Alfred Millett-Sikking
@amsikking.bsky.social
I'm a Physicist and R&D Engineer. Fascinated by optimal designs, I seek to improve and invent technologies.
Homepage: amsikking.github.io
Homepage: amsikking.github.io
Pinned
Proof of principle. A critical step in many projects...
-> Here's the first data from an AMS-AGY objective. Without building the whole instrument, it showed that a tilted Snouty (Frustum) objective can avoid the resolution lost in an oblique plane microscope!
amsikking.github.io/high_na_sing...
-> Here's the first data from an AMS-AGY objective. Without building the whole instrument, it showed that a tilted Snouty (Frustum) objective can avoid the resolution lost in an oblique plane microscope!
amsikking.github.io/high_na_sing...
February 1, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Proof of principle. A critical step in many projects...
-> Here's the first data from an AMS-AGY objective. Without building the whole instrument, it showed that a tilted Snouty (Frustum) objective can avoid the resolution lost in an oblique plane microscope!
amsikking.github.io/high_na_sing...
-> Here's the first data from an AMS-AGY objective. Without building the whole instrument, it showed that a tilted Snouty (Frustum) objective can avoid the resolution lost in an oblique plane microscope!
amsikking.github.io/high_na_sing...
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "Y" scientist!
(25/26) -> "Y" is for Yak, Yam, and...Young?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(25/26) -> "Y" is for Yak, Yam, and...Young?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
February 1, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "Y" scientist!
(25/26) -> "Y" is for Yak, Yam, and...Young?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(25/26) -> "Y" is for Yak, Yam, and...Young?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
Reposted by Alfred Millett-Sikking
Our snouty v3 (AMS-AGY v3) objective arrived today! Looking forward to getting it installed on our single objective light sheet system very soon...
January 19, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Our snouty v3 (AMS-AGY v3) objective arrived today! Looking forward to getting it installed on our single objective light sheet system very soon...
How has AI changed CAD? Can AI now reliably generate 3D parts, assemblies and drawings? I'm interested to hear about new tools, workflows and experiences ;)
-> Here's a series of enclosures I designed years ago for housing custom lab equipment. Can AI CAD just generate this automatically now?
-> Here's a series of enclosures I designed years ago for housing custom lab equipment. Can AI CAD just generate this automatically now?
January 18, 2026 at 6:14 PM
How has AI changed CAD? Can AI now reliably generate 3D parts, assemblies and drawings? I'm interested to hear about new tools, workflows and experiences ;)
-> Here's a series of enclosures I designed years ago for housing custom lab equipment. Can AI CAD just generate this automatically now?
-> Here's a series of enclosures I designed years ago for housing custom lab equipment. Can AI CAD just generate this automatically now?
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "X" scientist!
(24/26) -> "X" is for Xeme, Xigua, and...Xanthopoulos?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilis...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(24/26) -> "X" is for Xeme, Xigua, and...Xanthopoulos?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilis...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
January 18, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "X" scientist!
(24/26) -> "X" is for Xeme, Xigua, and...Xanthopoulos?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilis...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(24/26) -> "X" is for Xeme, Xigua, and...Xanthopoulos?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilis...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
Sharing: A simple automatic liquid dispense arrangement (SALDA) for timelapse microscopy.
-> A SALDA enables accurate and repeatable liquid perturbations during timelapse microscopy and avoids environmental disturbance and vibrations from the user!
Details here:
amsikking.github.io/SALDA_for_ti...
-> A SALDA enables accurate and repeatable liquid perturbations during timelapse microscopy and avoids environmental disturbance and vibrations from the user!
Details here:
amsikking.github.io/SALDA_for_ti...
January 5, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Sharing: A simple automatic liquid dispense arrangement (SALDA) for timelapse microscopy.
-> A SALDA enables accurate and repeatable liquid perturbations during timelapse microscopy and avoids environmental disturbance and vibrations from the user!
Details here:
amsikking.github.io/SALDA_for_ti...
