Microscopy Courses
A number of in-depth microscopy courses are offered annually, both near and far. Here is a small selection of courses recommended by the HCBI.
HCBI Tissue Clearing Workshop
Where: Harvard Center for Biological Imaging, Cambridge, MA
When: Biennially (currently on hold)
Description: The HCBI Tissue Clearing Workshop is a 3-day intensive course covering all aspects of Tissue Clearing. Each day consists of morning lectures and hands-on wet lab or microscopy experimentation in the afternoon. In addition, evening social events allow time for networking with colleagues. This course is limited to 40 attendees.
Website: https://hcbi.fas.harvard.edu/tcw2024
Practical Light Microscopy Courses
Where: Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA
When: Annually in Spring
Description: A comprehensive and intensive course in light microscopy for researchers in biology, medicine, and material sciences. This course provides a systematic and in-depth examination of the theory of image formation and the application of video and digital methods for exploring subtle interactions between light and the specimen. This course emphasizes the quantitative issues that are critical to the proper interpretation of images obtained with modern wide-field and confocal microscopes. This course is limited to 32 students.
Website: https://www.mbl.edu/education/advanced-research-training-courses/course-offerings/analytical-and-quantitative-light-microscopy
Where: Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA
When: Annually in Fall
This course is designed for research scientists, postdoctoral trainees, and advanced graduate students in animal, plant, medical, and material sciences. Non-biologists seeking a comprehensive introduction to light microscopy and digital imaging will benefit greatly from the course. Both theoretical and practical fundamentals are stressed. An understanding of the basic principles of optics and/or some previous experience with light microscopes and imaging is highly desirable.
Website: https://www.mbl.edu/education/advanced-research-training-courses/course…
Where: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor NY.
When: Annually in Spring
Description: This course will focus on advanced quantitative fluorescence microscopy techniques for imaging various biological specimens, from cells to single molecules. The course is designed for cell and molecular biologists with little or no microscopy experience, who wish to begin utilizing microscopy in their own research. Students will gain a theoretical understanding of, and hands-on experience with, state-of-the-art equipment used in quantitative fluorescence microscopy, including: laser scanning and spinning disk confocal microscopy, deconvolution methods, total internal fluorescence microscopy (TIRF), super-resolution methods (structured illumination, STORM, and PALM), multi-photon microscopy, light sheet microscopy, and digital image processing and analysis.
Website: http://meetings.cshl.edu/courses.html
Where: McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
When: Bi-annually in Summer
Description: MLMC is designed to provide one week of advanced instruction in optical microscopy. Students, fellows, technical staff and research scientists are welcome to attend. Lectures will be presented in the morning, while the afternoons will be devoted towards hands-on sessions with a variety of optical microscopy techniques. Interested students can apply for one of the thirty-six spots available. Lectures will be presented by experts in optical microscopy drawn from the academic, government, and industrial sectors. Afternoon laboratory sessions build on the morning lectures.
Specialized Courses
Where: Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA
When: Annually in Summer
Description: An intensive and comprehensive laboratory-oriented course in cellular and molecular neurobiology intended for predoctoral students, postdoctoral or clinical researchers, and young investigators beginning independent research careers. Limited to 14 students. A hallmark of this course is the extensive lab work done in close collaboration with expert faculty. The course is divided into three sections: Electrophysiology, Imaging, and Molecular Neurobiology. These are taught by separate groups of faculty, usually six in each section, and with many guest lecturers. Each section begins with specific training in core laboratory techniques; students then undertake one- to two-week directed or independent projects using the methods they have learned. Didactic lectures are combined with laboratory experience in order to establish a strong conceptual foundation for each section. A typical day has 3 hours of lecture and 10 hours of lab.
Website: https://www.mbl.edu/education/advanced-research-training-courses/course-offerings
Where: Max Planck Florida Institute, Jupiter, FL
When: Biennially in Winter
Description: This is an intensive and comprehensive laboratory-oriented course focusing on applying imaging techniques to neuroscience research. Participants will gain theory and practical knowledge of latest microscopy techniques, from the principles of optics to applications in modern neuroscience. The course includes lectures in the morning and laboratory sections in the afternoon and evening. Students will rotate through laboratory sections focused on different microscopy techniques and then focus on one or two approaches for the remainder of the course.
Website: https://www.mpfi.org/training/advanced-neuroimaging/
Where: MDI Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor ME
When: Annually in Spring/Summer
Description: This course brings together innovators in microscopy from academic institutes, industry, and federal laboratories to share and brainstorm the latest developments taking place in light-sheet research and its biological applications. The Course will be useful to all researchers interested in utilizing optical imaging to their specific research, while the in-person Workshop will be beneficial to graduate students, postdocs, young investigators and core facility managers.
Website: https://mdibl.org/course/lsfm-2025/