Teaching Resources

GerBI-GMB community curated collection of short  video tutorials and protocols with helpful tips & tricks for microscopy

How to measure a Point Spread Function (PSF)

Measuring the point spread function of a microscope is important to determine the lateral and axial resolution capabilities of a microscope. Nico Stuurmann shows how to measure the point spread function of a microscope (iBiology). The video includes the preparation of a bead slide and explains the appropriate image acquisition. A detailed protocol including slide preparation, image acquisition and PSF analysis is provided by QUAREP-LiMi.

How to clean objective lenses and filters

Cleaning microscope optics like objective lenses and filters is important, because dirt and residues on their surfaces can degrade image quality. Kurt Thorn describes in this iBiology video how to inspect and clean lenses and filters in a way that these expensive components will not be damaged during the process.

How to find the focal plane

Focusing the specimen is one of the first steps in microscopy. In this iBiology video Ron Vale provides a detailed explanation and helpful tips how to easily find the focal plane without harming your sample or damaging expensive objective lenses.

How to set up Koehler Illumination

Koehler illumination is the preferred method for obtaining even illumination of the focal plane of the specimen and is a critical alignment procedure in microscopy. Ron Vale shows in this iBiology video a step-by-step procedure of aligning the lamp and condenser to achieve Koehler illumination.

Live cell imaging and environmental control

To collect scientifically meaningful data from live cell imaging experiments, it is crucial keep the cells on a microscope in a stable and controlled environment. Kurt Thorn explains how to control temperature, humidity, and atmosphere (CO₂ concentration) on a microscope. In the iBiology video he discusses simple and more complex systems.

How to minimize photobleaching and phototoxicity

Minimizing phototoxicity during fluorescent microscopy increases the lifetime and viability of your sample. Ron Vale illustrates in this iBiology video how illumination of a specimen can cause photobleaching and protein damage and gives us tips about minimizing damage from fluorescence. Ways to minimize such problems include strategies for minimizing light exposure and removing molecular oxygen from in vitro reactions.

How to calibrate a camera

In this iBiology video about camera calibration, Nico Stuurman shows you how to measure a camera dark image, calculate the readout noise, estimate the dark current, get a camera flat field image using a plastic cup and a cell phone screen, and estimate the photon conversion factor and full well capacity by measuring a photon transfer curve.