Acquisition of a FEI Quanta 400 Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope with Oxford E400 EDS in Support of Research and Training in the Life and Physical Sciences

摘要西切斯特大学的约翰·T·贝内斯基博士获得了一项拨款，用于购买一台带有EDS系统的环境扫描电子显微镜。西切斯特大学增加这种设备将大大增加我们的教职员工和学生的研究机会(特别是在理科)，增强我们从最广泛的不同背景吸引新学生的能力，增强我们培训学生最先进的市场技能的能力，并为我们的教职员工和学生提供新的机会与当地生物技术相关产业的高科技走廊的科学家合作。新的电子显微镜将被生物学、地质与天文学和化学系的教职员工和学生广泛使用来研究广泛的问题，包括：(1)苔藓植物的分类调查；(2)尿液脊椎动物尿球的形成、结构、组成和生理；(3)从古代(250英里及以上)表面灭菌的盐晶中分离出的各种嗜盐细菌的检测；(4)白垩纪中期海洋循环的动力学。贝内斯基博士将通过积极推动独立的学生研究项目和实习，为学生提供额外的机会。除了研究和培训，新的扫描电子显微镜/EDS将被用作招聘工具，以吸引来自传统和非传统背景的新理科专业学生。为了实现这一目标，贝内斯基博士将扩大实践演示和参观，展示先进科学成像中心可用的成像技术；这些演示和参观将作为针对地区高中、转学学生和服务不足的群体的现有计划的一部分，定期访问该大学的潜在学生。西切斯特大学在提供最先进的成像技术和资源方面的持续增长不仅服务于我们教职员工和学生在科学方面的当前和未来需求，也反映了宾夕法尼亚州和宾夕法尼亚州高等教育系统对科学和技术的日益重视。这两个机构都希望西切斯特大学招收和培训更多的科学和技术学生。购置所需设备是继续发展高级科学成像中心的关键一步，该中心是西切斯特大学研究和研究培训的关键资源。

Abstract A grant has been awarded to Dr. John T. Beneski at West Chester University to purchase an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope with an EDS system. The addition of this equipment to West Chester University will significantly increase the research opportunities for our faculty and students (particularly in the sciences), enhance our ability to attract new students from the widest diversity of backgrounds, enhance our ability to train students in state-of-the-art marketable skills, and provide new opportunities for our faculty and students to collaborate with scientists from the local high-tech corridor of biotechnology-related industries.The new electron microscope will be used extensively by faculty and students in the Departments of Biology, Geology & Astronomy, and Chemistry to investigate a wide variety of problems including: (1) a taxonomic investigation of bryophytes; (2) the formation, structure, composition, and physiology of urine spheres in uricotelic vertebrates; (3) the examination of various halophilic bacteria isolated from ancient (250 mya and older) surface sterilized salt crystals; and (4) the dynamics of Mid-Cretaceous ocean circulation. Dr. Beneski will provide additional opportunities for students by actively promoting independent student research projects and internships. In addition to research and training, the new SEM/EDS will be used as a recruitment tool for attracting new science majors from both traditional and non-traditional backgrounds. To accomplish this, Dr. Beneski will expand the hands-on demonstrations and tours that showcase the imaging technologies available in the Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging; these demonstrations and tours are presented to the potential students that regularly visit the University as part of existing programs targeting area high schools, transfer students, and underserved groups.West Chester University's continued growth in providing state-of-the-art imaging technologies and resources not only serves the immediate and future needs of our faculty and students in the sciences, it also mirrors a growing emphasis on the sciences and technology by the State of Pennsylvania and PA State System of Higher Education. Both of these institutions expect West Chester University to recruit and train more students in the sciences and technology. The acquisition of the requested equipment is a critical step in the continued development of Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging as a key resource for research and research training at West Chester University.