title: Advanced light microscopy core facilities: Balancing service, science and career.
abstract: Core Facilities (CF) for advanced light microscopy (ALM) have become indispensable support units for research in the life sciences. Their organizational structure and technical characteristics are quite diverse, although the tasks they pursue and the services they offer are similar. Therefore, throughout Europe, scientists from ALM-CFs are forming networks to promote interactions and discuss best practice models. Here, we present recommendations for ALM-CF operations elaborated by the workgroups of the German network of ALM-CFs, German Bio-Imaging (GerBI). We address technical aspects of CF planning and instrument maintainance, give advice on the organization and management of an ALM-CF, propose a scheme for the training of CF users, and provide an overview of current resources for image processing and analysis. Further, we elaborate on the new challenges and opportunities for professional development and careers created by CFs. While some information specifically refers to the German academic system, most of the content of this article is of general interest for CFs in the life sciences. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:463-479, 2016. © 2016 THE AUTHORS MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE PUBLISHED BY WILEY PERIODICALS, INC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Bioimaging Center, Universitätsstrasse 10, Konstanz, 78464, Germany.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrando-May
authors.affiliation: Technical University Dresden, Center for Regenerative Therapies, Light Microscopy Facility, Fetscherstraße 105, Dresden, 01307, Germany.
authors.forename: Hella
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.affiliation: Heidelberg University, BioQuant, ViroQuant-CellNetworks RNAi Screening Facility, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, & Heidelberg Center for Human Bioinformatics, IPMB, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reymann
authors.affiliation: Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Physical Biology Group, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany.
authors.forename: Nariman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Bioimaging Center, Universitätsstrasse 10, Konstanz, 78464, Germany.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Utz
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, Core Facility and Services, Light Microscopy Facility, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, Bonn, 53175, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Ulrich
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Fried
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, FACS & Imaging Core Facility, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 9b, Köln, 50931, Köln, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kukat
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Light Microscopy Facility, Pfotenhauerstr. 108, Dresden, 01307, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peychl
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Light Microscopy Facility, Spemannstrasse 35, Tübingen, 72076, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liebig
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Advanced Light Microscopy Facility, Meyerhofstr. 1, Heidelberg, 69117, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terjung
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, German Center for Infection Research, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany.
authors.forename: Vibor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laketa
authors.affiliation: Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine Berlin, Advanced Light Microscopy Technology Platform, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, Berlin, 13125, Germany.
authors.forename: Anje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sporbert
authors.affiliation: Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Center for Advanced Imaging, Universitätsstr. 1, Düsseldorf, 40225, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weidtkamp-Peters
authors.affiliation: University of Cologne, CECAD Imaging Facility, Joseph-Stelzmann Strasse 26, Köln, 50931, Germany.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schauss
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Electron & Laser Scanning Microscopy, Brenneckestrasse 6, Magdeburg, 39118, Germany.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zuschratter
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Imaging Facility, Stübeweg 51, Freiburg, 79108, Germany.
authors.forename: Sergiy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Avilov
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D005858:Germany; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D008853:Microscopy
keywords: core facility administration; instrument performance tests; microscopy room requirements; user and staff training; user/staff/instrument ratio