Fridays 
   9:30-10:30 am 
   Foster Hall 235

  Instructor: Dr. Elba E. Serrano
  Associate Professor of Biology
  Ph.D., Stanford University
  Neuroscience/Biophysics

  Office & Office Hours:

 Foster Hall 337D
 Mon 12:15-1:15 pm
 (&  by  appointment)

646-5217
eserrano@nmsu.edu

OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

• COURSE DESCRIPTION
• PREREQUISITES
• TEXTBOOKS
• COURSE SCHEDULE
• SCANNING TIMES

• GRADING SYSTEM
• FINAL GRADES
• EARNING GRADE POINTS
• GRADE SCALE

• POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:
• SYLLABUS MODIFICATION
• STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
• CODE OF CONDUCT
• OTHER

• IMPORTANT DATES

• WEBSITES FOR STUDENTS
• CELL AND ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY
• SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID
• INTERNSHIPS & JOBS

Biology 550 (592),  Confocal Microscopy  Practicum,  provides the opportunity for students to complete a guided research project using the BioRad 1024 confocal microscope in the Fluorescence Imaging Facility.  Upon completion of the course, participants will have the tools to be independent users of the system, and will have laboratory experience that will prepare them for more intensive studies using confocal and fluorescent imaging technology.  * Cell Organismal graduate students receive Tier II credit for the course.

Required: Principles of Confocal Microscopy (Bio 591).  Recommended: Molecular Cell Biology (Bio 520), Instrumental Methods (Chem 471),  and Optics (Physics 470).

Students committed to professional careers in microscopy are encouraged to purchase the Handbook by Pawley.

SCHEDULE OF GROUP MEETINGS AND IMPORTANT DEADLINES

DATE	MAIN TOPICS/ CLASS ASSIGNMENTS	RESOURCES
Jan 17	Course organization Users web page construction	Molecular Probes BioRad  Bio-Rad fluorophore poster Molecular Probes Product CD and or book Fluorescent probe database Flourescence basics review NIH Image Imaging Programs (Keck - Univ of Washington)
Jan 24	Project plan due Review scanning  protocols
Jan 31	Scanning review Discussion
Feb 14	Progress reports
Feb 28	Progress reports
Mar 14	Progress reports
Apr 4	Progress reports
April 15	Poster and report due
April 16-30	Oral presentations

 

GRADING SYSTEM

Earning Grade Points:  Grades will be calculated by adding the total points earned on the assignments and presentations.  A total of 500 pts may be earned during the course. 

In class participation : (150 pts)  Based on your contribution to class discussion and the users web page.

Project plan  (50 pts)  A research plan for your confocal project is required.

Research report:  (150 pts)  Students will submit a laboratory report based on their confocal project.

Poster presentation:  (100 pts) Students will prepare a poster based on the project resultsusing powerpoint.

Oral presentation  (50 pts)   Students will prepare a presentation for the class based on the research project.

Grade Scale: The grade scale may be curved at the end of the semester at the discretion of the instructor.

A     450-500 pts
B     400-449 pts
C     350-399 pts
D     300-349 pts
F     < 300 pts
S     (Satisfactory) requires a C-

S/U Option: Students must meet all requirements of the course.  A grade of C- is required  to receive an S in the course.

Attendance Students are expected to attend all classes.  Contact the instructor BEFOREHAND if you will be unable to attend class.
 

 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Late assignments. 10% of the total points will be deducted for each week the assignment is late. Assignments will not be accepted if handed in more than 2 weeks after the due date

Syllabus Modification: The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus during the semester as considered necessary to enhance the quality of the instruction, to meet the needs of students in the class and to achieve course objectives. Any changes to the syllabus (or to the course schedule) will be announced in class and you are responsible for being aware of them.

Students with Disabilities:

• If you have, or believe you have, a disability and would benefit from any accommodation(s), you may wish to self-identify by contacting the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office located at Garcia Annex [phone 646-6840; TTY 646-1918] to register.
• If you have already registered, please make sure that your instructor receives a copy of the accommodation memorandum from SSD within the first two weeks of classes.
• It will be your responsibility to inform either your instructor or SSD representative (in a timely manner) if the services or accommodations provided are not meeting your needs.
• If you have a condition that may affect your ability to exit safely from the premises in an emergency or that may cause an emergency during class, you are encouraged to discuss any concerns with the instructor or with the SSD Coordinator.
• Feel free to call Ms. Elva Telles, EEO/ADA & Employee Relations Director, at 646-3333 with any questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  All medical information will be treated confidentially.

Code of conduct::   Please see the “Student code of conduct” in the current “Student Handbook”.  Pay particular attention to the sections on Academic Misconduct and Plagiarism. The penalty for plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct (as defined in the Student Code of Conduct) is failure of the course: no exceptions.

OTHER:

GUIDELINES FOR CLASS DISCUSSION:  During the semester, different  opinions may be voiced in the class. You may strongly disagree with some of these, or you may find them amusing. Outbursts can be misinterpreted and are counterproductive to meaningful and thoughtful debate. Therefore, it is important that you exercise self-discipline and self-control, and treat all members of the class with the courtesy  you are entitled to receive in turn. The key words are respect and courtesy. Thank you!

XEROX and/or BACKUP all assignments before submitting them to the instructor.

SAVE xeroxes of all graded assignments and exams from this course at least until you have received your final grade.

WITHDRAWALS:  It is your responsibility to withdraw from the course.
.
DEPARTMENT OFFICE:     The Biology Department office is in FOSTER HALL 234, 646-3611.  The department secretaries are Ms. Gloria Valencia and Ms. Reta Akers.

DEPARTMENT CHAIR:     The Biology Department chair is Dr. Laura Huenneke.  Her office is in FOSTER HALL 234 (X63611).

Scholarships and Financial Aid

• "This 2001 Colleges, College Scholarships, and Financial Aid page is designed to offer college bound students, parents, and counselors easy access to information on: colleges and universities throughout the United States, free college scholarship and financial aid searches, SAT and ACT test preparation tips, and more." http://www.college-scholarships.com/
• "The mission of Scholarships.com is to assist students in obtaining scholarship awards for college using the Internet and to help them in exploring the many financial aid opportunities available to students as well as to parents. We provide information and resources necessary to discover the many local, state and national scholarship and grant opportunities available, in addition to the many Federal and private loan options for funding a college education" http://www.scholarships.com/
• "FastWeb is the nation's recognized leader in helping students make the decisions that shape their lives: choosing a college, paying for college and finding jobs during and after college.  And it's all free" http://www.fastweb.com/fastweb/content/aboutus/index.ptml?


Internships and Jobs
 

• Research and training at NIH (undergrads, grads, postdocs, faculty)
• Best Bets for Internships Abroad: http://www.cie.uci.edu/iop/internsh.html.   There are literally 100s of opportunities for internships abroad. This  page contains links to related web sites, and listings of some of the more well-known programs. The most helpful resources are noted with gold stars.
• JobWEB's Job Searching Engine: http://www.jobweb.org/search/profiles/    JobWEB provides a nationwide search engine that allows you to limit the search to internships exclusively.

Internship Programs.com http://www.internshipprograms.com/home.asp  "The largest internship community on the Internet!"