-> A SALDA enables accurate and repeatable liquid perturbations during timelapse microscopy and avoids environmental disturbance and vibrations from the user!
Details here:
amsikking.github.io/SALDA_for_ti...
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "W" scientist!
(23/26) -> "W" is for Worm, Watercress, and...Watt?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_W...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(23/26) -> "W" is for Worm, Watercress, and...Watt?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_W...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
January 5, 2026 at 4:04 AM
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "W" scientist!
(23/26) -> "W" is for Worm, Watercress, and...Watt?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_W...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(23/26) -> "W" is for Worm, Watercress, and...Watt?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_W...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
Pro tip! As much as I like the 55deg #Snouty microscope configuration (previous post) it's hard to align and keep aligned!
-> Consider using pre-designed O2-O3 optomechanics and an eyepiece to help avoid collisions during the set up!
github.com/amsikking/SO...
-> Consider using pre-designed O2-O3 optomechanics and an eyepiece to help avoid collisions during the set up!
github.com/amsikking/SO...
December 19, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Pro tip! As much as I like the 55deg #Snouty microscope configuration (previous post) it's hard to align and keep aligned!
-> Consider using pre-designed O2-O3 optomechanics and an eyepiece to help avoid collisions during the set up!
github.com/amsikking/SO...
-> Consider using pre-designed O2-O3 optomechanics and an eyepiece to help avoid collisions during the set up!
github.com/amsikking/SO...
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "V" scientist!
(22/26) -> "V" is for Viper, Vanilla, and...Volta?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alessan...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(22/26) -> "V" is for Viper, Vanilla, and...Volta?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alessan...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
December 19, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "V" scientist!
(22/26) -> "V" is for Viper, Vanilla, and...Volta?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alessan...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(22/26) -> "V" is for Viper, Vanilla, and...Volta?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alessan...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
Reposted by Alfred Millett-Sikking
I'm excited to be hiring an intern to develop new fluorescence-based assays for alpha synuclein aggregation at Calico during summer 2026 😃 🔬
If you're a current PhD student who loves microscopy, unnatural amino acids, and/or synuclein biophysics, please apply!
www.calicolabs.com/careers/?gh_...
If you're a current PhD student who loves microscopy, unnatural amino acids, and/or synuclein biophysics, please apply!
www.calicolabs.com/careers/?gh_...
Careers - Calico
www.calicolabs.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:03 AM
I'm excited to be hiring an intern to develop new fluorescence-based assays for alpha synuclein aggregation at Calico during summer 2026 😃 🔬
If you're a current PhD student who loves microscopy, unnatural amino acids, and/or synuclein biophysics, please apply!
www.calicolabs.com/careers/?gh_...
If you're a current PhD student who loves microscopy, unnatural amino acids, and/or synuclein biophysics, please apply!
www.calicolabs.com/careers/?gh_...
Reposted by Alfred Millett-Sikking
The ASI machine shop made a nice replica model of the AMS-AGY v3 objective for us to have in the #CellBio2025 booth. The first of the real ones will be ready by the end of the year.
December 9, 2025 at 2:33 PM
The ASI machine shop made a nice replica model of the AMS-AGY v3 objective for us to have in the #CellBio2025 booth. The first of the real ones will be ready by the end of the year.
Hands down my favorite #Snouty microscope configuration!
-> The air objective with a 55deg light-sheet. It's not the highest resolution version, but the convenience of the air objective, the large field of view and the steep sectioning of the light-sheet make it a pleasure to use!
#AIRR #miOPM
-> The air objective with a 55deg light-sheet. It's not the highest resolution version, but the convenience of the air objective, the large field of view and the steep sectioning of the light-sheet make it a pleasure to use!
#AIRR #miOPM
December 7, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "U" scientist!
(21/26) -> "U" is for Unicorn, Ugli, and...Umov?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolay...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(21/26) -> "U" is for Unicorn, Ugli, and...Umov?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolay...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
December 7, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "U" scientist!
