MRI: Acquisition of a Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope for a Shared Imaging Facility for Research and Undergraduate Research Training at Occidental College

该项目建立了一个高分辨率光学显微镜成像设施，用于西方学院的生物和化学研究和本科生研究培训。赠款资金将用于购买徕卡TCS SP5 II光谱共焦系统，用于共享显微镜核心设施。西方学院将使用SP5共聚焦系统研究生物学和生物化学中的各种问题，包括线虫神经发育过程中微管和轴突生长的调节，斑马鱼的离子通道生理学，锥形蜗牛的捕食机制，热带菠萝的营养吸收和尿素酶活性，新发现的海洋无脊椎动物的微生物共生，以及细菌生物膜的化学。成像设施将更新和极大地提高研究和培训能力，使现有的生物学教师能够开展新的协作研究项目，并为本科生提供高级研究技术方面的技能，他们可能会在未来的研究生学习和工作环境中使用。西方学院是一所位于洛杉矶东北部的国家认可的文科学院，服务于不同的学生群体。在2005至2011年间，54%的理科专业学生是女性，22%的学生来自少数族裔。西方大学在将研究与本科教育相结合方面一直处于领先地位，鼓励学生在整个学年与教师进行合作研究。该学院赞助了一个每年一度的暑期研究项目，该项目已经发展到每年有超过150名学生参加，以及一个K-12科学教育计划，为应届毕业生在洛杉矶地区的学校从事科学教学做准备。徕卡TCS SP5 II光谱共聚焦成像仪器将帮助西方大学提高学生可获得的研究机会的质量和范围。该项目将对保持西方学院在研究和本科培训方面的卓越水平产生长期影响，并支持培养和留住一支才华横溢、多样化的STEM劳动力队伍。

This project establishes a high resolution light microscopy imaging facility for biology and chemistry research and undergraduate research training at Occidental College. Grant funds will be used to purchase a Leica TCS SP5 II Spectral Confocal System for a shared microscopy core facility. Occidental faculty will use the SP5 Confocal System to study diverse problems in biology and biochemistry including the regulation of microtubules and axon outgrowth during C. elegans neural development, ion channel physiology in zebrafish, cone-snail prey-capture mechanisms, nutrient uptake and urease activity in tropical bromeliads, microbial symbiosis in newly discovered marine invertebrates, and the chemistry of bacterial biofilms. The imaging facility will update and greatly improve research and training capabilities, enable the current biology faculty to undertake new and collaborative research projects and provide undergraduate students with skills in advanced research technologies they are likely to use in their future graduate studies and work environments.Occidental College is a nationally recognized liberal arts college located in Northeast Los Angeles that serves a diverse student population. Between 2005 and 2011, 54 percent of science majors have been women, and 22 percent were underrepresented ethnicities. Occidental has been a leader in integrating research and undergraduate education, encouraging students to engage in collaborative research with faculty throughout the academic year. The college sponsors an annual summer research program that has grown to include over 150 students each year and a K-12 science education initiative to prepare recent graduates for careers in science teaching at Los Angeles area schools. The Leica TCS SP5 II Spectral Confocal imaging instrumentation will help Occidental improve the quality and range of research opportunities available to students. The project will have a long-term impact on maintaining excellence in research and undergraduate training at Occidental College and supports development and retention of a talented and diverse STEM workforce.