An apparatus for loading and imaging a microfluidic chip can comprise a housing having walls that define a vacuum chamber and a first receptacle disposed within the vacuum chamber, the first receptacle defining a space for receiving one or more microfluidic chips. The apparatus can also include a negative pressure source, a light source, and an optical sensor coupled to the housing. The negative pressure source can be configured to reduce pressure within the vacuum chamber, the light source can be positioned to illuminate at least a portion of the space for receiving the chip(s), and the optical sensor can be positioned to capture an image of at least a portion of the space for receiving the chip(s).