MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of a Micro-Computer Tomography System

该主要研究仪器（MRI）奖支持购买最先进的微型计算机断层扫描（micro-CT）扫描仪，以加强孟菲斯大学和附近机构的研究和教育。该仪器可以快速、经济地生成物体内部多孔结构的三维图像，而不会破坏或改变它们。它配备了复杂的软件，可以分析从毫米到微米大小的物体内孔隙的排列和分布。该仪器的收购对孟菲斯大学具有战略意义，直接影响了七个科学和工程学科的一大群教师：土木与环境工程，机械工程，生物医学工程，化学工程，材料科学，物理，化学和地球科学。通过收购该仪器，孟菲斯大学将能够建立一个跨机构的合作网络，将孟菲斯大学的研究人员与田纳西州、亚拉巴马州、密西西比州、阿肯色州、肯塔基州和密苏里州的邻近机构和工业公司联系起来，包括密西西比大学、阿肯色理工大学、亚拉巴马大学、密苏里州大学、勒莫因-欧文学院、联合学院和罗兹学院。这一工具还将有助于本科生和研究生课程的进步和现代化。它将能够培训具有全球竞争力的工人，能够进行几个现代工业所需的先进微型CT调查和设计。除了使研究生和博士后研究人员受益外，该仪器还将为本科生，特别是代表性不足的少数民族和残疾人提供更多的指导机会。这种微型CT仪器将使大批教职员工能够在科学和工程的多个领域进行基础和应用研究，例如调查（a）新兴微塑料污染对土壤-水动力学的影响，（B）使用生物材料、组织工程和再生医学工程的骨和组织愈合，（c）生物膜结构和生物材料改性以减少生物膜形成，（d）低模量金属合金的增材制造，（e）增材制造金属的缺陷-强度关系、疲劳和断裂，（f）分级过渡金属氧化物基超级电容器，（g）用于药物递送的3D打印水凝胶支架，（h）土壤孔隙微结构对土壤CO2循环的影响，（i）在不同气候条件下的土壤开裂和愈合动力学，（j）石墨烯纳米片在热塑性和热固性聚合物中的分散状态，（k）由于骨质疏松症导致的人骨结构断裂的数值建模，及（l）塑胶水管材料上的生物膜积聚及与重金属的相互作用。该仪器将显著提高研究质量和生产力，使新的研究领域，并提高孟菲斯大学和区域机构的教育承诺。该项目由主要仪器研究计划（MRI）和生物力学和机械生物学计划（BMMB）在民用部门联合资助，机械和制造创新（CMMI）。该奖项反映了NSF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 Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award supports the acquisition of a state-of-the-art micro-computer tomography (micro-CT) scanner to enhance research and education at the University of Memphis and nearby institutions. This instrument can rapidly and cost-effectively produce three-dimensional images of the porous structure inside objects without destroying or altering them. It is equipped with sophisticated software that can analyze the arrangement and distribution of pores within objects ranging from millimeters to micrometers in size. The acquisition of this instrument is strategic for the University of Memphis, directly impacting a large group of faculty members across seven science and engineering disciplines: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Material Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, and Earth Sciences. Through the acquisition of the instrument, the University of Memphis will be able to establish a cross-institutional collaboration network, connecting researchers from the University of Memphis with neighboring institutions and industrial companies in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Missouri, including the University of Mississippi, Arkansas Tech University, University of Alabama, University of Missouri, LeMoyne-Owen College, Union College, and Rhodes College. This instrument will also contribute to the advancement and modernization of curricula for both undergraduate and graduate students. It will enable training of globally competitive workers capable of conducting advanced micro-CT investigations and designs required by several modern industries. In addition to benefiting graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, this instrument will expand mentoring opportunities for undergraduate students, specifically underrepresented minorities and those with disabilities.This micro-CT instrument will enable large group of faculty members to conduct fundamental and applied research in multiple areas of science and engineering, such as investigating (a) impacts of emerging microplastic pollution on soil-water dynamics, (b) bone and tissue healing using biomaterials, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine engineering, (c) biofilm structure and biomaterial modifications to decrease biofilm formation, (d) additive manufacturing of low-modulus metallic alloys, (e) defect-strength relationship, fatigue and fracture of additive manufactured metals, (f) hierarchical transition metal-oxide-based supercapacitors, (g) 3D-printed hydrogel scaffolds for drug delivery, (h) soil pore microstructure influence on soil CO2 cycling, (i) soil cracking and healing dynamics under varying climate condition, (j) dispersion state of graphene nanoplatelets in thermoplastic and thermoset polymers, (k) numerical modeling of fracture in human bone structure due to osteoporosis, and (l) biofilm accumulation on plastic plumbing materials and interactions with heavy metals. This instrument will significantly increase research quality and productivity, enable new research areas, and enhance the educational commitment of the University of Memphis and the regional institutions.This project is jointly funded by the Major Instrumentation Research Program (MRI) and the Biomechanics and Mechanobiology Program (BMMB) in the division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI).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.