Target group:
PhD and Postdoc students in the Life Sciences.

Content:
This course is composed of lectures, practical training, and demonstrations on the following topics:

• Basic microscopy
• Fluorescence (spectroscopic) microscopy
• Confocal laser scanning laser microscopy
• Light sheet microscopy
• High-throughput microscopy
• Super-resolution microscopy (with a focus on STED)
• Multiphoton laser scanning laser microscopy
• Vital imaging of cells and tissues
• Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)
• Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM)
• Sample preparation and clearing
• 3D image restoration and image processing

Approach:
Theoretical lectures will be provided in the morning sessions, while practical training and demonstrations are planned in the afternoon. You will have the opportunity to discuss your results or view your own microscopic preparations with experts in the field.
The course will end with a one day symposium, the annual Maastricht Microscopy Meeting (MMM) on Advanced Optical Microscopy.

Examination:
At the start of the course students will receive by email an open question, dealing with a cell biological problem that should be solved by using microscopic techniques and proper preparation of the sample. Students may do this assignment individually or in small groups.

Min/Max students:
Maximum 20 participants

Coordinator:
Prof.dr. Marc van Zandvoort, Dept. of Molecular Cell Biology,
Maastricht University Medical Center, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht,
tel: +31 43 3881361, mamj.vanzandvoort@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Teaching staff:
M. van Zandvoort, J. Broers, D. Kapsokalyvas, T. Rademakers, and others (to be announced).