MRI: Acquisition of a laser confocal microscope to enhance faculty research and undergraduate research training

加州圣玛丽学院是一家为拉美裔服务的机构，该学院获得了一台激光共焦显微镜，用于对不同人群的本科生进行研究和研究培训，因此获奖。购买这种显微镜将使教员能够通过学术课程工作和细胞生物学、发育生物学和微生物学课程的入门生物学课程和高级课程的基于课程的研究经验，培训下一代科学家使用这种成像技术。这一工具还将帮助那些通常指导多名本科生的教员推进研究计划，从而为学生提供宝贵的研究、出版和演讲机会，并帮助他们为学生进入STEM的研究生课程和职业生涯做好准备。此外，这台仪器还将应用于中学生的显微镜工作坊和附近高需求高中和当地社区大学的社区推广。共焦显微镜将影响一系列广泛的研究项目，包括交感神经元的树突生长调节；捕食性细菌的细胞相互作用；内源性逆转录病毒中各种多态的功能；Rho-GTP酶和信号通路在建立和维持贴壁连接中的作用；组蛋白甲基转移酶在莱茵衣藻中的作用；配子和胚胎发育之间的遗传联系；环境毒素对胚胎和生殖细胞发育的影响；影响生殖寿命的因素；以及识别存在于皮肤和环境表面的不可培养的微生物。此外，这种显微镜将允许教员探索以前在圣玛丽学院很难进行的新的研究途径。此外，这一工具的提供将使教师和学生研究人员能够解决有影响力的研究问题，使他们的研究更快取得成果，并通过会议演讲和同行评议的出版物向科学界传播他们的工作。该奖项反映了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。

An award is made to Saint Mary’s College of California, a Hispanic-serving Institution, for the acquisition of a laser confocal microscope to be used for research and research training of a diverse population of undergraduates. The acquisition of this microscope will allow faculty to train the next generation of scientists in the use of this imaging technology through academic course work and course-based research experiences in both introductory Biology courses and upper division courses in Cell Biology, Developmental Biology and Microbiology courses. This instrument will also help advance research programs of faculty who normally mentor multiple undergraduate students, thereby providing valuable research, publication and presentation opportunities for students and helping them to prepare the students for graduate programs and careers in STEM. In addition, this instrument will be incorporated into microscopy workshops for middle school students and community outreach to nearby high-need high schools and local community colleges.The confocal microscope will impact a broad range of research projects including dendritic growth regulation in sympathetic neurons; the cellular interactions in predatory bacteria; the function of various polymorphisms in endogenous retroviruses; the role of Rho-GTPases and signaling pathways in the establishment and maintenance of adherens junctions; the role of histone methyltransferases in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii; the genetic links between gamete and embryo development; effects of environmental toxins on embryo and germ cell development; factors affecting reproductive lifespan; and identifying unculturable microorganisms present on skin and environmental surfaces. In addition, this microscope will allow the faculty to pursue novel avenues of research that were previously difficult to pursue at Saint Mary’s College. Furthermore, the availability of this instrument will allow faculty and student researchers to address impactful research questions, bring their research to fruition sooner and disseminate their work to the scientific community through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications.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.