Acquisition of Research-Grade Light Microscopy Instrumentation

在David Pfeiffer博士的指导下，阿拉斯加安克雷奇大学获得了一笔赠款，用于购买研究级光学显微仪器。这项拨款将改善阿拉斯加安克雷奇大学生物科学系的基础但必要的研究仪器。该部门开展各种各样的研究活动，从分子水平到生态水平的研究。该系出现了两个特别强大的研究焦点小组：系统学与生态学和细胞生物学与生理学。研究级光学显微仪器的迫切需要现在存在于每一个核心群体。目前对这种仪器的需求已经被最近的部门增长所推动，但超出了个人研究人员的水平，也扩展到了跨部门和机构的水平。UAA正在努力整合来自不同科学领域的研究和教育活动。这一任务的核心是拥有适当的仪器，这将允许不同学科的教师之间的合作努力，并增加学生参与研究活动的机会。教师的独立研究是激发学生对科学课兴趣的主要动力之一。一套研究级的光学显微仪器不仅将加强本系教师的独立研究，还将为本科生直接参与教师指导的研究提供一套工具。这种用途符合UAA的使命，即通过开发新方法使学生参与学习过程，实现卓越的科学教育。UAA的地理位置使其处于一个黄金位置，可以扩大代表性不足的学生的参与，例如阿拉斯加原住民，在这些过程中。研究生培训也将直接受益于该仪器。

A grant has been awarded to the University of Alaska Anchorage under the direction of Dr. David Pfeiffer for the acquisition of research-grade light microscopic instrumentation. This grant will improve basic but essential research instrumentation in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). This department conducts a diverse range of research activities, spanning molecular levels through ecological levels of study. Two particularly strong research focus groups have emerged in this department: Systematics & Ecology and Cell Biology & Physiology. A critical need for research-grade light microscopic instrumentation now exists in each of these core groups. The current need for this instrumentation has been fueled by recent departmental growth but extends beyond the level of individual researchers to the inter-departmental and institutional levels as well. UAA is striving to integrate research and educational activities from different fields of science. Central to this mission is having appropriate instrumentation in place that will permit collaborative efforts between faculty working in different disciplines and enhance opportunities for student involvement in research activities. Independent research by faculty is one of the primary drivers for engaging the interest of students in science classes. A suite of research-grade light microscopic instrumentation will not only strengthen independent research by faculty in this department, it will provide a set of tools for directly involving undergraduate students in faculty supervised research. This use falls in line with UAA's mission to achieve excellence in scientific education through developing new ways to engage students in the process of learning. The geographical position of UAA places it in a prime location to broaden the participation of underrepresented students, such Alaskan Natives, in these processes. Graduate student training will also directly benefit from this instrumentation.