BME 6260 - Optical Microscopy and Fluorescence Methods for Research

Spring. 3 credits. Student option grading.

Prerequisite: physics, biology and calculus. You are expected to be able to carry out college level engineering math.

W. R. Zipfel.

BME 6260 covers the fundamental optics, photophysics, spectroscopy and instrumentation required for understanding how to apply all modes of modern fluorescence microscopy, bioanalytical methods and single molecule fluorescence techniques for biomedical research and diagnostics.

Material covered includes:

(1) Theory and practical application of lenses, mirrors, dispersive elements, light sources, optical fibers, detectors, interference, nonlinear optical concepts and tissue optics.

(2) Optical systems analysis concepts such as resolution, optical transfer functions, Fourier optics and convolution.

(3) Photophysical analysis, such as photochemistry and photon statistics.

(4) Both a lecture based and lab module based survey of the types of light microscopy and fluoresce methodologies used in modern biomedical research. The lab modules provide the students with hands-on experience with all forms of light microscopy now used in biological and biomedical research.