An electrically-powered device intended to provide ideal conditions for microbial growth with an incubator, and to capture digital images of the specimens contained within the incubator at specified time intervals. It consists of an incubator unit with multiple shelves, a camera and a display unit for microbial growth monitoring. The system automatically monitors and controls temperature, humidity, and gaseous conditions [e.g., carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) concentrations]. It may have an integrated robotic transfer arm for loading and unloading the incubator onto/from other instruments. The device may be a single unit or modular assembly.