IDBR: EcoChip: A Micro-structured Microbial Habitat Array

这是一个新的研究者为开发微结构的微生物栖息地阵列称为EcoChips的奖项。 微生物生态系统的微生物传感器将在芯片上开发，具有可定制的生态系统几何结构和用于化学控制和环境采样的流体处理能力。EcoChips将能够坐在显微镜上，直接观察原生动物，细菌和其他微生物，因为它们在这些微栖息地中争夺资源。EcoChips将用于研究微生物对化学梯度的反应，以及其他高通量的研究。 EcoChips克服了目前生物反应器的问题，通过缩放到微生境的大小，并允许在这些微环境中观察单个细菌。 微生物是迷人的有机体，对地球上所有其他生命的持续存在至关重要。EcoChips将允许在实验室中对微生物栖息地进行研究，其详细程度以前是不可能的。EcoChips将对学生项目有好处。将为中学教学开发实践学习模块。 这些单元还将用于每年为女孩举办的讲习班：TWISTER，田纳西州妇女参与科学技术工程和研究。

This is an award to a new investigator for the development of micro-structured microbial habitat arrays called EcoChips. Habitats for microbial ecosystems will be developed on chips, with customizable architectures for the geometry of the ecosystems and fluid handling capabilities for chemical control and sampling of environments. EcoChips will be able to sit on a microscope stage, for direct viewing of protozoa, bacteria, and other microbes as they compete for resources in these micro-habitats. EcoChips will be used to study microbial responses to chemical gradients, among other things, with high throughput. EcoChips overcome the problems with current bioreactors, by scaling to the size of a micro-habitat and permitting visualization of individual bacteria in these micro-environments. Microbes are fascinating organisms of central importance to the continued existence of all other life on Earth. EcoChips will permit investigations of microbial habitats in the lab at a level of detail not previously possible. The EcoChips will be good for student projects. Hands-on learning modules will be developed for middle school teaching. These modules will also be used at an annual workshop for girls: TWISTER, Tennessee Women in Science Technology Engineering and Research.