Core Facility Management

• Why should universities invest in core facilities
• Demonstrating the value of core facilities
• Models of core facilities administration
• Core facilities job categories
• Core facilities require skilled full time employees
• Core facilities require dedicated laboratory space
• Institutional support for core facilities
• Institutional evaluation of core facilities
• External evalution of core facilities
• External partnerships with core facilities

• Introduction to leasing of microscopes
• Advantages of leasing compared to purchasing
• Example of successful leasing program at Harvard Center for Biological Imaging called Evergreen Program
• Disadvantages of leasing compared to purchasing

1. Developing a Sustainable Portfolio of Core Facilities: Hockberger et al. (2018). Building a Sustainable Portfolio of Core Facilities: a Case Study. Journal of Biomolecular Techniques. 29(3):79-92.
2. Leasing versus Buying Scientific Instruments: Wang and Richardson (2020). To buy or to lease. EMBO reports, volume 21.

1. Developing a Sustainable Portfolio of Core Facilities: Turku BioImaging
2. Leasing versus Buying Scientific Instruments: Global BioImaging in collaboration with Canada BioImaging

MyScope is an online learning platform developed by Microscopy Australia (https://micro.org.au/). MyScope provides in-depth information into topics focused on light microscopy and electron microscopy. In addition, MyScope provides an opportunity to operate a virtual high-end microscope mimicking real life experience. MyScope can be used by researchers interested in learning microscopy technologies and by staff of imaging core facilities within the context of user training.

• Module 1: Microscopy Basics
• Module 2: Scanning Electron Microscopy
• Module 3: Transmission Electron Microscopy
• Module 4: X-ray Diffraction
• Module 5: Scanning Probe & Atomic Force Microscopy
• Module 6: Light Microscopy
• Module 7: Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy
• Module 8: Atom Probe Tomography
• Module 9: Focused Ion Beam
• Module 10: Work Health and Safety

BioImaging North America (BINA) is a network of bioimaging communities across North America in Canada, United States, and Mexico. BINA is actively developing a training resource that contains curated list of training material useful for researchers using microscopy and staff of imaging core facilities.

iBiology provides open access to free video content including the content that focuses on the topic of light microscopy. Over 70 high quality videos that cover many topics including introduction to microscopy, large number of microscopy technologies from laser scanning confocal microscopy to super-resolution imaging to light sheet microscopy, and image analysis are delivered by world leading instructors from all over the globe.

• Introduction (2 videos)
• Image Formation (19 videos)
• Contrast Generation for Transmitted Light (7 videos)
• Fluorescence Microscopy (26 videos)
• Robotics, Detection and Image Analysis (8 videos)
• Specialized Microscopy (10 videos)

Full table of contents can be accessed here.

Andor Microscopy Training consists of free video lectures that cover essential light microscopy topics available to everyone.

• Lesson 1: The History of Microscopy
• Lesson 2: Transmitted Light Microscopy
• Lesson 3: Microscopy Cameras - Fundamentals of Digital Imaging and Sensor Technologies
• Lesson 4: Microscopy Cameras - Comparing Camera Technologies and Matching Them to Applications
• Lesson 5: Principles of Fluorescence Light Microscopy
• Lesson 6: Principles in Confocal Microscopy
• Lesson 7: Sample Preparation for Immunohistochemistry
• Lesson 8: Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy
• Lesson 9 and 10: Super-Resolution Microscopy

Below is a list of excellent resources in Light Microscopy:

• Nikon MicroscopyU
• Zeiss Campus
• Leica Science Lab
• Olympus Microscopy Resource Center
• Molecular Expressions Optical Microscopy Primer

Below is a simplified list of overarching topics that are provided in these resources. The actual list of topics covered on these resources is significantly larger.

• Basic microscopy
• Fluorescent proteins & dyes
• Microscope light sources & detectors
• Optical sectioning & confocal microscopy
• Spectral imaging
• Superresolution microscopy
• Light-sheet microscopy
• Live-cell imaging
• Interactive tutorials & animations

1. Introduction to MyScope: Microscopy Australia