Cellular Imaging: Electron Microscopy from A to W Course – January 17-21, 2022

Format and program

4 Days practical training at WUR and AMC locations and a final day with presentations of participants, guest lectures on advance d microscopy and concluding reception. 8 PhD students will start the course at WUR and 8 PhD students at AMC. On Wednesday, students will change to the other course location. The final day for all participants will be hosted at WUR.

Introduction

In recent years, Electron Microscopy (EM) has rapidly developed as a powerful research tool for high resolution imaging, leading to high ranking papers, a Nobel prize and recently in The Netherlands to a big NWO award. New, more powerful electron microscopes and the possibility to work at very low temperatures ( cryo EM), have made it possible to achieve atomic resolutions. In addition, combined light and electron microscopy (CLEM; correlative microscopy) now allows precise detection of fluorescently labelled molecules in high resolution images of cells and tissues.

During this course, you will be introduced to all these novel developments. You will learn to use both transmission (TEM) as well as scanning electron microscopes (SEM) with different detectors. You will perform classical techniques for specimen preparation, like resin embedding of cells and tissues and negative staining of small structures like virus particles, as well as cryo techniques for both TEM and SEM. The course will also include tips and tricks to perform CLEM.

Aim and scope

After this course, you will have insight into the possibilities of electron microscopy as a research tool and are able to decide whether you should use SEM, TEM or CLEM for your analysis. You will be able to operate an EM at basic level, make images and perform basic techniques of sample preparation. To benefit optimally from this course you will need some understanding of microscopes in general, but it is not necessary to have experience with EM.

Deliverables

  1. Understanding the principles of electron optics and structure of TEM and SEM
  2. Basic operation of TEM and SEM
  3. Application of sample preparation techniques for TEM and SEM
  4. Imaging and data collection with the EM and critical interpretation of these data.

Scheduled date:

17-21 January 2022

Participants:

16 PhD students from AMC UvA , EPS or WUR. AMC and WUR PhD students will get preferred access but all PhD students, postdocs can attend when places are available.

Language:

The course is given in English.

Study load:

44 hours, which is comparable with 1.6 ECTS points.

Course organizers:

Marcel Giesbers (WUR), Nicole van der Wel (AMC)

For more info about the course please contact:

Electron Microscopy Center Amsterdam: Nicole van der Wel:

Wageningen Electron Microscopy Center: Marcel Giesbers:

Registration for AMC UvA PhD students:

Please register at : courses.medischebiologie and supply a short motivational letter (1/2 A4)

or email Claudia Rhebergen, email: