Acquisition of a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope for Research and Teaching in the Fields of Chemistry, Geology, Biology, Physics, and Forensic Science

该奖项由主要研究仪器(MRI)和化学研究仪器(CRIF)计划以及既定的激励竞争性研究计划(EPSCoR)支持。马歇尔大学的Rosalynn Quinones-Fernandez教授及其同事Michael Norton、Aley El-Shazly、Iyad Hijazi和Sean McBride获得了场发射扫描电子显微镜(FESEM)。扫描电子显微镜是研究材料的重要工具。它将一束电子聚焦在样品上。电子相互作用，并从材料上散射，产生表面及其结构的图像。场发射扫描电子显微镜有一个电子枪，旨在提供非常高分辨率的图像。这种仪器的升级提高了图像分辨率，并允许进行元素分析，目前马歇尔的研究人员无法进行这种分析。收购带来的科学影响社区感兴趣的领域(例如，阿巴拉契亚地质学、西弗吉尼亚州特有的昆虫和法医/环境分析)。本科研究、培训和课程指导(每年100名学生)主要涉及来自阿巴拉契亚地区的学生。FESEM加强了至少五项不同的年度外联活动，其中一些活动专门针对少数群体和代表性不足的学生。西弗吉尼亚州立大学的一名研究人员和查尔斯顿大学的另一名研究人员也受益。西弗吉尼亚州立大学是历史上的黑人学院和大学。该提案旨在加强各级的研究和教育。研究项目正在进行中，以控制金属氧化物纳米颗粒的表面性质，并研究基于DNA的单分子传感纳米结构平台。其他项目的重点是探索具有独特性质的纳米材料的原子建模技术，以及自组装纳米颗粒膜的实验。为软机器人应用建立模型和模拟刚体和柔体动力学的研究正在进行中。其他调查使用地质样品成像和分析，以了解阿巴拉契亚山脉南部变质岩和火成岩的构造背景。节肢动物的感官形态和采采蝇感觉器的特征正在研究中。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is supported by the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation (CRIF) Programs as well as the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). Professor Rosalynn Quinones-Fernandez from Marshall University and colleagues Michael Norton, Aley El-Shazly, Iyad Hijazi and Sean McBride have acquired a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). A scanning electron microscope is an essential tool for the study of materials. It focuses a beam of electrons at the sample. The electrons interact and are scattered from the material to produce an image of the surface and its structure. A field-emission SEM has a electron gun designed to provide very high resolution images. This instrument upgrade improves image resolution and allow elemental analysis presently unavailable to researchers at Marshall. The science enabled by the acquisition impacts areas of interest to the community (for example, Appalachian geology, insects endemic to West Virginia and forensic/environmental analyses). Undergraduate research training and course instruction (100 students/year) involves largely regional students from Appalachia. The FESEM enhances at least five different annual outreach activities some of which target specifically minority and underrepresented students. A researcher from West Virginia State University, a Historically Black College and University, and another researcher at the University of Charleston also benefit. The proposal is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels. Research projects are ongoing to control surface properties of metal oxide nanoparticles and to investigate DNA based platforms for single molecule sensing nanostructures. Other projects focus on atomistic modeling techniques to probe for nanomaterial with unique properties, and experiments on self-assembled nanoparticle membranes. Investigations are underway to model and simulate rigid and flexible body dynamics for soft robotic applications. Other investigations use geological sample imaging and analysis to understand the tectonic setting of metamorphic and igneous rocks of the southern Appalachians. Arachnid sensory morphology and characterization of sensory sensillae in the Tsetse fly are being studied.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.