01:146:350 Introduction to Light Microscopy for the Life Sciences
- This course offers a comprehensive exploration of advanced imaging techniques essential for studying tissues, cells, and organelles in the life sciences. Through a blend of lectures and hands-on laboratory sessions, students will be introduced to a diverse array of methodologies, enabling them to investigate biological structures across various scales, ranging from molecules to organisms. The course will cover a spectrum of imaging modalities, including conventional light microscopy, fluorescent microscopy, cutting-edge high-resolution light microscopy, and electron microscopy. Additionally, students will explore optical approaches for probing cellular dynamics, encompassing calcium and voltage imaging, as well as molecular interactions. Each class session will commence with a detailed lecture segment providing theoretical foundations and conceptual frameworks. This will be followed by immersive laboratory sessions where students, often working collaboratively in teams, will tackle real-world cellular physiological problems. Throughout these sessions, students will not only gain practical experience in utilizing microscopy techniques but will also acquire essential skills in basic cell biology techniques such as cell handling and probe introduction.
- Semester Offered: Spring
- Credits: 1
- Course URL: Canvas
Prerequisites:
Fundamentals of Cell Biology (01:146:270) or Essentials of Cell Biology and Neuroscience (01:146:295)
Course Materials:
The course material will consist of lecture slides, assigned reading materials and supplemental videos illustrating key concepts.
Course Description:
This course is offered each Spring semester and is intended primarily for life science majors. It counts as Lab credit. Other students with background knowledge in Cell biology may also take this course.
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of advanced imaging techniques essential for studying tissues, cells, and organelles in the life sciences. Through a blend of lectures and hands-on laboratory sessions, students will be introduced to a diverse array of methodologies, enabling them to investigate biological structures across various scales, ranging from molecules to organisms. The course will cover a spectrum of imaging modalities, including conventional light microscopy, fluorescent microscopy, cutting-edge high-resolution light microscopy, and image analysis modalities.
Course Syllabus:
Course Satisfies Learning Goals:
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Understanding Optical Principles: Students should grasp the basic optical principles underlying light microscopy, including concepts such as refraction, reflection, magnification, and resolution.
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Mastering Microscopy Techniques: Students should acquire proficiency in using light microscopes, including handling and adjusting various components of the microscope to optimize image quality.
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Sample Preparation Skills: Students should learn techniques for preparing samples for microscopy, including fixation, staining, and mounting, ensuring samples are adequately prepared for observation.
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Interpretation of Microscopic Images: Students should develop the ability to interpret images obtained through light microscopy, including identifying cellular structures, analyzing spatial relationships, and understanding the implications of observed phenomena.
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Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Students should cultivate critical thinking skills and the ability to troubleshoot common issues encountered during microscopy experiments, such as suboptimal sample preparation or image artifacts.
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Experimental Design and Optimization: Students should learn to design experiments involving light microscopy effectively, considering factors such as sample type, staining methods, and microscope settings to achieve reliable and meaningful results.
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Data Analysis and Presentation: Students should be able to analyze data obtained from microscopy experiments, employ appropriate image analysis tools and software, and effectively present their findings through visual representations and written reports.
By achieving these learning goals, students can develop a strong foundation in light microscopy that prepares them for further studies or careers in fields such as biology, biomedical sciences, materials science, and beyond.
Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy:
ASSESSMENT / GRADING COMPONENTS
Throughout the duration of this course, students will be tasked with completing weekly lab reports, totaling five reports in all. These reports will serve as a comprehensive record of the microsocpic techniques discussed in class. Additionally, as a culmination of the course, students will prepare and submit a virtual poster and present it during the final week. This poster will focus on a specific microscopic technique, providing an in-depth exploration of its principles, applications, and advantages. Through these assignments, students will not only engage with hands-on laboratory work but also develop the ability to effectively communicate scientific concepts and findings.
