MRI: Acquisition of Confocal Microscopy Instrumentation to Enhance Undergraduate Research at Truman State University

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。国家科学基金会主要研究仪器奖将通过支持购买旋转圆盘共聚焦显微镜来加强杜鲁门州立大学的显微镜密集型本科生研究和培训。杜鲁门州立大学的使命包括强调将原创性研究融入本科教育，其教师致力于通过教师指导学生的研究机会和直接将研究纳入其课程，为学生提供丰富的研究密集型学习环境。五名杜鲁门教师在他们的研究项目中使用共聚焦显微镜，具体来说，探索：C。elegans，玉米茎顶端分生组织的遗传控制，植物向重力性过程中的肌动蛋白动力学，以及植物内生真菌的相互作用。此外，共聚焦显微镜将用于八门课程的调查实验室，从核心课程到高级选修课。每年，多样化的学生群体（超过300名学生，包括越来越多的少数民族（目前为12.4%），以及生物学，化学，健康科学，运动科学，数学和计算机科学专业的学生）将接受共聚焦技术的培训，并通过实验室课程获得共聚焦显微镜的实践经验。研究成果将通过教师和学生在科学研究会议上的演讲以及同行评审的科学期刊上的出版物进行传播。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).The National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation award will enhance microscopy-intensive undergraduate research and training at Truman State University through support for the acquisition of a spinning disc confocal microscope. The Truman State University mission includes an emphasis on integrating original research in undergraduate education, and its faculty are committed to providing their students with a rich research-intensive learning environment through faculty-mentored student research opportunities and direct inclusion of research into its curriculum. Five Truman faculty members use confocal microscopy in their research projects, specifically, exploring: development and cell migration in C. elegans, genetic control of the shoot apical meristem in maize, actin dynamics during plant gravitropism, and plant-endophytic fungi interactions. In addition, the confocal microscope will be used in investigative labs in eight courses, ranging from core courses to upper-level electives. Each year, a diverse student population (more than 300 students, including an increasing number of minorities (currently 12.4%), and students with majors in Biology, Chemistry, Health Science, Exercise Science, Mathematics and Computer Science) will receive training in confocal technique and gain hands-on experience with the confocal microscope via laboratory-based courses. Research results will be disseminated through faculty and student presentations at scientific research conferences and in publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.