Development of a Sub-Diffraction-Limited Microscope with Molecular Resolution, Wavelength Tunability, & Picosecond Time Resolution for Research in Biophys., Chem., & Materi

在这个由化学系CRIF项目资助的项目中，雅各布W。Petrich和艾米丽A.爱荷华州州立大学化学系的史密斯将构建一种具有同步分子尺度分辨率的受激发射耗尽显微镜（STED）（即，比传统的光学显微镜好十倍）、波长可调谐性和~120皮秒的时间分辨率。 STED系统将能够在焦平面上以10-20 nm的分辨率对微米尺寸的特征进行成像。 增加的时间分辨能力在某些情况下允许观察事件，因为它们实际上发生在被询问的地点。 这种能力的组合提供了研究生物学，化学，物理学和材料科学领域的许多系统的能力。 STED显微镜的建造和它所允许的研究将使一系列的合作努力得以进行。 包括妇女和代表性不足的群体在内的各种学生将有机会获得这种学习经验。 这项工作最重要的广泛影响可分为五个主要领域。 1.本科生培训。 高级本科生将有机会在监督下操作STED系统。 STED设备在校园的存在也将提供一个讨论激光，光谱，显微镜和光刺激的机会。 2.培养研究生。 一旦STED仪器投入使用，来自校内（校外）用户组的研究生在经过充分培训或适当监督后将可以使用该仪器。 3.博士后的培训和指导。 4.提高ISU校园合作研究的质量，补充和加强现有的设施和基础设施。 5.妇女和代表性不足的群体的参与，并为国际空间大学招聘新的教师。 本提案中提供的工具肯定会提高与系一起为国际空间大学招聘新教师的能力？在NSF资助的ADVANCE计划中，该计划加强了对妇女和其他代表性不足的群体的招募。

In this project, funded by the CRIF Program of the Division of Chemistry, Professors Jacob W. Petrich and Emily A. Smith of the Department of Chemistry at Iowa State University will construct a stimulated emission depletion microscope (STED) with simultaneous molecular scale resolution (i.e., ten times better than conventional optical microscopes), wavelength tunablilty, and ~120-picosecond time resolution. The STED system will be capable of imaging micron sized features with 10-20 nm resolution in the focal plane. The added capacity of time resolution permits in some cases the observation of events as they actually occur in the spot being interrogated. This combination of capabilities provides the ability to study a host of systems in the areas of biology, chemistry, physics, and materials science. The construction of the STED microscope and the research that it permits will enable a range of collaborative endeavors to be performed. A diverse population of students, including women and underrepresented groups, will have access to this learning experience. The most significant broader impacts of this work can be grouped into five main areas. 1. Training of undergraduates. Advanced undergraduates will be given the opportunity to operate the STED system under supervision. The presence of the STED apparatus on campus will also provide a stimulating opportunity for discussing lasers, spectroscopy, microscopy, and light. 2. Training of graduate students. Once the STED instrument is operational, graduate students from user groups on (and off) campus will have access to it after they are sufficiently trained or appropriately supervised. 3. Training and mentoring of postdocs. 4. Augmenting the quality of collaborative research on the ISU campus and complementing and enhancing existing facilities and infrastructure. 5. Involvement of women and underrepresented groups and recruiting new faculty to ISU. The instrumentation provided in this proposal will certainly enhance the ability to recruit new faculty to ISU in conjunction with the Department?s role in an NSF funded ADVANCE program, which has enhanced the recruiting of women and other underrepresented groups.