WEIGHTING OF ASSESSMENTS
Each lab report will carry significant weight in the overall evaluation, accounting for 15% of the final grade. The poster, due during the last week of class will constitute 20% of the final grade. The last 5% to the final grade will be in class participation. Through consistent engagement and thoughtful contributions, students can demonstrate their comprehension of course materials and enhance their overall performance.
Lab reports (5x 15%) = 75%
Poster = 20%
Class participation = 5%
TOTAL = 100%
Grading scale: A >90, B+ >87, B >80, C+ >77, C >70, D >60, F <59
Rubrics for lab reports, poster presentations and attendance grading can be found here:
Imaging Course Documents
Student Support and Mental Wellness
Technology Challenges
Please visit the Rutgers Student Tech Guide page for resources available to all students. If you do not have the appropriate technology for financial reasons, please email the Dean of Students at
Disability Services
Lucy Stone Hall, Suite A145, Livingston Campus, 54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway,
NJ 08854, Phone: (848) 445-6800
https://ods.rutgers.edu/
Rutgers University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the University's educational programs. To receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, a student with a disability must contact the appropriate disability services office where they are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation: https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/documentation-guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with a Letter of Accommodation. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. To begin this process, please complete the Registration form on the ODS website at: https://webapps.rutgers.edu/student-ods/forms/registration.
Other Links for Student Support and Mental Wellness
Student Success Essentials: https://success.rutgers.edu
Student Support Services: https://www.rutgers.edu/academics/student-support
The Learning Centers: https://rlc.rutgers.edu/
Rutgers Libraries: https://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/
Bias Incident Reporting: https://studentaffairs.rutgers.edu/bias-incident-reporting
Office of Veteran and Military Programs and Services: https://veterans.rutgers.edu
Student Health Services: http://health.rutgers.edu/
Counseling, Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program & Psychiatric Services (CAPS): http://health.rutgers.edu/medical-counseling-services/counseling/
UWill: free immediate access to teletherapy; you can choose a therapist based on your preferences including issue, gender, language, ethnicity. http://health.rutgers.edu/uwill/
Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance: vpva.rutgers.edu/
Basic Needs Assistance (food, housing, and other essentials): https://ruoffcampus.rutgers.edu/basic-needs
Rutgers Student Food Pantry: https://ruoffcampus.rutgers.edu/food-pantry
Course Director:
Prof. Zainab Tanvir (
** All information is subject to change at the discretion of the course coordinator.
01:146:465 Neurobiology of Pain and Addiction
- Semester Offered: Fall, Spring
- Credits: 3
Prerequisites
Prerequisites are Fundamentals of Neurobiology (01:146:245) or Essentials in Cell Biology & Neuroscience (01:146: 295).
Course Description
This course is offered Spring semester, and is intended primarily for students majoring in Cell Biology & Neuroscience. It counts as an Advanced course towards the CBN major (R10) or a Life Science Elective (R11). Other students with background knowledge in neuroscience can also register for this course.
The opioid epidemic highlights how chronic pain may result in addiction to pain killers. Understanding the fundamental underpinnings of the debilitating sensations of pain and addictive behaviors provides potential therapeutic avenues for treatment and intervention. The course will focus on the molecular, cellular and neuroanatomical correlates of pain and addiction. The course consists of three modules. The first module will delve into how different ion channels sense temperature, mechanical stimulus, or pain. The second module will cover the neural circuitries that convey, integrate, and combine these percepts. Finally, students will learn the neuroanatomy and circuits that participate in addictive behavior. Students must have a strong background in cell biology or neurobiology.
Topics: This course will address the fundamental neurobiology of pain and addiction. After completing this course, students should have a solid grasp of the following:
- The ion channels and receptors involved in detecting different sensory modalities and pain.
- The neural circuits underlying pain and somatosensation
- Addiction mechanisms including circuits, neuroanatomy and behavior
Course Syllabus
Spring 2025 (Formerly 01:146:464 Topics in Cell Biology and Neuroscience:Neurobiology of Pain and Addiction)
Course Site
There will be a Canvas course site.
