Images from the high-end microscopes found in the ORP Imaging Cores - Optical feature prominently in this story about the research being done in the Plant Sciences laboratory of Dr. Alexander Bucksch. https://news.arizona.edu/news/cool-beans-smart-roots-scientists-discover-new-cell-helps-seedlings-survive-drought-battered

The ORP Core Facilities Pilot Program is designed to support three key types of activity within the ORP-managed core facilities. Each CFPP proposal will be evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, and should focus on one or more of the following activity types:

1. The development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of ORP-managed core facilities and potentially impact multiple UA researchers. Successful projects will result in new methods or techniques which will be disseminated to the UA research community via the core’s website, and be incorporated into the core’s standard operating procedures and capabilities.
2. The acquisition of preliminary data needed for extramural proposals. Successful projects will result in at least one new extramural research proposal. PIs must note the specific extramural funding opportunity announcement for which they plan to submit and their anticipated submission date along with their CFPP application. A full justification of the anticipated studies is required.
3. The technical training of students conducting research under existing extramural funding. Successful projects will result in student researchers with the technical skills to operate equipment safely, efficiently and independently within the core facility(ies). PIs should note the student(s) to be trained, the core(s) in which they will be trained, the equipment on which they are to be trained, and the funding source under which the student’s research project is funded. Proposals to train students from traditionally marginalized groups will be given funding priority.

For additional information and to apply, see Arizona Cultivate.

The ORP Core Facilities Pilot Program is designed to support three key types of activity within the ORP-managed core facilities. Each CFPP proposal will be evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, and should focus on one or more of the following activity types:

1. The development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of ORP-managed core facilities and potentially impact multiple UA researchers. Successful projects will result in new methods or techniques which will be disseminated to the UA research community via the core’s website, and be incorporated into the core’s standard operating procedures and capabilities.
2. The acquisition of preliminary data needed for extramural proposals. Successful projects will result in at least one new extramural research proposal. PIs must note the specific extramural funding opportunity announcement for which they plan to submit and their anticipated submission date along with their CFPP application. A full justification of the anticipated studies is required.
3. The technical training of students conducting research under existing extramural funding. Successful projects will result in student researchers with the technical skills to operate equipment safely, efficiently and independently within the core facility(ies). PIs should note the student(s) to be trained, the core(s) in which they will be trained, the equipment on which they are to be trained, and the funding source under which the student’s research project is funded. Proposals to train students from traditionally marginalized groups will be given funding priority.

For additional information and to apply, see Arizona Cultivate.

The ORP Core Facilities Pilot Program is designed to support three key types of activity within the ORP-managed core facilities. Each CFPP proposal will be evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, and should focus on one or more of the following activity types:

1. The development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of ORP-managed core facilities and potentially impact multiple UA researchers. Successful projects will result in new methods or techniques which will be disseminated to the UA research community via the core’s website, and be incorporated into the core’s standard operating procedures and capabilities.
2. The acquisition of preliminary data needed for extramural proposals. Successful projects will result in at least one new extramural research proposal. PIs must note the specific extramural funding opportunity announcement for which they plan to submit and their anticipated submission date along with their CFPP application. A full justification of the anticipated studies is required.
3. The technical training of students conducting research under existing extramural funding. Successful projects will result in student researchers with the technical skills to operate equipment safely, efficiently and independently within the core facility(ies). PIs should note the student(s) to be trained, the core(s) in which they will be trained, the equipment on which they are to be trained, and the funding source under which the student’s research project is funded. Proposals to train students from traditionally marginalized groups will be given funding priority.

For additional information and to apply, see Arizona Cultivate.

Carl Zeiss Inc and the RII Imaging Cores Optical invite you to the Apotome Open House on April 10, 2025. The Zeiss Axio Observer 7 with Apotome III is a relatively new instrument located in the Life Sciences North building. The microscope combines the capability of capturing multi-channel fluorescence images in either widefield mode or as crisp optical sections, much like a confocal microscope. In addition, the microscope can capture color brightfield and polarized light images. The easy to use AI sample finder function makes tile scanning of unstained tissue sections simple to set up.

Schedule

• 10:00am-10:30am - a short presentation (in LSN 452) by Brandon Chechile on the capabilities of the instrument
• 11:00am-4:00pm - reserve time to see a free hands-on demonstration of the microscope with your samples (in LSN 429)

To reserve time, please contact Brandon Chechile Brandon.Chechile@zeiss.com (Zeiss account manager for Southern AZ)

If you have questions about the Apotome or the RII Imaging Cores - Optical, please reach out to Doug Cromey at 520-626-2824 or dcromey@arizona.edu 

Life Sciences North building - U of A campus map

After a five year hiatus, facility managers from several microscopy cores will again be offering the Introduction to Scientific Digital Images workshop. This free, half-day workshop is intended for faculty, staff, post-doc, graduate students, and upper division undergrads who work with digital image data. 

The scientific news has regularly included examples of inappropriate image manipulation, leading to retractions of high-profile publications and the loss of reputation (for some). While there will always be those who choose to try to cheat the system, our goal is to educate scientists who may not have much experience or expertise in working with images, so that they can make good choices when working with digital image data.

For more information (and to register), see the workshop home page - https://microscopy.arizona.edu/dig_image_workshop/index

Imaging Cores - Optical co-manager Doug Cromey, MS, was the invited speaker for the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities, online AI & Bioimaging Community Discussions (ABCD) on July 8, 2025. Doug's presentation Scientific Image Ethics: hazards on the road from Photoshop to AI was well received and will be available on the ABRF Youtube channel.