About

The objective of the summer school on correlative microscopy is to introduce various correlative microscopy techniques, provide strategies on sample preparation, data collection and data processing, as well as provide workshops for hands-on experience with correlative microscopy techniques. Together with hand-on workshops, upon completion of the summer school, the attendee should be knowledgeable on various correlative microscopy modalities, their requirements, and the possibilities of their application in current or future research projects. We also wish that this event to serve as an opportunity to discuss research problems with specialists as well as share diverse strategies to address diverse scientific problems.

The summer school attendees are eligible to obtain 2 ECTS by passing a quick written and oral exam. 

Participation fees:

• PhD students: 250 CHF

• Master students: 100 CHF

Preliminary Programme

Day 1

On the first day the students will be introduced to the concept of correlation, as well as will be given the overview over the various correlative workflows and their requirements for sample preparation. 

Day 2

Second day will focus on correlation of light microscopy data (super-resolution, confocal and epifluorescence) with electron microscopy techniques (scanning electron microscopy, focused ion beam milling-scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy) on room temperature or cryogenic samples to obtain cellular ultrastructure data as well as near-atomic resolution structural information. The theoretical introduction will be followed by an afternoon workshop on light microscopy modalities and their correlation with electron microscopy workflows.  

Day 3

On the third day, the students will be introduced to correlative imaging with soft/hard X-ray modalities, followed by an afternoon workshop on the application of novel image processing methods to analyze the X-ray imaging data. 

Day 4

The fourth day will be a comprehensive guide for combining scanning probe microscopy with scanning electron microscopy or light microscopy imaging modalities. The morning lectures will be followed by a demonstration of the instrumentation, required for correlating atomic force microscopy with scanning electron microscopy. After the demonstration, the students will have a workshop on atomic force microscopy and light microscopy imaging of biological samples.  

Day 5

On the last day the aim is to present different approaches to data processing, analysis, and visualisation. The morning lecture session will be followed by an afternoon examination.