Course Satisfies Learning Goals
Learning Goals: The learning goals for this course are consistent with general goals set by the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience are listed here, as well as the Division of Life Sciences.
1. Obtain factual and conceptual knowledge in fundamentals of cell biology and development (with a hint of neuroscience) that will provide a strong foundation for success in advanced training and professional careers.
2. Develop an ability to summarize, integrate and organize information.
3. Use scientific reasoning to evaluate the potential for current research and new discoveries to improve our understanding of cell biology and its relevance to human health and out society.
The mission in the Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences (CBN) is to give students a first-rate educational experience in modern biology. Our graduates will have a solid foundation for any career opportunities that use biology as a foundation. Furthermore, they will be inspired to become life-long learners in the ever-evolving world of biological sciences. The overarching goal of CBN is to prepare our students for successful entry into the workforce with a career in a health professions field or in a biomedical research area.
Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy
The three exams will count for the remaining 80%. Three quizzes will account for the remaining 20% of the total grade. Exam will be given at the end of each module and quizzes will be given in the middle of each module. There will not be a cumulative final exam. Attendance will be taken in class and provide up to 10% extra credit.
Course Closed?
If this course is closed, please use the following link to add your name to the appropriate wait list: Wait List Sign Up . If you have any questions, please contact the Division of Life Sciences-Office of Undergraduate at 848-445-2075 or visit the office at Nelson Biological Laboratories Room B112, Busch Campus.
Faculty
Professor Kelvin Kwan, Ph.D., Email:
Professor Victoria Abraira, Ph.D., Email:
Prof. Santiago Cuesta, Ph.D., Email:
P
** All information is subject to change at the discretion of the course coordinator.
01:146:473 Genetic Regulation in Cell Biology
- This in person course is intended for junior or senior students majoring in CBN and fulfills one of the advanced course requirements for this major (R10). The course may also be used to fulfill the elective requirements of the CBN (R11) or Biological Sciences major and is also suitable for other Life Science students who have a strong background in cell biology.
- Semester Offered: Fall
- Credits: 3
- Course URL: Canvas
Prerequisites
Fundamentals of Cell Biology 01:146:270
Restrictions
Preference is given to declared Cell Biology & Neuroscience majors graduating within the following academic year. If space is available, other qualified students will be admitted. See Course Closed, below.
Course Description
This course, taught by 3 professors, addresses advanced concepts of cell biology, focusing on genetic animal models, genomics, chromatin function, gene expression, and RNA biology. The course is organized into 3 modules. Classes meet in person twice per week (2x80 min). Attendance and participation are encouraged.
Course Syllabus
Fall 2024
Course Satisfies Learning Goals
Master factual and conceptual knowledge in cell biology that will provide a solid foundation for success in advanced training and professional careers. Develop an ability to summarize, integrate and organize information. Use scientific reasoning to evaluate the potential for current research and new discoveries to improve our understanding of cell biology and neuroscience and its relevance to human health and to our society. These goals are consistent with those set by the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, as well as the Division of Life Sciences at Rutgers University
Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy
Three 80-minute module exams will count for 58.5% of the final grade (19.5% each exam). Online quizzes (2-3 per module) will count for 41.5% of the final grade.
Course Materials
Recommended Text:
MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY, by Lodish, Berk, Kaiser, Krieger, Bretscher, Ploegh, Martin, Yaffe and Amon. 9th Edition (2021), Macmillan Learning. ISBN: 9781319365028 (eBook), 9781319426736 (access card), 9781319208523 (paperback).
Additional slide notes, videos and reading material will be posted on Canvas.
Course Closed?
If this course is closed, please use the following link to add your name to the appropriate wait list: Wait List Sign Up . If you have any questions, please contact the Division of Life Sciences-Office of Undergraduate at 848-445-2075 or visit the office at Nelson Biological Laboratories Room B112, Busch Campus.
