Image Analysis and Microscopy for Undergraduate Biology

这个项目通过提供设备来改进细胞和分子生物学课程：(1)开发一门以显微镜为基础的实践课程；(2)提高细胞生物学、发育生物学、免疫学和生物方法与仪器等现有课程的实验室质量和效率；(3)将当前的显微镜技术添加到系里的本科研究项目中。该设备包括三台高质量光学显微镜，配备了用于明场、相位、偏光和外显荧光等多种应用的光学和配件，以及一个最先进的图像处理和分析系统。这些新的显微镜（连同两个现有的透射和x射线分析扫描电子显微镜）将通过胶片和视频与图像处理器连接。综合成像系统将在“台式”实验课程中应用于真实的实验情境。这种仪器密集的方法使学生获得操作现代设备所需的经验，以及设计现代实验所需的批判性思维和鉴赏力。期望培养出更有能力、更有可能从事研究生学习的毕业生。受资助机构将从非联邦来源获得等额的NSF奖励。

This project improves the cell and molecular biology curriculum by providing equipment to (1) develop a hands-on, instrument-based course in Microscopy; (2) improve the quality and effectiveness of laboratories in existing courses in Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Immunology, and Biological Methods and Instrumentation; and (3) add current technology in microscopy to the available options in the department's undergraduate research program. The equipment includes three high quality light microscopes equipped with optics and accessories designed for multiple applications of brightfield, phase, polarizing and epi-fluorescence, and a state-or-the-art image processing and analysis system. These new microscopes (along with two existing transmission and x-ray analytical scanning electron microscopes) will be interfaced by film and video with the image processor. The integrated imaging system will be applied in "bench-type" laboratory courses to real experimental situations. This instrument-intensive approach allows students to gain the experience required to operate modern equipment and the critical thinking and appreciation required to design modern experiments. It is expected to produce graduates who are better equipped for and more likely to undertake post-graduate studies. The grantee institution is matching the NSF award with an equal sum obtained from non-Federal sources.