In recognition of International Women’s Day, I would like to highlight the German-American physicist Maria Goeppert-Mayer (1906-1972). Goeppert-Mayer started off in mathematics but was inspired to switch to physics after attending a quantum mechanics seminar presented...
Multicolour fluorescence imaging, when rigorously applied, allows the selective visualization of two or more features within a sample. The qualification “when rigorously applied” is so important because multicolour imaging is prone to artifacts. For multicolour...
Developing expertise in microscopy, like for any technical field, requires mastering fundamental concepts and skills while also developing fluency in the specific jargon. Although jargon can be convenient for facilitating communication, it often creates barriers for...
This month we share some reflections from Grace Baruta, who is a PhD candidate in the Hirota Laboratory at the University of Calgary. I have known Grace since she was a summer student, and she has always taken the time to research options and map out an approach, from...
So far, we’ve touched on the mindset, planning, and decisions required when carrying out imaging experiments. To highlight this framework with a real-life example, I have invited Louise Neave to share some of her experiences as a researcher new to imaging. Louise is a...
Building on the last post, let’s focus on the initial steps of the experimental workflow and how to transfer these concepts into practice. Your research aims are the foundation, and they will guide your choice of model and define the type of information needed from...
Though looking through a microscope can inspire, applying the technology to our own research questions can be intimidating. Like any field, optical microscopy has its own language, jargon, and conceptual framework, but is rarely taught in academic programs. To learn...
Welcome to “Microscopy Field Notes”, a new blog created to help life science researchers navigate the inspiring world of optical microscopy. My name is Pina Colarusso, and I have been working as an optical microscopist over the past twenty years.