Faculty
Course Coordinator/Instructor:
Prof. Ron Hart (
Other Participating Faculty Instructors:
Prof. Megerditch Kiledjian (
Prof. Natasha O’Brown (
** All information is subject to change at the discretion of the course coordinator.
01:146:476 Honors Immunology
- Semester Offered: Spring
- Credits: 3
- Course URL: Canvas
Prerequisites
Genetics 01:447:380 or 01:447:384
Recommended: General Microbiology 01:447:390
Must be participating in the CBN Honors, SAS Honors, or Honors College Program.
Course Description
This course will serve as an introduction to the immune system, with a focus on mammalian organisms (particularly humans). In general terms, we will uncover how the cells and organs of the immune system orchestrate protective responses to pathogen infection across distance and time in the body. While immunology encompasses a vast body of facts and terminologies, we will deemphasize rote memorization and classification. Instead, a primary goal of this honors 400-level course is to engage your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, as well as to introduce you to primary research addressing contemporary immunological questions. This course will differ from the non-honors version of the course by focusing on interactive lectures and creative assignments using active learning strategies and a much smaller group of advanced students. During this course, we will undertake our studies guided by two principal understandings about the immune system in particular. These “enduring understandings” are the big picture ideas that tie together all the information in the course. They will inform the essential questions we explore in our studies and the learning objectives we will attempt to achieve by the end of the semester.
Course Syllabus
Course Satisfies Learning Goals
1) Master factual and conceptual knowledge in cell biology and neuroscience that will provide a solid foundation for success in advanced training and professional careers.
- We will cover a broad range of material in this course, including the foundational cell types, tissues, and molecular pathways that are central to immunological function.
- Lecture modules and practice quizzes will be organized in ways that illuminate the common themes and concepts that underlie the complexities of the immune system. These organizing concepts include innate vs. adaptive immunity, cellular vs. humoral immunity, tolerance vs. autoimmunity, etc.
2) Develop an ability to summarize, integrate and organize information.
- Practice quizzes, review sessions, and other exercises will focus on the application of learning towards problem solving, identifying patterns in complex information, and designing experiments capable of creating new knowledge.
3) Use scientific reasoning to evaluate the potential for current research and new discoveries to improve our understanding of cell biology and neuroscience and its relevance to human health and to our society.
- After building foundational knowledge in the first two sections of the course, modules 11-14 will focus on heavily on the relevance of our learning to human diseases, including topics such as vaccination, HIV/AIDS, and cancer immunotherapy.
- We will make frequent reference to the experiments and techniques used by scientists working at the forefront of immunological research, including flow cytometry, antibody-based molecular biology, etc.
- When possible, we will explore the foundational experiments and primary data that support our modern understanding of immunological processes.
Assessments and Course Activities
Lecture Modules: Lectures in this course will be organized into weekly modules on Canvas. Lectures are IN-PERSON. Slides and other supplemental content will be posted to Canvas. The instructor may post lecture recordings or other video content at their discretion, but in no case should you expect to rely exclusively on online/remote content. Each weekly module will cover about 1 chapter in the textbook. You are expected to attend all lectures and read the associated chapter before the end of each week.
Exams: There will be 3 in-class exams. Exams will consist of multiple-choice questions that require critical thinking and problem solving in order to select the most appropriate answer. Questions will be based entirely on course lectures and activities. Students may bring 1 page of handwritten or computer-printed notes (1 side of one page – the other side must be blank) to consult during the exam. Use of electronic devices of any kind during exams is strictly prohibited, with the exception of devices used for disability accommodations (such devices must be approved in advance through an appropriate university office).
