Thanks for checking out my website! I’m a postdoctoral researcher and microscopist located in New Jersey, USA. Couch Microscopy is a project I started in July, 2017 from my couch while I was recovering from a long-term illness and stuck at home. I go out as often as I can with a plankton net and a few jars and collect water samples from puddles, ponds, streams, swamps, oceans, and any other weird location I find myself in. I use inexpensive equipment (see below) and I think that microscopy is an underutilized and super interesting art form and hobby that anyone can learn. Please don’t hesitate to contact me on here or via Instagram if you have any questions about my work or about getting started with microscopy! — Julia Van Etten

Above is the microscope I use. It is the T340B compound microscope from Amscope. I picked this because it produces high quality images and has the most versatility and capabilities for the cost. By capabilities, I mean that it comes with a darkfield condenser that allows you to illuminate samples from the sides (rather than from below) to produce images on a black background. It also has both high (oil immersion) and low magnification lenses that can be switched out for other lenses if you choose. I highly recommend!

Above are two options for collecting samples. One is a plankton, used to filter out water and keep solid matter in a container to produce a more concentrated sample. This will look different with different mesh sizes of the net (personal preference and price preference) . The one above is from Forestry Suppliers. I also recommend just scooping water and goo into a jar without a net. This is what I do most of the time.

More and more microscopists are now choosing to purchase an iPhone adapter for this microscope to take photos. This is the cheapest option and smartphones now have amazing resolution. I still use my MU120 camera from Amscope which also takes fairly good photos and video. Using a camera like this (along with a USB-C adapter I purchased separately, I am able to watch a bigger version of the field of view on my laptop instead of using the ocular lenses of my microscope, which gives me headaches.

Course materials used in Intro to Microbiology Lab, General Microbiology Lab, and Applied Microbiology Lab at Rutgers University.

Publication supplement with all course materials found here.

Below is a link to a compilation of videos, tutorials, and protocols I have put together to help train undergrads and carry out experiments for my dissertation project. Feel free to click and copy or use the list for your own teaching/training/learning endeavors! (https://linktr.ee/LabManual)