Getting the most out of our microscopes requires careful experimental design and sample preparation. We are available to discuss your research needs, review your plans, suggest changes that could improve your images, and steer you towards an instrument that is best suited to your needs (even if it is in another core). Please contact us to talk about your research needs.

Some of our microscopes can be used for BSL2 research. DO NOT SHOW UP WITH A BSL2 SAMPLE WITHOUT FIRST CLEARING IT WITH THE ON-SITE CORE MANAGER!

If your questions require us to do additional in-depth research, we are happy to do that. There may need to be a labor charge for this extra work, but that can be discussed up front.

This workstation is only available to users already trained on the Zeiss LSM880 microscopes. The PC is a Hewlett-Packard Z6 workstation with an 8 core Intel Xeon CPU, 64GB of RAM, 12TB of data storage (RAID 10), running Windows 10 (64 bit) with a licensed version of the Zeiss ZEN software for data processing (stitching, spectral unmixing, etc.) and FIJI (ImageJ).

Programmable microwave tissue processor, with continuous power settings from 100-750 Watts, load cooling to maintain consistent temperatures, with built-in fume extraction and vacuum.

The microwave is useful for:

• improved tissue fixation
• improved retention of fluorescence after fixation
• for more rapid tissue processing for immunocytochemistry
• electron microscopy
• decalcification.

The Zeiss LSM 880 NLO upright multiphoton/confocal microscope includes a 34-channel detector for spectral information and additional non-descanned GAsP detectors. The system includes 7 visible spectrum laser lines (405, 458, 488, 514, 561, 633 nm), plus an additional software-tunable Spectra Physics Mai Tai HP DeepSee laser (690-1040 nm). The system includes software modules for controlled region-of-interest scanning, deconvolution, physiology experiments, performing FRAP & FCS and control of the motorized stage to allow stitching together images from multiple fields of view into one larger image (montage). The software also enables visiting multiple sites during a time lapse acquisition, and the instrument includes an environmental chamber suitable for live cell imaging at a variety of temperatures. Wet lab space is available to users of the facility in an adjacent room, including cell culture incubators and a biosafety hood.

NOTE: BSL2 samples must be discussed with the on-site core manager BEFORE they arrive in the facility. Live animals - invertebrates only!

The Fast Airyscan allows for resolution improvement up to 1.9x of typical confocal resolution and the fast mode sacrifices a bit of resolution for speed (useful for live cell imaging). The scanhead includes a 34-channel detector for spectral information.

The Zeiss LSM 880 inverted confocal microscope includes a 34-channel detector for spectral information, and 7 Laser lines (405, 458, 488, 514, 561, 594, 633nm). The system includes additional software modules for performing FRAP and control for the motorized stage to allow stitching together images from multiple fields of view into one larger image (montage), as well as visiting multiple sites during a time lapse acquisition. The instrument includes an environmental chamber suitable for live cell imaging at a variety of temperatures, humidity and CO2 capabilities. The facility has wet lab space, cell culture incubators, and a biosafety hood in an adjacent room.

NOTE: BSL2 samples must be discussed with the on-site core manager BEFORE they arrive in the facility.

Objective lenses (with matching DIC prisms) include:

• Plan-Apochromat 10x/0.45 (WD=2.0mm)
• Plan-Apochromat 20x/0.8 (WD=0.55mm)
• Plan-Apochromat 40x/1.3 Oil
• Plan-Apochromat 63x/1.4 Oil
• Plan-Apochromat 40x/0.95 dry CORR (not typically on the microscope, available upon request)

This workstation is only available to users already trained on the Zeiss Elyra S.1. First priority is given to users scheduled on the Zeiss Elyra S.1 for processing their data. The PC is a Hewlett-Packard Z6 workstation with an 8 core Intel Xeon CPU, 64GB of RAM, 12TB of data storage (RAID 10), running Windows 10 (64 bit) with a licensed version of the Zeiss ZEN software for data processing and FIJI (ImageJ).