6th NorMIC Imaging Workshop – Course in Advanced Light Microscopy and Image Processing

May 25-28, 2021

Virtual, IBV & Zoom

Registration closes May 24, 2021
The NorMIC series of workshops aims to teach biological researchers (PhD students, postdocs and young PIs) the principles of biological microscopes and image processing.

GWNIC Correlative Light & Electron Microscopy Workshop

Postponed to June 2021

Washington, DC

The main theme of this workshop is correlating large-area images of the same sample created with both light and high-resolution electron microscopy.

It will be geared towards microscopists who are interested in learning new techniques for special projects or who are in the market for new instruments, particularly those who are interested in utilizing large area imaging in their research.

Optical Microscopy and Imaging in the Biomedical Sciences (OMIBS), MBL Woods Hole

August 19-29, 2021

Woods Hole, MA

This course is designed primarily for research scientists, postdoctoral trainees, core facility directors/staff and graduate students working in the biological sciences. Biologists and physicists alike seeking a comprehensive introduction to microscopy and digital imaging will benefit greatly from the course. This 9-day course is limited to 24 students to ensure a truly interactive, hands-on experience. It consists of interrelated lectures, laboratory exercises, demonstrations, and discussions that will enable the participants to obtain and interpret high quality microscope data, to understand and assess potential artifacts, to perform quantitative optical measurements, and to generate digital images for documentation and analysis that accurately present the data. The course also places a strong emphasis on appropriate sample preparation, including choice of fluorescent probes and fluorescent proteins, and tissue clearing and refractive index matching. Particular emphasis will be placed on ‘picking the right tool for the job’.

Topics to be covered include:

Fundamental principles of microscope design, image formation, resolution and contrast;
Transmitted light and fluorescence microscopy techniques;
Cameras, signal to noise ratio, digital image recording, processing and analysis, multispectral imaging;
Advanced fluorescence – fluorescent probes, fluorescent biosensors, TIRF, FRET, FLIM, FRAP, polarization of fluorescence, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy;
Digital image restoration/deconvolution, and 3-D imaging principles;
Confocal and multiphoton laser scanning microscopy and light-sheet microscopy;
Super-resolution techniques including localization microscopy, stimulated emission depletion microscopy (STED), and structured illumination microscopy.
Students will have direct hands-on experience with state-of-the-art microscopes, a variety of digital cameras, and image processing software provided by major optical, electronics, and software companies. Instruction will be provided by experienced staff from universities and industry. Students are encouraged to bring their own, fixed biological specimens, and to discuss individual research problems with the faculty.

EXCITE Zurich Summer School on Biomedical Imaging

September 6-17, 2021

Zurich, Switzerland

Who should apply? The summer school addresses excellent MSc and PhD students as well as scientists from industry with background in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, medical science or physics. It follows a challenging and demanding schedule. We plan to admit about 60-80 participants (internally and from abroad).

What will you learn? The EXCITE summer school is dedicated to teaching the basics and wider context necessary to understand recent advances and current challenges in biological and medical imaging. Cutting-edge techniques using a wide range of image-formation mechanisms — including magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, infrared and optical microscopy, electron microscopy and X-ray imaging — will be discussed, with a focus on multimodal and multiscale imaging methods, together with supporting technologies such as computer-aided image analysis and modelling.

What is the structure? The summer school will provide different tracks for participants with a background in life sciences and physical sciences, respectively. The students will have lectures in the morning and hands-on sessions in the afternoon. The highlight is a full-day project in a topic of choice within an academic institution or institute. The program is rounded off with the EXCITE Symposium on “Digital Twins: generating predictive models from imaging data” and an industry day.

How do I attend? Admission is decided based on the applicant’s curriculum vitae, a statement of purpose and applicant’s references. Students who have not yet started a PhD program may apply for a stipend. Interested students are kindly asked to submit their application pack including their study grades and reference letter on our homepage (