OxMic: Essentials of Light Microscopy, in person
Wednesday, 10 December 2025, 9.30am to 5pm
Apply for this courseThis course is designed for students and researchers who use or plan to use fluorescence microscopy in their research. Whether you are new to microscopy or wish to deepen your understanding of optical principles and available microscopy techniques, this course provides a solid foundation and an opportunity to network with bioimaging facility experts.
COURSE AIM
This free, one-day, in-person course provides a comprehensive introduction to light microscopy - covering principles of fluorescence widefield and confocal imaging, experimental design, sample preparation, data acquisition, image analysis and data management - and connects participants with the state-of-the-art microscopes available at Oxford’s imaging facilities and expertise within. Please note that lunch will not be provided.
COURSE CONTENT
The course will cover the following topics and skills:
- Principles of light microscopy and image formation
- Overview of fluorescence microscopy modalities (widefield, confocal, spinning disk, light-sheet)
- Introduction to super-resolution microscopy techniques
- Best practices in experimental design and microscope selection
- Sample preparation techniques (fixation, mounting, labelling)
- Practical tips for imaging (illumination, focusing, contrast, avoiding artifacts)
- Data acquisition strategies and quality control
- Introduction to image analysis: segmentation, co-localisation, quantification
- Data management: storage, file formats, metadata, sharing and publication
- Common pitfalls and good practices in microscopy and image analysis
- Discussion of available imaging platforms across Oxford and how to access them
- Advice on further training, tools, and community resources
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the fundamentals of fluorescence light microscopy, including the principles of image formation, microscope modalities of widefield, confocal and super-resolution variations of each.
- Recognize best practices of the imaging workflow that includes experimental design, sample preparation, and data acquisition for reliable and reproducible results to correctly interpret your biological questions.
- Identify the correct microscopy technique for your project and access it within Oxford’s microscopy facilities.
- Gain awareness of data management strategies, including storage, handling, sharing and publication of microscopy datasets.
- Develop basic skills in image analysis and understand available resources (free and commercial) for advanced analysis.
- Connect with Oxford’s imaging community and facility managers, to get the best possible consultation and support for ongoing and future projects.
PARTICIPANT NUMBERS
90
ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATE ON SURVEY COMPLETION
It is now a requirement that you complete the three short questions in the survey you receive after attending the course. Once you have submitted the survey, you will be sent an email with a link to your attendance certificate. This is to ensure we receive the feedback we need to evaluate and improve our courses. Survey results are downloaded and stored anonymously.