IDBR: EcoChip: A Micro-structured Microbial Habitat Array

这是一个新研究员的奖项，他开发了微型结构的微生物栖息地阵列，称为EcoChips。微生物生态系统的栖息地将在芯片上开发，具有可定制的生态系统几何结构和流体处理能力，用于化学控制和环境采样。EcoChips将能够坐在显微镜台上，直接观察原生动物、细菌和其他微生物在这些微栖息地争夺资源的过程。除其他外，EcoChips将用于研究微生物对化学梯度的反应，具有高通量。EcoChips克服了当前生物反应器的问题，通过缩放到微栖息地的大小，并允许在这些微环境中可视化单个细菌。微生物是一种迷人的有机体，对地球上所有其他生命的继续存在至关重要。EcoChips将允许在实验室中对微生物栖息地进行前所未有的详细调查。EcoChips对学生项目很有帮助。将为中学教学开发动手学习模块。这些模块还将用于为女孩举办的年度研讨会：TWISTER，田纳西州科学技术工程和研究领域的妇女。

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.