University of Colorado Boulder

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder), founded in 1876, is nationally recognized as one of only 38 AAU public research universities. CU Boulder is a Tier 1 public research university with five Nobel laureates, nine MacArthur fellows and is the No. 1 public university recipient of NASA awards.

CU Boulder is a leader in many fields, including aerospace engineering, earth and environmental science, physics, and environmental law. The school partners with many notable federal research labs, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) Department

Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) is the home department of the Light Microscopy Core Facility at the Evident Discovery Center. The department was founded in 1968 by the pioneering cell biologist and electron microscopist Keith Porter. MCDB was among the first departments to integrate molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. For more than 50 years, MCDB researchers have made seminal contributions to our understanding of the structures of cells and organisms and the molecular underpinnings of life processes.

Some of the early discoveries made by MCDB researchers:

• Translational regulation of gene expression
• Bacterial motility by rotating flagella,
• Fine structure of plant cell walls, tight junctions, and chloroplasts
• Form and function of mitotic spindles
• Temperature-sensitive and maternal effect mutations in C. elegans
• Catalytic RNA

Today, MCDB faculty and students continue this pursuit to understand life at its most fundamental levels. Meanwhile, they are also addressing many of the pressing biomedical problems facing society, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, blindness, neurological and muscle disorders, infectious disease and antibiotic resistance, and environmental destruction. Beyond making discoveries, MCDB continues its long tradition of excellence in cultivating and educating the next generations of research leaders, biomedical innovators, educators, and scientifically literate citizens.

Light Microscopy Core Facility

Located at the heart of the CU Boulder campus, the Light Microscopy Core Facility (LMCF) was established in early 2011 by the MCDB department. It is an open-access facility and member of the CU Shared Resources network. The LMCF supports a user base of approximately 100, representing at least 10 departments and institutes from across campus. The LMCF serves CU Boulder, academia, and the biotechnology industry and is a resource beyond its microscopes. The goal of the facility is to help advance the mission of the University of Colorado Boulder, setting a new standard in education, research, scholarship, and creative work.

Some work areas of LMCF users:

• Stem cell biology
• Behavioral and molecular neuroscience
• Neurobiology during development
• Mechanisms of mitosis
• Proteasome biogenesis
• Membrane trafficking
• DNA damage and repair during disease
• Antibacterial compounds
• Materials research
• Fungal and algae biology

Provided as part of the core experience as needed:

• Microscope-specific training, from basic to the advanced
• Broad knowledge and experience about using microscopy and fluorescence
• Instruction on sample preparation, experimental design, and workflow
• Advice on image processing and image analysis
• Novel insight into troubleshooting and workarounds
• Access to seminars, webinars, and other educational content