MRI: Acquisition of an iMIC Digital Microscope for Research and Research Training at Indiana University of Pennsylvania

该TILL iMIC仙女座是一个复杂的和多用途的共聚焦显微镜，特别适应于活体样品的成像。通过NSF MRI奖，宾夕法尼亚印第安纳大学（IUP）获得了iMIC Andromeda，以开发一种最先进的显微镜设备，使IUP内几个部门的研究和研究培训受益。北京大学自然科学与数学学院。更具体地说，iMIC的获得加强了当前对可塑性和细胞信号传导的研究重点。研究人员可以解决一些生理事件中发生的结构和功能重塑的基本生物学和生化问题，包括酵母的正常发育途径、代谢过程、生物节律的产生和液泡的形成。此外，IUP的研究人员正在以一种创新的方式使用iMIC来测量新型光学材料的荧光和吸收光谱，以进一步提高电信和传感器应用的目标。总的来说，该设施增强的成像能力可以对若干生物、生化和物理项目进行深入分析，并启动需要高度发达的荧光显微镜的其他研究项目。iMIC扩展了CNSM的研究能力，并具有被大量学生和大学教授在各种科学学科中使用的无可比拟的优势。除了为教师提供扩大研究范围的机会外，iMIC还加强了教师和学生之间的校际合作研究努力。iMIC还影响了IUP科学教育的进步，包括本科生和研究生CNSM学生。地区高中学生通过旨在加强STEM培训的研讨会和外展项目与iMIC互动。这将是一个重要的招聘工具，因为大约75%的IUP学生来自宾夕法尼亚州的农村，没有接触过像iMIC仙女座这样最先进的显微镜。重要的是，研究生，本科生和中学生能够在IUP教师的精心指导下设计涉及先进显微镜技术的研究项目。这些经历将更好地为他们的生物学职业生涯做准备。因此，iMIC正在扩大技术范围，向CNSM学生介绍快速发展的显微成像领域，该领域已经改变了基础科学和应用科学的范式。

The TILL iMIC Andromeda is a sophisticated and multipurpose confocal microscope specially adapted to the imaging of living samples. Through the NSF MRI award, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) acquired the iMIC Andromeda to develop a state-of-the art microscope facility benefiting the research and research training of several departments within IUP?s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (CNSM). More specifically, the acquisition of the iMIC strengthens a current research emphasis on plasticity and cell-signaling. Researchers can address basic biological and biochemical questions about the structural and functional remodeling that occurs in several physiological events, including normal development pathways, metabolic processes, the generation of biological rhythms and vacuole formation in yeast. Additionally, IUP researchers are using the iMIC in an innovative way to measure fluorescence and the absorptive spectra of novel optical materials to further the goal of enhancing telecommunications and sensor applications. Overall, the augmented imaging capabilities of this facility allow for in-depth analyses of several biological, biochemical and physics projects, as well as the initiation of additional research projects for which highly developed fluorescent microscopy is required.The iMIC expands CNSM research capabilities and has the inimitable advantage of being used by a significant number of students and university professors in a variety of scientific disciplines. In addition to providing faculty members with opportunities to broaden their research repertoire, the iMIC enhances intra- and interuniversity collaborative research efforts between faculty and students. The iMIC also impacts the advancement of science education at IUP, including undergraduate and graduate CNSM students. Regional high school students interact with the iMIC through workshops and outreach programs designed to enhance STEM training. This promises to be a significant recruiting tool as approximately 75% of IUP students are from rural Pennsylvania and have not been exposed to state-of-the-art microscopes like the iMIC Andromeda. Importantly, graduate, undergraduate and secondary students are able to design research projects involving advanced microscopy techniques under the careful mentorship of IUP faculty?experiences that will better prepare them for careers in biology. Thus, the iMIC is expanding the range of techniques that can be offered to introduce CNSM students to the rapidly advancing field of microscopic imaging that has changed the paradigm for basic and applied sciences.