MRI: Acquisition of a Zeiss 880 Multiphoton and AiryScan Microscope System as a Shared Instrument for the Washington University Research Community

该奖项旨在支持多光子共聚焦显微镜的采购，以满足华盛顿大学和圣路易斯地区多个部门的大型、多样化研究人员的研究需求。新系统将被安置在生物系成像中心，大学和地区用户可以随时使用。该仪器的新成像功能将使尖端的多学科研究成为可能，并促进准备充分、多样化的STEM劳动力，包括代表性不足群体的学生。除了许多已经使用Core的独立研究本科生外，该显微镜还将通过现有课程加强本科生的动手训练。此外，由于需要在短时间内为许多学生获取数据，因此无法使用现有仪器，因此该仪器将能够为其他本科生物学课程开发新的教学模块。该工具还将对参与科学职业探索计划的代表性不足的学生、针对市中心学校儿童的YMCA校园Y计划以及针对进入神经科学研究生院的代表性不足的学生的ENDURE计划产生重大影响。活细胞成像领域最近使研究人员能够以微米级和毫秒级的分辨率解决组织深处细胞中的生理和分子事件。新的多光子系统将首次为华盛顿大学生物系、物理系和工程系以及地区机构的用户提供深度、快速和超分辨率成像技术。新系统的初步研究用途将包括对植物细胞皮层微管的研究；根细胞生物传感器与花粉动力学分析。其他研究动物系统的研究人员将研究神经元细胞群、肌腱束和一系列其他主题。这些研究的结果将发表在同行评议的科学期刊上，在科学会议上提出，并用于培训和外联活动。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

An award is made to support the acquisition of a multiphoton confocal microscope to address the research needs of a large, diverse group of researchers in multiple departments at Washington University and in the St. Louis area. The new system will be housed in the Biology Department Imaging Core and will be readily accessible to university and regional users. The new imaging capabilities of this instrument will enable cutting edge multidisciplinary research and promote a well-prepared, diverse STEM workforce including students in underrepresented groups. The microscope will enhance the hands-on training of undergraduates through existing courses, in addition to the many Independent Study undergraduates that already use the Core. Furthermore, the instrument will enable the development of new teaching modules for other undergraduate biology classes where the need to procure data for many students in a short time frame precludes the use of existing instruments. This instrument will also have a large impact on underrepresented students involved in the Science Career Explorations programs, YMCA campus Y program for inner-city school children, and ENDURE program for underrepresented students entering neuroscience graduate school.The field of live cell imaging has recently enabled researchers to resolve physiological and molecular events in cells deep within tissues with micron- and millisecond-resolution. The new multiphoton system will provide deep, fast and super-resolution imaging technology for the first time to users in the departments of Biology, Physics, and Engineering at Washington University and from area institutions. Initial research uses for the new system will include work on cortical microtubules in plant cells; analysis of biosensors in root cells and pollen dynamics. Other researchers working with animal systems will study neuronal cell populations, tendon fascicles, and a range of other topics. Results from these studies will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, presented at scientific meetings, and used in both training and outreach activities.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.