Aquisition of a Multi-User Flourescence Microscopy Suite for Research and Education

该奖项为购买现代光学显微镜提供支持，供研究微生物生态学、脊椎动物神经生物学和植物生理学问题的教职员工、研究生和本科生共享使用。显微镜技术的最新进展使人们对生物世界的理解发生了革命性的变化，特别是通过跟踪微量基因表达的功能结果以及推断亚细胞和遗传结构。提供的资金将用于购买具有灵活荧光和数字成像能力的研究级倒置光学显微镜。该仪器将使三个特定领域的研究成为可能：环境样本中的微生物行为生态学和遗传多样性，哺乳动物神经元突触发生，以及植物细胞形态发生。该仪器还将用于改善本科生和研究生的实验室课程体验，并向学生介绍细胞信息定量可视化的现代技术。

This award provides support for acquisition of a modern light microscope for shared use by faculty, graduate and undergraduate students investigating problems in microbial ecology, vertebrate neurobiology, and plant physiology.. Recent technical advances in microscopy have revolutionized understanding of the biological world by permitting, among others, the tracing of functional consequences of trace gene expression and the inference of subcellular and genetic structure. The funds provided will aid in purchase of a research-grade, inverted light microscope with flexible fluorescence and digital imaging capabilities. The instrument will enable research in three specific areas: microbial behavioral ecology and genetic diversity in environmental samples, mammalian neuronal synaptogenesis, and plant cellular morphogenesis. The instrument will also be used to improve laboratory course experiences for undergraduate and graduate students, and to introduce students to modern techniques for the quantitative visualization of cellular information.