Confocal Microscopy

5.0 hp

2025-12-01 - 2025-12-23

Uppsala

English

Application Code: SLU-F0054

Course Code: PNS0138

Application deadline: 2025-11-28

Course facts

Credits: 5.0 credits
Course code: PNS0138
Application deadline: 2025-11-28
Study location: Uppsala
Form of instruction: Campus-based instruction
Course language: English
Responsible Department/Equivalent: Department of Plant Biology
Rate of study: 100 %

PNS0138, Confocal Microscopy, 5.0 Hp
Print syllabus

Syllabus

Level

Third cycle

Grading Scale

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Course language

English

Entry Requirements

The practical part of the course is primarily intended for PhD students within the SLU Graduate School Organism Biology, but will be open for all interested PhD students and researchers if space allows. All lectures will be carried out as open events, no registration is required to attend the theoretical part of the course.

Objectives

After the course students will be able:

to choose the optimal microscopy method for a given task
to plan an experiment with controls which will not rely on "seeing is believing" concept
to perform confocal microscopy
to use ZEN and ImageJ software for image analysis
produce publication-quality images

Content

The course includes a solid theoretical background in confocal microscopy in form of lectures and seminars. Students will have an opportunity to learn from experts who are running microscopy facilities at SciLifeLab and from researchers who are developing cutting edge microscopy technologies. All students will get hands-on experience with confocal microscope and will have an introduction to two-photon, SIM and LightSheet microscopes. The course will provide opportunities for students to visit microscopy facilities available in Uppsala and also learn about other technologies available in Sweden and abroad. Students will be introduced to a set of available software for image analysis including Carl Zeiss ZEN and open source ImageJ.

Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course

A student should attend at least 80% of lectures and seminars and complete the practical part of the course. During the practical part students will work in small groups. An experiment for each group will be planned in advance to introduce students to advantages and disadvantages of different confocal microscopes. Each student will have to write a brief report in form of a materials and methods chapter plus a figure, prepared as it would be for a publication. In addition, each group will give an oral presentation at the final seminar and discuss with other groups.

Responsible Department/Equivalent

Department of Plant Biology

Supplementary information

Other Information

The course is organized by Adrian Dauphinee and Stefanie Rosa on behalf of the SLU graduate schools Organism Biology and Focus on food and biomaterials. Maximum 15 students per course occasion.

Contact

Course coordinator: Adrian Dauphinee