Dedika is a platform for learning by doing: whether it's creating a business proposal, becoming a manicurist, or using a new tool, for example. No matter your goal, the best content on the subject already exists. The problem is, it's often in another language, expensive, scattered around, lacks practice activities, or comes in courses that are too long for busy people. That's why Dedika has its own method: we find this material wherever it is, organize what makes sense for your goal, review it with the help of experts who are available to answer questions, and create hands-on activities so you can learn by doing. You are the most important part of your journey, and no one knows it better than you: choose the content and course length, decide if you'll learn online or offline, and pick your preferred format. It can be video, text, audio, or a summary. Your way, only with what makes sense for you. Here, every moment you dedicate is worth more, and you reach what matters faster.

Our courses include a summary at the end of each chapter, which you can download as a PDF and print.

More than 2 million students worldwide

Present in more than 180 countries

Certificate valid in your country

...

For all levels

Microscopist Course

Name: Microscopist Course
Price: 222 USD

The Microscopist Course gives you comprehensive, hands-on training across the full spectrum of modern microscopy — from bright-field and fluorescence to confocal and electron microscopy. You will master specimen preparation, digital image acquisition, quantitative analysis, and quality control. This course is built for scientists and lab professionals who need practical, instrument-ready skills that hold up in real research environments.

Dedika for businesses

What you will learn:

You will build a complete foundation in microscopy principles, instrument types, and laboratory safety before advancing to specialized techniques. The course covers specimen preparation methods including fixation, staining, sectioning, and electron microscopy sample processing. You will develop expertise in fluorescence labeling, confocal imaging, and super-resolution methods such as STED, STORM, and SIM. Digital image acquisition, quantitative analysis, and software workflows using ImageJ and CellProfiler are covered in depth. You will also learn systematic quality control, instrument calibration, troubleshooting, and documentation practices that meet regulatory standards.

How you study in practice Microscopist Course

How you practice Microscopist Course

For companies looking to train their teams

With Dedika for businesses, the course includes exercises and examples tailored to your own business and the way your company needs.

Click here

Course Content

8 Chapters • 40 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)

Chapter 1See details

Foundations of Microscopy

Lesson 1 • Types of Microscopes
Surveys light, electron, and scanning probe microscopes. Connects instrument choice to specimen type and research objective.
Lesson 2 • Laboratory Safety and Regulations
Covers chemical, biological, and electrical hazards in the microscopy lab. Compliance with safety standards protects personnel and equipment.
Lesson 3 • Microscope Components and Optics
Identifies mechanical and optical components of a compound microscope. Understanding each part enables correct setup and troubleshooting.
Lesson 4 • History and Principles of Microscopy
Traces microscopy from early optical discoveries to modern instruments. Establishes conceptual grounding for understanding how magnification and resolution work.
Lesson 5 • Basic Microscopy Calculations
Introduces magnification, resolution, and depth-of-field formulas. Accurate calculations guide objective selection and image interpretation.

Chapter 2See details

Specimen Preparation Techniques

Lesson 1 • Wet Mount and Dry Mount Preparation
Demonstrates live and fixed specimen mounting on glass slides. Mounting method affects specimen viability, clarity, and longevity.
Lesson 2 • Specimen Preparation for Electron Microscopy
Details dehydration, resin embedding, and sputter coating for electron microscopy. These steps are essential for vacuum-compatible, high-contrast specimens.
Lesson 3 • Staining and Contrast Enhancement
Introduces histological, cytochemical, and negative staining protocols. Staining reveals structural details invisible in unstained specimens.
Lesson 4 • Fixation and Preservation Methods
Explains chemical and physical fixation to preserve specimen structure. Correct fixation prevents artifacts that distort microscopic images.
Lesson 5 • Sectioning and Microtomy
Covers paraffin, cryo, and ultramicrotomy sectioning for thin specimen slices. Consistent section thickness is critical for reproducible staining and imaging.

Chapter 3See details

Digital Image Acquisition and Analysis

Lesson 1 • Digital Imaging Fundamentals
Covers pixels, bit depth, dynamic range, and sensor noise in scientific imaging. These parameters determine the accuracy of all downstream quantitative measurements.
Lesson 2 • Image File Formats and Metadata
Explains TIFF, OME-TIFF, and proprietary formats along with embedded metadata. Preserving metadata ensures reproducibility and accurate scale calibration.
Lesson 3 • Quantitative Image Analysis
Covers intensity measurement, object counting, and morphometric analysis. Quantitative outputs transform images into statistically testable biological data.
Lesson 4 • Image Analysis Software Workflows
Introduces open-source and commercial platforms for batch image analysis. Automated pipelines increase throughput and reduce operator-dependent variability.
Lesson 5 • Image Processing and Enhancement
Teaches background subtraction, filtering, and deconvolution for image clarity. Processing must be documented and applied uniformly to maintain scientific integrity.

