MRI-R2: Acquisition of a Gene Expression Monitoring System to Enhance Faculty-Student Collaborative Research

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。来自NSF MRI-R2计划的支持已授予Hamline大学，用于购买BioRad CFX 96多色实时PCR系统和NanoDrop 2000 c分光光度计。通过这些仪器实现的基因表达的定量监测是Hamline生物学教师的许多项目的核心。由生物系的教师进行的研究项目解决了各种问题，植物对染色体不平衡和环境压力的反应，植物微生物相互作用，细胞生物学，植物分生组织发育，春化和开花时间的分子控制，环境微生物学，早期果蝇发育和入侵物种种群的遗传分析。 新仪器将增加使用基因表达分析的学生和教师的数量，并提高研究期间产生的数据的质量。 在哈姆林生物系努力创造一个环境，让学生有多种机会学习，成为感兴趣的，并接受培训做研究。 超过25%的哈姆林大学学生是返回学校获得额外学位或证书的大龄学生。毕业后，他们追求在各个领域的职业生涯，包括研究生教育，卫生专业计划，在行业的职业生涯，并作为中学科学教师。现代仪器的使用确保了这些人在他们选择的职业中具有竞争力。哈姆林生物学系还开办了一个暑期生物技术研究所，以满足迫切需要，使高中生物教师跟上生物科学的快速发展。教师从事动手调查实验室，涉及现代仪器转移他们对现代生物技术和概念的理解，他们的兴奋和参与高中学生，有可能加强科学教育和提高高中学生对科学的看法。实时PCR技术将是一个重要的除了一套分子生物学应用目前正在使用的这一计划。 由新仪器启用的研究和推广项目的结果将在同行评审的期刊上传播，并由学生和教师在区域或国家会议上发表演讲。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).Support from the NSF MRI-R2 program has been awarded to Hamline University for the purchase of a BioRad CFX96 Multi-Color Real-Time PCR system and a NanoDrop 2000c spectrophotometer. Quantitative monitoring of gene expression, as enabled by these instruments, is central to many projects of Hamline Biology faculty. Research projects conducted by faculty of the Biology Department address a variety of questions about plant response to chromosomal imbalance and environmental stresses, plant-microbial interactions, cell biology, plant meristem development, molecular control of vernalization and flowering time, environmental microbiology, early Drosophila development, and genetic analysis of invasive species populations. The new instruments will increase the number of students and faculty using gene expression analysis and enhance the quality of the data produced during the studies. The Biology Department at Hamline strives to create an environment where students have multiple opportunities to learn, become interested in, and receive training to do research. Over 25% of Hamline University students are older students returning to school for an additional degree or certificate. After graduation, they pursue careers in a variety of fields, including graduate education, health profession programs, careers in industry, and as secondary school science teachers. Access to modern instrumentation ensures that these individuals will be competitive in their chosen careers. The Hamline Biology Department also runs a Summer Biotechnology Institute to address the urgent need to bring high school biology teachers up-to-speed on the rapid advancements in biological sciences. Teachers engaged by hands-on investigative laboratories involving modern instrumentation transfer their understanding of modern biology techniques and concepts and their excitement and engagement to the high school students, potentially enhancing science education and improving perception of science by high school students. Real-time PCR technology will be an important addition to a set of molecular biology applications currently in use in this program. Results from the research and outreach projects enabled by the new instrumentation will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, and by student and faculty presentations at regional or national meetings.