Short Training Courses
The Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis offers a range of courses in light microscopy, electron microscopy, specimen preparation and microanalysis. The basic fee for each course (excluding GST) is shown in the timetable below.
- Students, general, academic and research staff of the University of Sydney are charged a discounted flat rate as outlined.
- Australian publicly funded organisations (e.g. all other Australian universities) receive a 40% discount.
- Commercial clients are charged the full rate.
To enrol in a course please refer to the Accessing the ACMM page. Enrolments close two weeks before the course starts. Cancellations must be notified one week in advance, as otherwise a cancellation fee may apply. Please give as much notice as possible of any cancellation, as others may be able to benefit from the available space.
For more information about short training courses contact .
Timetable for 2012
Introductory Microscopy & Microanalysis
Semester 1: March 12–22
Semester 2: July 30 – August 9
Conveners: ,
Download 2012 timetable for S1 and S2 (PDF 30KB)
Cost for external attendees: $1845 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $430
The course provides an introduction to the fundamental principles of optics and the related principles of spectroscopy that are commonly used in microscopy and microanalysis. Students are introduced to a variety of imaging and analysis techniques and their role in both biotechnology and the technology of materials, as relevant to laboratory professionals and researchers. An emphasis on light-optical microscopy and related imaging modes is developed.
Biological Specimen Preparation, TEM & SEM
Semester 1: March 26–30
Semester 2: August 13 –17
Conveners: ,
Download 2012 timetable for S1 and S2 (PDF 29 KB)
Cost for external attendees: $1230 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $215
This course provides a theoretical background and practical knowledge of basic routine specimen preparation techniques for electron microscopy. It covers biological specimen preparation for TEM, including fixing, embedding, sectioning, drying, coating and staining techniques. An introduction to cryotechniques and immuno methodologies is included. All aspects of specimen preparation for SEM are also covered.
Materials Specimen Preparation, TEM & SEM
Semester 1: April 23–27
Semester 2: September 17–20
Convener: ,
Download 2012 timetable for S1 and S2 (PDF 58 KB)
Cost for external attendees: $925 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $215
This module gives practical training in the preparation of a wide range of materials for electron microscopy, including metals, semiconductors, powders, ceramics and thin films. It trains users in the preparation of plan and cross-view sections for studying the microstructure of materials, using a wide range of preparation techniques including electropolishing, ion milling, dimple grinding, chemical polishing and cleavage, and it includes the preparation of holey carbon films and lift-off techniques.
TEM of Crystalline Materials
Semester 1: June 4–8
Semester 2: October 2–5
Convener: ,
Download 2012 timetable for S1 (PDF 32 KB)
Cost for external attendees: $925 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $215
The course covers aspects of TEM specific to inorganic materials. Crystallography, diffraction patterns and diffraction contrast are topics that will be introduced.
Research Methodology
Semester 1: N/A
Semester 2: August 2–October 25, runs for 9 Thursdays between 2 and 4 pm
Convener:
Download 2012 timetable for S2 (PDF 11 KB)
Cost for external attendees: $1845 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $430
This course covers the principles and practice of research methodology. Topics include literature and database searches; citing and referencing; research proposals; safety, risk assessment and ethics; experimental design and documentation; statistics, errors and data analysis; and written and oral communication.
Light Microscopy Workshop
Semester 1: May 21
Semester 2: N/A
Conveners:
Cost for external attendees: $431 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $115
This half-day workshop is for students attending the confocal microscopy course who do not have extensive light microscopy experience. Please contact the course convenor to determine whether you should take this course.
Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
Semester 1: May 14–18
Semester 2: N/A
Conveners:
Download 2012 timetable for S1 (PDF 58 KB)
Cost for external attendees: $925 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $215
This course aims to develop the knowledge and skills in advanced techniques in specimen preparation for biological fluorescent microscopy. Topics covered are the principles and application of antibodies, fluorescent markers, fluorescent microscopy, and biological specimen preparation.
Introduction to Confocal Microscopy
Semester 1: May 21–25
Semester 2: September 3–4 (called Basic Principles of Light & Laser Microscopy)
Conveners:
Download 2012 timetable for S1 (PDF 59 KB)
Download 2012 Basic Principles of Light & Laser Microscopy for S2 (PDF 56 KB)
Cost for external attendees: $925 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $215
This course aims to train participants to become competent users of the confocal microscope. Topics include principles of confocal microscopy and optical sectioning; aberrations; design of confocal microscopes and scanning; fluorescence; reconstruction of images and stereoscopy. This module is designed for participants with no previous experience of confocal microscopy.