(21/26) -> "U" is for Unicorn, Ugli, and...Umov?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolay...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(21/26) -> "U" is for Unicorn, Ugli, and...Umov?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolay...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
Fast, gentle, 3D and high resolution makes miOPM ideal for timelapse microscopy of complex neural networks!
-> Here's a unique iNeuron-iAstrocyte coculture imaged by github.com/gav-sturm and carefully prepared by @kunalshroff.bsky.social from the @kampmann.bsky.social lab.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
-> Here's a unique iNeuron-iAstrocyte coculture imaged by github.com/gav-sturm and carefully prepared by @kunalshroff.bsky.social from the @kampmann.bsky.social lab.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
November 24, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Fast, gentle, 3D and high resolution makes miOPM ideal for timelapse microscopy of complex neural networks!
-> Here's a unique iNeuron-iAstrocyte coculture imaged by github.com/gav-sturm and carefully prepared by @kunalshroff.bsky.social from the @kampmann.bsky.social lab.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
-> Here's a unique iNeuron-iAstrocyte coculture imaged by github.com/gav-sturm and carefully prepared by @kunalshroff.bsky.social from the @kampmann.bsky.social lab.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "T" scientist!
(20/26) -> "T" is for Tarantula, Turnip, and...Taylor?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brook_T...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(20/26) -> "T" is for Tarantula, Turnip, and...Taylor?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brook_T...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
November 23, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "T" scientist!
(20/26) -> "T" is for Tarantula, Turnip, and...Taylor?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brook_T...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(20/26) -> "T" is for Tarantula, Turnip, and...Taylor?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brook_T...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
Has anyone had this problem? A hydrophobic water objective? The objective is great but we struggle to keep the water on the lens...
-> Maybe a solution is to paint a circle around the nose with a 'hydrophobic barrier pap pen" (link below). Has anyone tried this?
www.fishersci.com/shop/product...
-> Maybe a solution is to paint a circle around the nose with a 'hydrophobic barrier pap pen" (link below). Has anyone tried this?
www.fishersci.com/shop/product...
November 12, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Has anyone had this problem? A hydrophobic water objective? The objective is great but we struggle to keep the water on the lens...
-> Maybe a solution is to paint a circle around the nose with a 'hydrophobic barrier pap pen" (link below). Has anyone tried this?
www.fishersci.com/shop/product...
-> Maybe a solution is to paint a circle around the nose with a 'hydrophobic barrier pap pen" (link below). Has anyone tried this?
www.fishersci.com/shop/product...
Another huge advantage of miOPM is that it's gentle! A light-sheet microscope that's compatible with standard slides and multi-well plates!
-> Here we show 3D mitochondrial membrane potential in mammalian cells (GFP/RFP for mito, Cy5 for DNA). The cells move around freely!
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
-> Here we show 3D mitochondrial membrane potential in mammalian cells (GFP/RFP for mito, Cy5 for DNA). The cells move around freely!
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
November 9, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Another huge advantage of miOPM is that it's gentle! A light-sheet microscope that's compatible with standard slides and multi-well plates!
-> Here we show 3D mitochondrial membrane potential in mammalian cells (GFP/RFP for mito, Cy5 for DNA). The cells move around freely!
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
-> Here we show 3D mitochondrial membrane potential in mammalian cells (GFP/RFP for mito, Cy5 for DNA). The cells move around freely!
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "S" scientist!
(19/26) -> "S" is for Squirrel, Strawberry, and...Snell?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willebr...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(19/26) -> "S" is for Squirrel, Strawberry, and...Snell?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willebr...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
November 9, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "S" scientist!
(19/26) -> "S" is for Squirrel, Strawberry, and...Snell?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willebr...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(19/26) -> "S" is for Squirrel, Strawberry, and...Snell?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willebr...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
A huge advantage of miOPM is 3D imaging with an air objective (previous post), but for extra depth you can also use a water objective!
-> Here's mouse alveolar organoids with Muc1 AT2 cells (green), TOM20 mitochondria (blue), RAGE AT1 cells (gray) and DAPI (magenta).
