Acquisition of Research-Grade Light Microscopy Instrumentation

在David Pfeiffer博士的指导下，阿拉斯加安克雷奇大学获得了一笔赠款，用于购买研究级光学显微镜仪器。这笔赠款将改善阿拉斯加大学安克雷奇大学(UAA)生物科学系的基本但必不可少的研究仪器。该部门开展了一系列不同的研究活动，跨越分子水平和生态水平的研究。在这个系里出现了两个特别强大的研究重点小组：系统学与生态学和细胞生物学与生理学。这些核心群体中的每一个现在都迫切需要研究级光学显微镜仪器。目前对这一工具的需求受到部门最近增长的推动，但也超出了研究人员个人的层面，扩展到部门间和机构层面。UAA正在努力整合不同科学领域的研究和教育活动。这一使命的核心是准备好适当的工具，允许不同学科的教职员工之间的合作努力，并增加学生参与研究活动的机会。教师的独立研究是激发学生对科学课程兴趣的主要驱动力之一。一套研究级的光学显微镜仪器不仅将加强本系教师的独立研究，还将提供一套工具，让本科生直接参与教师监督的研究。这一用途符合UAA的使命，即通过开发新的方法让学生参与到学习过程中来实现科学教育的卓越。UAA的地理位置使其处于有利位置，以扩大阿拉斯加原住民等代表性不足的学生在这些过程中的参与。研究生培训也将直接受益于这一工具。

A grant has been awarded to the University of Alaska Anchorage under the direction of Dr. David Pfeiffer for the acquisition of research-grade light microscopic instrumentation. This grant will improve basic but essential research instrumentation in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). This department conducts a diverse range of research activities, spanning molecular levels through ecological levels of study. Two particularly strong research focus groups have emerged in this department: Systematics & Ecology and Cell Biology & Physiology. A critical need for research-grade light microscopic instrumentation now exists in each of these core groups. The current need for this instrumentation has been fueled by recent departmental growth but extends beyond the level of individual researchers to the inter-departmental and institutional levels as well. UAA is striving to integrate research and educational activities from different fields of science. Central to this mission is having appropriate instrumentation in place that will permit collaborative efforts between faculty working in different disciplines and enhance opportunities for student involvement in research activities. Independent research by faculty is one of the primary drivers for engaging the interest of students in science classes. A suite of research-grade light microscopic instrumentation will not only strengthen independent research by faculty in this department, it will provide a set of tools for directly involving undergraduate students in faculty supervised research. This use falls in line with UAA's mission to achieve excellence in scientific education through developing new ways to engage students in the process of learning. The geographical position of UAA places it in a prime location to broaden the participation of underrepresented students, such Alaskan Natives, in these processes. Graduate student training will also directly benefit from this instrumentation.