of techniques taught on the course) and PDF copy of a signed Letter of Recommendation on organisation letterheaded notepaper from an academic referee, preferably PhD supervisor or Head of Laboratory.   This letter should indicate how your research, the laboratory in which you work and the area of research that you intend to pursue will benefit from your participation on the course.

Please send these three parts to arrive no later than 15 January 2014: mbacourses@mba.ac.uk

Applicants who are visa dependent will need to apply for tourist visas.  Letters will be provided to those in need of supporting visa documentation.

Fees

There will be a registration fee for students accepted on the course of 400 Euros, but it may be possible to waive this fee in case of difficulty in paying, particularly for students from Eastern Europe.  Accommodation, breakfast and lunches are included.  Students who wish to request help towards fees should clearly indicate this in their application, and in their covering letter. However, candidates from industry who are accepted as students will be required to pay 1000 euro to the MBA.

Travel Costs

A very limited amount of funding for students’ travel costs will be available. This will be distributed according to country of origin, following EMBO guidelines. Students who wish to claim travel expenses should clearly indicate this in their application.

Timetable

Each day, there will be two lectures in the morning (probably 9.00 and 11.00), then practical work, and a lecture in the early evening, probably 6 pm.

Enquiries can be directed to mbacourses@mba.ac.uk

Date: 
Wednesday, 2 April, 2014 - 17:30 to Saturday, 12 April, 2014 - 17:30
Contact email: 
Contact phone: 
01223-769632
Event location: 
MBA Plymouth