Gaining facility access

The workflow below describes how to gain access to the instrumentation and resources found within the BioFrontiers ALMC. We aim to get to know you and to understand your imaging needs, ensure that you are trained on the correct microscope, and provide guidance on proper image and data analysis. We also aim to make you aware of the multitude of resources that are at your disposal when working with us.

Training steps

1. Contact the Facility
   • Please send us an email for a training request at biof-imaging@colorado.edu.
     
     
2. Initial Meeting
   • You should receive an automated reply containing a link to our Microsoft Bookings page. Please use this page to schedule a General Consultation or Training Request with a staff member depending on your needs:

Microscopes or imaging modality	Staff member
Nikon AXR laser scanning confocal Nikon NSPARC laser scanning confocal Nikon A1R laser scanning confocal Evident VS200 Slide Scanner	Joe Dragavon (Book in-person or virtual)
Bruker TruLive3D light sheet Custom-built optical plane microscope (OPM)	Evolene Premillieu (Book in-person or virtual)
Revvity Opera Phenix spinning disk confocal Nikon widefield (WF) Nikon NSTORM for TIRF, HiLo, FRAP, PALM, or STORM Nikon spinning disk confocal (SDC)	Erin Richards (Book in-person or virtual)
Aren't sure what you need?	Joe Dragavon (Book in-person or virtual)

1. • In this meeting, the staff will discuss your research and imaging needs.
   • The appropriate microscope will be identified, and your Practical Training session arranged.
     
     
2. Practical Training
   • We will go over proper instrument start-up and shutdown, overview the operational software, collect standard data sets on known samples, and practice with your samples.
   • Upon completion, you will be a Novice User, which restricts your access to working hours (M-F, 9am – 5pm). This is to allow you to familiarize yourself with the microscope, while ensuring that our staff are on-hand if you run into problems.
     
     
3. Independent Session
   • At least 2 hours of independent use on the microscope using your samples are required before you can proceed to the next step.
   • The samples and data should be representative of your research needs, and will form the basis of the Image and Data Analysis meeting.
     
     
4. Image and Data Analysis
   • Upon completion of your Independent Sessions, please send a new email to biof-imaging@colorado.edu to request Image Analysis Consultation. Use the Microsoft Bookings link in the reply email to schedule a meeting with a staff member depending on your needs:

Microscopes or imaging modality	Staff member
Bruker TruLive3D light sheet Custom-built optical plane microscope (OPM)	Evolene Premillieu (Book in-person or virtual)
All other microscopes	Erin Richards (Book in-person or virtual)

1. • The purpose of this meeting is to ensure that you can analyze the images that you have acquired. 
   • At the meeting, the staff will review the services that are provided by the ALMC, as well as look over your initial images and analysis plan. We are also happy to discuss any of the following:
     • Basic image analysis concepts
     • Your data management and sharing plan
     • Arranging additional supported sessions
       
       
2. Full Instrument Access
   • Upon completion of steps 1 – 5, you will be granted Autonomous status with unrestricted access to the microscope!
     

Data storage

Want to store your data? Contact BIT-Help (BioFrontiers Users) or Research Computing to learn about their cloud storage options!

• BioFrontiers IT: bit-help@colorado.edu
• Research Computing: rc-help@colorado.edu