In-Class Activities: This course will emphasize active learning. Because of this, we will use a variety of in-class activities to guide and enrich our learning. These will take a variety of forms, including practice quizzes, group discussion, problem solving challenges, games, etc. As these activities will represent a significant portion of our time together, your active participation will be required. Points will be awarded for activities based primarily on attendance and active completion, with some variation based on the nature of the activity. The lowest 3 in-class activity scores will be dropped from the final grade, including days for which you are absent.
Assignments: We will have several activities in the course that will extend beyond a single class session, involving work at home or across multiple class days. These will include virtual laboratory exercises that demonstrate major concepts we cover in lecture and case studies that require you to apply your knowledge to solve scientific or medical challenges related to immunology. These assignments may be completed in groups, but each will require a unique submission on Canvas that will be graded individually. Specific instructions and grading criteria for individual assignments will be provided.
Grading: Final course grades will be assigned according to the total points accumulated from scores in each category indicated below. Neither individual assignments nor final course grades will be “curved” in any way. Your final grade in the course will be determined by the weighted average of your scores using the following distribution:
|
Final Grade |
Final Average |
|||
|
Assignment |
Value |
A |
90.0-100.0 |
|
|
Exam 1 |
15% |
B+ |
87.0-89.9 |
|
|
Exam 2 |
15% |
B |
80.0-86.9 |
|
|
Exam 3 |
15% |
C+ |
77.0-79.9 |
|
|
In-class activities |
25% |
C |
70.0-76.9 |
|
|
Assignments |
30% |
D |
60.0-69.9 |
|
|
F |
0.0-59.9 |
Course Materials
Janeway’s Immunobiology, 10th Edition. (ISBN: 978-0393884890)
Course Closed?
If this course is closed, please use the following link to add your name to the wait list at: Wait List Sign Ups. If you have any questions, please contact the Division of Life Sciences - Office of Undergraduate Instruction at 848-445-2075 or visit our office at Nelson Biological Laboratories B112, Busch Campus.
Faculty
Course Coordinator/Instructor:
Dr. Brian Daniels
** All information is subject to change at the discretion of the course coordinator.
01:146:405 Honors Seminar in CBN
- Semester Offered: Spring
- Credits: 3
- Course URL: Canvas
- Core Curriculum: WCd
Prerequisites
This course is to be taken by CBN honors in their senior Spring semester.
Course Description
This course aims to familiarize students in communication and written skills needed by professionals in cell biology and neuroscience. Specifically, students will be trained in scientific data organization, integration, analysis, and communication. Upon the completion of this course, students are expected to be able to communicate scientific information in the format of Honors thesis written report and oral presentation.
This course fulfills the SAS WCd core requirement.
Course Syllabus
Course Satisfies Departmental and SAS Wcd Learning Goals
CBN departmental learning goals:
https://cbn.rutgers.edu/academics/undergraduate/
- Master factual and conceptual knowledge in cell biology and neuroscience that will provide a solid foundation for success in advanced training and professional careers.
- Develop an ability to summarize, integrate and organize information.
- Use scientific reasoning to evaluate the potential for current research and new discoveries to improve our understanding of cell biology and neuroscience and its relevance to human health and to our society.
SAS Wcd learning goals:
https://sasoue.rutgers.edu/core/core-learning-goals
- Communicate effectively in modes appropriate in a discipline or area of inquiry.
- Evaluate and critically assess sources and use the convention of attribution and citation correctly.
- Analyze and synthesize information and ideas from multiple sources to generate new insights.
Course Format
In-person lectures (once per week) and student presentations.
Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy
Students are graded on their take-home and in-class assignments, oral presentation, and participation in class discussions.
- Home assignments: 30% final grade
- In-class assignments: 50% final grade
- Class attendance and in-class discussion: 20% final grade
Course Materials
None. Resources to help students write and defend Honors thesis are available at the course Canvas site.
Course Closed?
Students can sign up for this course after obtaining special permission numbers from the course coordinator. This course is restricted to CBN Honors.
Course Coordinator/Faculty:
Dr. Shu C. Hsu
Nelson D410
Email:
