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，爱荷华州立大学化学系的Jacob W. Petrich教授和Emily a . Smith教授将构建一个同时具有分子尺度分辨率（即比传统光学显微镜好10倍）、波长可调性和~120皮秒时间分辨率的受激发射耗尽显微镜（STED）。STED系统将能够在焦平面上以10-20纳米的分辨率成像微米尺寸的特征。在某些情况下，增加的时间分辨能力允许观察在被询问地点实际发生的事件。这种能力的组合提供了在生物、化学、物理和材料科学领域研究大量系统的能力。STED显微镜的建设和它所允许的研究将使一系列的合作努力得以实施。不同的学生群体，包括女性和代表性不足的群体，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以分为五个主要领域。1. 培养本科生。高级本科生将有机会在督导下操作教育及教育标准局系统。STED设备在校园里的存在也将提供一个令人兴奋的机会来讨论激光，光谱学，显微镜和光。2. 培养研究生。一旦STED仪器投入使用，来自校园内外用户组的研究生在经过充分培训或适当监督后，就可以使用它。3. 培养和指导博士后。4. 提高国际滑联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以及为国际滑联招募新教员。该提案中提供的工具肯定会提高与该部门一起为国际州立大学招聘新教师的能力。她在国家科学基金会资助的ADVANCE项目中所扮演的角色，该项目加强了对女性和其他代表性不足群体的招募。

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.