NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2021: Using a protoendothermic mammal to understand how body temperature influences nutrient absorption.

该行动资助2021财年美国国家科学基金会生物学博士后研究奖学金，扩大生物学中代表性不足群体的参与。该奖学金支持研究员的研究和培训计划，该计划将增加在生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。在脊椎动物、哺乳动物和鸟类中，不受环境温度影响而产生高体内温度的能力已经独立进化了两次。然而，维持高体温的代价很高（就能量而言）。这个项目的重点是理解为什么现代哺乳动物的体温会升高。为了回答这个问题，PI将使用tenrec作为模型系统。Tenrecs是一种来自马达加斯加的哺乳动物，它们的体温变化比任何已知的哺乳动物都要大，是理解体温较高优势的绝佳模型。更具体地说，这个项目将关注体温如何影响消化，这与能量产生有关。为了扩大参与，他将在内华达大学拉斯维加斯分校（University of Nevada Las Vegas）设立两个独立的外展活动，旨在增加少数族裔在生命科学系的参与度。Tenrecs有一种非凡的能力，可以部分切断体温和新陈代谢。例如，当保持在12°C时，活性触手的体温可在~13至32°C之间变化，但在12°C时，活性触手的静息代谢可变化25倍，并且仅部分依赖于体温。他将利用一种独特的哺乳动物系统，以了解体温如何影响从食物中提取营养。这个模型将直接验证体温升高可以从食物中提取更多营养的假设。为了测试这种营养提取模型对恒温动物（体温升高）进化的影响，将采用一种综合方法。利用全动物，离体和体外3D细胞培养方法开发多层次的方法，利用全动物，器官，甚至细胞水平的研究。在所有STEM领域的博士后中，只有不到2%是黑人/非裔美国人，这是整个人口代表性不足的6倍以上。生物科学领域的多样性不会增加，除非代表性不足的个体因此得到提升，成为该领域机会的一个例子。为了扩大参与范围，该奖学金获得者将在内华达大学拉斯维加斯分校开展外展活动，利用那里的LSAMP项目。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。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2021, Broadening Participation of Groups Under-represented in Biology. The Fellowship supports a research and training plan for the Fellow that will increase the participation of groups underrepresented in biology. The ability to generate a high internal body temperature independent of environmental temperature, has independently evolved twice in vertebrate animals, in mammals and in birds. However, there is a high cost (in terms of energy) to maintaining a high body temperature. This project focuses on understanding why there is increased body temperatures in modern mammals. To answer this question, the PI will use the tenrec as a model system. Tenrecs are mammals from Madagascar with a body temperature more variable than any other known mammal, and are an excellent model for understanding the advantages of having a warmer body temperature. More specifically this project will focus on how body temperature influences digestion, which is connected to energy generation. To broaden participation, the fellow will set up two independent outreach events at the University of Nevada Las Vegas aimed at increasing minority engagement within the Department of Life Sciences.Tenrecs have the remarkable ability to partially disconnect body temperature and metabolism. For instance, when maintained at 12°C, the body temperature of active tenrecs can range from ~13 to 32°C but resting metabolism of active tenrecs at 12°C may vary by 25-fold and is only partially dependent on body temperature. The fellow will exploit a unique mammalian system in order to understand how body temperature influences the nutrient extraction from food. This model will directly test the hypothesis that warmer body temperatures allow for greater nutrient extraction from foods. To test this nutrient extraction model for the evolution of endothermy (increased body temperature), an integrative approach will be used. Utilizing whole animal, ex vivo, and in vitro 3D cell culture approaches to develop a multi-level approach the exploits whole animal, organ, and even cellular level investigation. Fewer than 2% of all post-docs in STEM fields are Black/African American, which is an over 6-fold underrepresentation of the population as a whole. Diversity within biological sciences will not increase unless underrepresented individuals are elevated thus, becoming an example of opportunities within this field. To broaden participation, the fellow will establish outreach events at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, leveraging the LSAMP program there.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.