Chapter 4See details

Bright-Field and Phase Contrast Microscopy

Lesson 1 • Image Capture and Basic Processing
Guides camera settings, exposure, and white balance for digital capture. Basic processing steps enhance clarity without introducing misleading alterations.
Lesson 2 • Live Cell Imaging Basics
Introduces environmental chambers and time-lapse protocols for live specimens. Maintaining cell viability during imaging requires controlled temperature and CO2.
Lesson 3 • Bright-Field Imaging Techniques
Covers focus, contrast, and objective selection for stained specimens. Mastery of these controls produces publication-ready bright-field micrographs.
Lesson 4 • Köhler Illumination Setup
Teaches the step-by-step alignment of Köhler illumination for even, glare-free lighting. Proper illumination is the prerequisite for all high-quality bright-field images.
Lesson 5 • Phase Contrast Principles
Explains how phase rings convert phase shifts into amplitude contrast. This technique enables visualization of transparent, unstained living cells.

Chapter 5See details

Fluorescence Microscopy

Lesson 1 • Fluorescent Labels and Probes
Surveys organic dyes, fluorescent proteins, and quantum dots for biological labeling. Label choice affects specificity, brightness, and compatibility with live imaging.
Lesson 2 • Filter Sets and Optical Configuration
Details excitation filters, dichroic mirrors, and emission filters for channel isolation. Correct filter matching maximizes signal and minimizes spectral bleed-through.
Lesson 3 • Multi-Channel Fluorescence Imaging
Teaches sequential and simultaneous acquisition of multiple fluorescence channels. Proper co-localization analysis requires accurate channel alignment and calibration.
Lesson 4 • Immunofluorescence Protocols
Covers primary and secondary antibody labeling for fixed specimens. Optimizing blocking and antibody concentrations reduces background and improves signal-to-noise.
Lesson 5 • Principles of Fluorescence
Explains excitation, emission, and the Stokes shift at the molecular level. Understanding fluorophore photophysics guides dye and filter selection.

Chapter 6See details

Confocal and Advanced Light Microscopy

Lesson 1 • Two-Photon Excitation Microscopy
Introduces near-infrared pulsed lasers for deep-tissue, low-phototoxicity imaging. Two-photon excitation confines fluorescence to the focal plane, reducing photodamage.
Lesson 2 • Confocal Acquisition Parameters
Covers scan speed, pixel dwell time, averaging, and z-step settings. Balancing speed and signal quality prevents photobleaching while maintaining resolution.
Lesson 3 • Confocal Microscopy Principles
Explains pinhole-based optical sectioning and point scanning in confocal systems. Optical sectioning eliminates out-of-focus blur for crisp 3D reconstructions.
Lesson 4 • 3D Reconstruction and Visualization
Teaches volume rendering, surface rendering, and orthogonal projection from z-stacks. Accurate 3D visualization communicates spatial relationships in complex specimens.
Lesson 5 • Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy
Describes selective plane illumination for rapid, gentle volumetric imaging of large samples. Light-sheet geometry dramatically reduces photobleaching compared to confocal scanning.

Chapter 7See details

Electron Microscopy Techniques

Lesson 1 • Cryo-Electron Microscopy Overview
Surveys cryo-EM sample preparation, data collection, and single-particle analysis. Cryo-EM enables near-atomic resolution of macromolecular complexes without crystallization.
Lesson 2 • Transmission Electron Microscopy Fundamentals
Covers electron gun operation, lens alignment, and vacuum systems in TEM. Understanding electron optics enables correct setup and high-resolution imaging.
Lesson 3 • TEM Specimen Preparation
Details negative staining, cryo-TEM grid preparation, and focused ion beam thinning. Specimen quality is the primary determinant of TEM image resolution.
Lesson 4 • Scanning Electron Microscopy Operation
Explains beam parameters, detector types, and vacuum requirements for SEM. Correct parameter selection produces high-resolution surface topography images.
Lesson 5 • Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy
Introduces EDS for elemental identification and mapping in SEM and TEM. Quantitative EDS analysis reveals compositional information alongside morphological data.

Chapter 8See details

Quality Control and Troubleshooting

Lesson 1 • Instrument Calibration and Validation
Covers lateral and axial calibration, PSF measurement, and stage reproducibility testing. Regular calibration ensures that measurements are accurate and comparable across sessions.
Lesson 2 • Preventive Maintenance Procedures
Details lens cleaning, alignment checks, and laser power monitoring schedules. Preventive maintenance extends instrument lifespan and reduces unplanned downtime.
Lesson 3 • Documentation and Standard Operating Procedures
Teaches SOP writing, experiment logging, and data traceability for regulatory compliance. Thorough documentation supports reproducibility and audit readiness.
Lesson 4 • Troubleshooting Imaging Problems
Provides a systematic decision-tree approach to diagnosing poor image quality. Structured troubleshooting reduces time-to-resolution and prevents recurring issues.
Lesson 5 • Identifying and Correcting Image Artifacts
Catalogs optical, preparation, and digital artifacts with their root causes. Recognizing artifacts prevents misinterpretation of microscopy data.

Certification

Your valid completion certificate

This course is for you:

Biology graduate students: needing hands-on microscopy skills for dissertation research.
Biomedical research technicians: looking to expand their imaging capabilities in the lab.
Pathology lab professionals: seeking deeper expertise beyond routine slide preparation tasks.
Materials scientists: wanting to apply electron and scanning probe microscopy confidently.
Science educators: aiming to teach microscopy concepts with current, accurate knowledge.
Career changers entering life sciences: building credible, employer-recognized imaging competencies.

What our students say

Your classes are perfect. I purchased the one-year package and finally have the opportunity to follow various topics of interest without needing to switch platforms... I thank you for everything you do, I've already recommended you to other people...