Plant Imaging: Advanced Light Microscopy

8-9 March 2018

Sonia Accossato, PhD student (University of Neuchâtel)

Dr. Sylvain Loubéry (University of Geneva, Plant Imaging Unit)

Dr. Christoph Bauer (University of Geneva, Bioimaging Center)

Dr. Sylvain Loubéry (University of Geneva, Plant Imaging Unit)

The course will focus on light microscopy, and the objective of the course is two-fold:

- to acquire or strengthen basic knowledge of the most common methods of plant optical imaging (including sample preparation and staining)

- to acquire or strengthen basic skills in image acquisition and in image analysis Part of the course will consist in lectures (basic and advanced optical microscopy, sample preparation, image analysis) and part of it will consist in hands-on sessions (confocal and widefield microscopy, image analysis).

During the hands-on sessions, all participants will use three different set-ups: a CLSM confocal, a spinning-disc confocal and a widefield microscope. Participants are welcome to bring their own samples. This training course will be of value to anyone wanting to gain hands-on experience of modern confocal techniques. In addition to the hands-on component, the course will include tutorials on the theory and practice of current plant imaging techniques. The Plant Imaging Unit at UniGE is experimented in a variety of plant microscopy modalities. Participants will have the opportunity to exercise during the practical session.

Prerequisites: The participants are expected to have prior experience with microscopy. Participants will be asked to bring their own laptops for the image analysis hand-on session. 

University of Geneva, Building “Sciences II/Sciences III”, quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, room TBA

Map

PROGRAM

First day (8 March)

9h00: Registration

9h15-10h15: Introduction + participants talk (3 minutes/participant to describe his/her background and what are the techniques that are of particular interest to him/her)

10h15-10h30: Coffee break

10h30-12h00: Lecture "Fluorescence microscopy" (principles of widefield and confocal microscopes, acquisition parameters, deconvolution, light-sheet microscopy)

12h00-13h00: Lunch break

13h00-17h00: Hands-on in rotation in groups of 3: 1h30 on a classical confocal, 1h15 on a spinning-disc confocal, 1h15 on a widefield microscope (to see Koehler alignment, DIC setting, and how fluorescence filter cubes look like and how to change them)

Second day (9 March)

9h00-11h00: Lecture "Image analysis and Fiji"

11h00-11h15: Coffee break

11h15-12h15: External speaker or lecture "Sample preparation" (clearing methods, immuno-stainings, tips and tricks)

12h15-13h30: Lunch break

13h30-15h00: Hands-on "Image analysis and Fiji"

15h00-16h00: Debriefing/Final questions

Program (PDF)

For further information please visit the DP-Biol webpage or contact the DP-Biol program coordinator Sara Santi.

Fees & Reimbursements

Fees: registration is free
Reimbursements for CUSO MPS Students: Train ticket, 2°class, half-fare from your institution to the place of the activity. NO reimbursement for your meal expenses (New directives 2018).

Reimbursement form attached with original tickets has to be sent to the MPS coordinator Zoia Debora at University of Lausanne, Department of Molecular Plant Biology, Biophore - quartier UNIL-Sorge, 1015 Lausanne.
For any question concerning reimbursement please contact the CUSO MPS coordinator Debora Zoia.

This course is free and open to PhD students. Until 13 February 2018 priority is given to Interuniversity doctoral program in organismal biology and CUSO doctoral program in Molecular Plants Science participants who need microscopy skills for their current or future projects.

Deadline for registration: 20 february 2018
Registration through the DP-Biol website

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