Operation of the Transmission Electron Microscope
Semester 1: May 7–11
Semester 2: August 27–31
Conveners: , ,
Download 2012 timetable for S1 and S2 (PDF 37 KB)
Cost for external attendees: $925 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $215
This course aims to train participants to become competent TEM operators familiar with the basic parameters that influence and image. Topics covered include the illumination system; electron lenses and their aberrations; image formation and resolution; staining and contrast; the vacuum system and contamination. The course is designed for users with no previous EM experience.
Operation of the Scanning Electron Microscope
Semester 1: April 30–May 4
Semester 2: August 20–24
Conveners: , ,
Download 2012 timetable for S1 and S2 (PDF 55 KB)
Cost for external attendees: $925 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $215
Participants will be trained to become competent SEM operators at a basic skills level. Topics covered include secondary and backscattered electron imaging; the effect of accelerating voltage; depth of field; and resolution. The course is designed for users with no previous EM experience.
Stereology
Semester 1: April16–17
Semester 2: September 10–11
Conveners: ,
Download 2012 timetable for S1 and S2 (PDF 28 KB)
Cost for external attendees: $615 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $115
The course provides both theoretical as well as practical applications aspects of basic stereological techniques. Topics covered include volume estimation (Cavalieri Principle); number estimation; surface area estimation and relevant aspects of experimental design.
Image Analysis
Semester 1: April18–20
Semester 2: September 12–14
Conveners: ,
Download 2012 timetable for S1 and S2 (PDF 27 KB)
Cost for external attendees: $1230 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $215
This course teaches the principles of quantitative analysis of images, with emphasis on analysis of images acquired from different modalities of microscopy. It covers basic and advanced feature extraction, limitations of measurement, and discrimination techniques based on statistical analysis. A basic understanding of image acquisition and processing is assumed.
Microscopy of Biomolecular Processes
Convener: ,
Download 2012 timetable S2 (PDF 64KB)
Cost for external attendees: $1845 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $215
This course covers the principles and practice of advanced microscopy techniques for probing cellular and biomolecular processes. It introduces techniques to investigate cellular processes at the molecular and protein level including, intracellular signalling, uptake and metabolism of drugs/carcinogens/exogenous material, and localisation of enzymes/proteins associated with cells.
Only external attendees are able to book Module 1 or Module 2 separately at $925 +GST each.
- Module 1: Advanced Light and Laser Microscopy
Semester 2: October 8–12
Cost for external attendees: $925 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $215 - Module 2: Advanced X-ray, Probe and Electron Microscopy
Semester 2: October 15–19
Cost for external attendees: $925 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $215
Nanostructural Analysis of Materials
Conveners: ,
This course provides students with knowledge and training so that they may explore the relationships between the structure and properties of materials. The course covers the principles and practice of materials characterisation with an emphasis on techniques for the quantitative determination of the nanoscale structure and chemistry of materials.
Please note that all modules of this course are to be booked separately.
- Module 1: Advanced Scanning Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis
Semester 2: October 22–24
Download 2012 timetable for S2 (PDF 28 KB)
Cost for external attendees: $925 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $215
This module covers a number of advanced techniques and imaging modes including high-resolution imaging, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis and mapping, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), variable-pressure SEM and Raman Spectroscopy. Through a series of practical sessions and demonstrations over three days, the students will gain an appreciation of the experimental considerations (time requirements, specimen preparation requirements) and the limitations of each technique. - Module 2: Advanced Transmission Electron Microscopy
Semester 2: October 25–29
Download 2012 timetable for S2 (PDF 34 KB)
Cost for external attendees: $925 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $215
This module gives a general review of the principles and applications of the diverse imaging and microanalysis mechanisms and techniques available in a modern TEM, starting with the basics of crystallography and the fundamentals of electron diffraction to phase contrast and high-resolution imaging followed by the an introduction to electron tomography, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). The practical sessions allow the students to get experience with electron diffraction and high-resolution imaging, tomography, and spectroscopy analysis by EDS and EELS. - Module 3: Focused Ion Beam Technology
Semester 2: October 30
Download 2011 timetable for S2 (PDF 53 KB)
Cost for external attendees: $430 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $115
This one day workshop will cover the most common applications of this technique, including milling and deposition, micromachining and cross-sectioning, specimen preparation for transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography and 3-D imaging (slice-and-view/tomography). - Module 4: Atom Probe Tomography
Semester 2: October 31–November 2
Download 2012 timetable for S2 (PDF 28 KB)
Cost for external attendees: $925 +GST
Cost for University of Sydney researchers: $215
This course will cover in detail both the theory of field ion evaporation and the practicalities of atom probe instrumentation. Approaches for atom probe investigations will be described in entirety, from specimen preparation of the original sample, to the running of the atom probe data, creating the 3-D reconstruction from the 2-D detector information and finally interpretation of the data.