diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-test.yml b/.github/workflows/build-test.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..77ba9cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-test.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+name: Docker Build Test
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - main
+      - master
+    paths:
+      - 'docker/**'
+      - '.github/workflows/build-test.yml'
+
+jobs:
+  build-and-test:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 30
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Set up Docker Buildx
+        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
+
+      - name: Build Docker image
+        uses: docker/build-push-action@v5
+        with:
+          context: .
+          file: ./docker/Dockerfile
+          push: false
+          load: true
+          tags: nf-artist:pr-${{ github.event.pull_request.number }}
+          cache-from: type=gha
+          cache-to: type=gha,mode=max
+
+      - name: Smoke Test - Verify Dependencies
+        run: |
+          docker run --rm nf-artist:pr-${{ github.event.pull_request.number }} \
+            python -c "
+import sys
+import numpy
+import zarr
+
+print(f'Python: {sys.version}')
+print(f'NumPy: {numpy.__version__}')
+print(f'Zarr: {zarr.__version__}')
+
+# Verify NumPy 2.x is installed
+assert numpy.__version__.startswith('2.'), f'Expected NumPy 2.x, got {numpy.__version__}'
+
+# Verify zarr v3 is installed
+assert zarr.__version__.startswith('3.'), f'Expected zarr 3.x, got {zarr.__version__}'
+
+# Test that zarr works with NumPy 2.x (no np.PINF errors)
+import numpy as np
+arr = zarr.array(np.random.random((10, 10)))
+print(f'✓ Successfully created zarr array with shape {arr.shape}')
+
+print('✓ All dependency checks passed!')
+"
+
+      - name: Import Test - Verify All Critical Packages
+        run: |
+          docker run --rm nf-artist:pr-${{ github.event.pull_request.number }} \
+            python -c "
+import openslide
+import cv2
+import synapseclient
+import ome_types
+print('✓ All critical packages imported successfully!')
+"
diff --git a/docker/Dockerfile b/docker/Dockerfile
index 837001f..e831eba 100644
--- a/docker/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker/Dockerfile
@@ -49,14 +49,7 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install --yes --no-install-recommends \
 RUN source /venv/bin/activate && \
     git clone https://github.com/adamjtaylor/miniature.git -b v2 && \
     git clone https://github.com/adamjtaylor/auto-minerva.git -b minerva1point5 && \
-    git clone https://github.com/labsyspharm/minerva-author.git -b v1.14.0 &&  \
-    pip install git+https://github.com/labsyspharm/minerva-lib-python@master#egg=minerva-lib && \
-    pip install \
-            openslide-python \
-            opencv-python-headless \
-            synapseclient \
-            mantel \
-            "ome_types>=0.4.2"
+    git clone https://github.com/labsyspharm/minerva-author.git -b v1.14.0
 
 ENV VIRTUAL_ENV=/venv
 ENV PATH="$VIRTUAL_ENV/bin:$PATH"
diff --git a/docker/environment.yml b/docker/environment.yml
index 900b770..4aa640f 100644
--- a/docker/environment.yml
+++ b/docker/environment.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ channels:
   - fastai
   - bioconda
 dependencies:
-  - numpy>=1.23.0,<2.0
+  - numpy>=1.26.0
+  - zarr>=3.0.0
   - Pillow
   - flask
   - waitress
@@ -16,11 +17,9 @@ dependencies:
   - scikit-image
   - pandas
   - pooch
-  - zarr
   - cython
   - pyinstaller
   - altair
-  - matplotlib
   - umap-learn
   - scikit-learn
   - colormath
@@ -33,3 +32,10 @@ dependencies:
   - libvips
   - estimagic
   - pyvips
+  - pip:
+      - openslide-python
+      - opencv-python-headless
+      - synapseclient
+      - mantel
+      - "ome_types>=0.4.2"
+      - git+https://github.com/labsyspharm/minerva-lib-python@master#egg=minerva-lib