MRI: Acquisition of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for Performing Multidisciplinary Research at Delaware State University Imaging Facility

非技术：这项授予特拉华州立大学（DSU）的主要研究仪器（MRI）赠款为购置扫描电子显微镜（SEM）提供资金。这款高分辨率成像显微镜增强了DSU的研究和教育能力，DSU是一所历史悠久的黑人大学，拥有大量有才华的学生，这些学生传统上在科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）领域的代表性不足。由于此次收购，DSU STEM学生获得了这一广泛应用技术的“实践”经验和培训。此外，SEM是激发新机会的动力，并在DSU和非DSU研究人员之间开发新的合作项目。最特别的是，它加强了美国国家科学基金会资助的DSU科学技术卓越研究中心的使命：光学科学应用研究中心。技术：本MRI项目的目标是：(1)开发和设计用于集成电路及其应用的新型材料，(2)评估（脱氧核糖核酸）DNA传递系统的效率，(3)了解金鱼的雌激素受体，(4)表征和探测各种生物聚合物的纳米结构。此外，该仪器还提供其他功能，如能量色散x射线光谱微分析系统，可用于确定样品的元素组成。因此，该仪器有助于DSU成功实现各种正在进行的研究项目，包括：i)制造纳米纤维原位电穿孔芯片以将DNA传递到细胞中，ii)金鱼毛特纳细胞回路中膜相关雌激素受体的研究，以及iii)微管蛋白纳米化的表征。

Non-technical: This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant awarded to Delaware State University (DSU) provides funding for the acquisition of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). This high-resolution imaging microscope enhances the research and educational capabilities at DSU, a historically-black university with a large pool of talented students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Thanks to this acquisition, DSU STEM students get "hands on" experience and training in this broadly-used technology. Further, the SEM is an impetus to stimulate new opportunities, and to develop new collaborative projects among DSU and non-DSU researchers. Most particularly, it strengthens the mission of the NSF-funded Center for Research Excellence in Science and Technology at DSU: the Optical Science Center for Applied Research.Technical: The goals of this MRI project are: (1) to develop and design novel materials for integrated circuits and their applications, (2) to assess the efficiency of (Deoxyribonucleic acid) DNA delivery systems, (3) to understand the estrogen receptors in goldfish, and (4) to characterize and probe the nanoscopic structures of diverse biopolymers. In addition, the instrument provides other capabilities such as energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy microanalysis system, which can be used to determine the elemental composition of a specimen. Thus, the instrument contributes to the successful realization of various ongoing research projects at DSU, including: i) the fabrication of a nanofiber in situ electroporation chip to deliver DNA into cells, ii) the study of membrane-associated estrogen receptors in the Mauthner cell circuit of goldfish, and iii) the characterization of tubulin nanorings.