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
-> Here's mouse alveolar organoids with Muc1 AT2 cells (green), TOM20 mitochondria (blue), RAGE AT1 cells (gray) and DAPI (magenta).
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
October 26, 2025 at 5:15 PM
A huge advantage of miOPM is 3D imaging with an air objective (previous post), but for extra depth you can also use a water objective!
-> Here's mouse alveolar organoids with Muc1 AT2 cells (green), TOM20 mitochondria (blue), RAGE AT1 cells (gray) and DAPI (magenta).
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
-> Here's mouse alveolar organoids with Muc1 AT2 cells (green), TOM20 mitochondria (blue), RAGE AT1 cells (gray) and DAPI (magenta).
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "R" scientist!
(18/26) -> "R" is for Rabbit, Radish, and...Raman?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._V._R...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(18/26) -> "R" is for Rabbit, Radish, and...Raman?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._V._R...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
October 26, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "R" scientist!
(18/26) -> "R" is for Rabbit, Radish, and...Raman?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._V._R...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(18/26) -> "R" is for Rabbit, Radish, and...Raman?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._V._R...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
The future of High-Content Imaging has arrived.
-> Ultra-fast 3D imaging of multi-well plates at high resolution using an air objective!
See previous posts and the new miOPM preprint for details: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
-> Ultra-fast 3D imaging of multi-well plates at high resolution using an air objective!
See previous posts and the new miOPM preprint for details: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
October 13, 2025 at 12:44 AM
The future of High-Content Imaging has arrived.
-> Ultra-fast 3D imaging of multi-well plates at high resolution using an air objective!
See previous posts and the new miOPM preprint for details: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
-> Ultra-fast 3D imaging of multi-well plates at high resolution using an air objective!
See previous posts and the new miOPM preprint for details: doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "Q" scientist!
(17/26) -> "Q" is for Quail, Quince, and...Quinn?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Q...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(17/26) -> "Q" is for Quail, Quince, and...Quinn?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Q...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
October 13, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Celebrating science with art! Every 2 weeks for 1 year, the full alphabet. Like, reply or repost with your favorite "Q" scientist!
(17/26) -> "Q" is for Quail, Quince, and...Quinn?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Q...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
(17/26) -> "Q" is for Quail, Quince, and...Quinn?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Q...
Art by @annesikking.bsky.social (my Mum).
Reposted by Alfred Millett-Sikking
Playing around with how to represent volume in #Snouty light sheet data. Here is a dividing hiPSC with endogenously tagged histone in all three orthogonal projections. Bluer is further away. If anything, it distracts from politics.
October 8, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Playing around with how to represent volume in #Snouty light sheet data. Here is a dividing hiPSC with endogenously tagged histone in all three orthogonal projections. Bluer is further away. If anything, it distracts from politics.
Reposted by Alfred Millett-Sikking
We present multi-immersion Oblique Plane microscope (miOPM), a light-sheet platform that can be adapted to a wide range of applications, from sensitive live cell imaging to imaging organs and cleared tissues.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 6, 2025 at 5:52 PM
We present multi-immersion Oblique Plane microscope (miOPM), a light-sheet platform that can be adapted to a wide range of applications, from sensitive live cell imaging to imaging organs and cleared tissues.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
The culmination of many years work. One of the most advanced light-sheet microscopes in the world!
-> A large field of view Snouty light-sheet microscope, with any immersion remote refocus and real-time multi-angle projections!
For details see previous posts and here: github.com/amsikking/HT...
-> A large field of view Snouty light-sheet microscope, with any immersion remote refocus and real-time multi-angle projections!
For details see previous posts and here: github.com/amsikking/HT...
September 28, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The culmination of many years work. One of the most advanced light-sheet microscopes in the world!
-> A large field of view Snouty light-sheet microscope, with any immersion remote refocus and real-time multi-angle projections!
For details see previous posts and here: github.com/amsikking/HT...
-> A large field of view Snouty light-sheet microscope, with any immersion remote refocus and real-time multi-angle projections!
For details see previous posts and here: github.com/amsikking/HT...