RUI: Acquisition of Electron Microscopy Instrumentation to Enhance Undergraduate Research at Truman State University

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A grant has been awarded to Dr. Jeffrey M. Osborn at Truman State University to enhance undergraduate research opportunities at Truman through the acquisition of electron microscopy instrumentation. Funds from this grant will be used to purchase the following instruments: 1) a digital image system for an existing transmission electron microscope (TEM), 2) a digital image system for an existing scanning electron microscope (SEM), 3) an ultramicrotome, 4) a block trimmer, and 5) a critical point dryer. This proposal brings together five faculty members who utilize electron microscopy in their research and teaching. 1) Pollen Developmental Evolution in Basal Angiosperms - Jeffrey Osborn (PI). 2) Functional Morphology of Prey Capture by Arrow Worms - George Shinn (Co-PI). 3) Structure-Function Relationships in Fleas: Water Uptake - Laura Fielden (Co-PI). 4-5) Programmed Cell Death in Maize - Diane Janick-Buckner and Brent Buckner (Co-PIs). Truman is Missouri's highly selective, public liberal arts and sciences university, whose mission includes a significant emphasis on involving undergraduate students in original research. Student research is achieved through faculty mentoring of individual and group projects, as well as direct inclusion of original research into the curriculum. Electron microscopy continues to play a pivotal role in both approaches.