An incubator comprising: an enclosure having an internal chamber configured to support a cell culture plate comprising a plurality of wells , and at least one passage configured for gas entry; a temperature controller configured to maintain a temperature of the internal chamber within a desired range; a first heating/cooling device engaged directly or indirectly with the enclosure, the first heating/cooling device controlled by the temperature controller; an access structure positioned at the top of the internal chamber, the access structure comprising a plurality of openings configured to allow access to the wells of the cell culture plate; and a sealing element comprising a first plurality of openings corresponding to at least a subset of the plurality of openings in the access structure, wherein the access structure comprises a printed circuit board, PCB, the sealing element comprises a substantially flat surface that directly interfaces with a surface of the access structure, wherein all points on the substantially flat surface of the sealing element lie within a space defined by two ideal planes that are parallel to one another and separated by a distance of 0.2 mm, and wherein the sealing element is movable between a closed position in which the sealing element occludes, and thereby seals, each of the plurality of openings in the access structure, and a first open position where the first plurality of openings of the sealing element are in register with the at least a subset of the plurality of openings in the access structure, thereby providing access to the internal chamber of the enclosure and, when the cell culture plate is supported therein, at least a subset of the plurality of wells of the cell culture plate. an enclosure having an internal chamber configured to support a cell culture plate comprising a plurality of wells , and at least one passage configured for gas entry; a temperature controller configured to maintain a temperature of the internal chamber within a desired range; a first heating/cooling device engaged directly or indirectly with the enclosure, the first heating/cooling device controlled by the temperature controller; an access structure positioned at the top of the internal chamber, the access structure comprising a plurality of openings configured to allow access to the wells of the cell culture plate; and a sealing element comprising a first plurality of openings corresponding to at least a subset of the plurality of openings in the access structure, wherein the access structure comprises a printed circuit board, PCB, the sealing element comprises a substantially flat surface that directly interfaces with a surface of the access structure, wherein all points on the substantially flat surface of the sealing element lie within a space defined by two ideal planes that are parallel to one another and separated by a distance of 0.2 mm, and wherein the sealing element is movable between a closed position in which the sealing element occludes, and thereby seals, each of the plurality of openings in the access structure, and a first open position where the first plurality of openings of the sealing element are in register with the at least a subset of the plurality of openings in the access structure, thereby providing access to the internal chamber of the enclosure and, when the cell culture plate is supported therein, at least a subset of the plurality of wells of the cell culture plate. <EOS>