MRI-R2: Acquisition of a Large-Volume Preparative Ultracentrifuge for Use in Research and Research Training at Seattle University

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。西雅图大学（SU）已收到NSF MRI-R2计划的奖励，用于购买大容量制备超浓缩物，以支持本科研究和教育计划。大容量制备型超浓缩器最初由三名不同的教师和本科生研究人员用于进行基础研究项目。 Stenbak博士和她的学生使用超离心法研究泡沫病毒（古老的非致病性逆转录病毒）组装的分子要求。通过ultracentrapgation细胞分馏允许学生与史密斯博士（微生物学/生物化学）分离和表征参与领土从粘球菌属的生物活性化合物最后，学生与墨菲博士（生物化学/分子药理学）使用离心机制备真核和原核细胞裂解物的表征热休克蛋白90为基础的分子伴侣蛋白的功能和活性。 SU最重要的教学目标之一是确保其毕业生成为独立的批判性思想家，他们终身热爱学习。教师指导的本科生研究经验在实现这一目标方面发挥了重要作用。因此，生物学教师，科学工程学院和大学致力于建立一种研究文化，并保持积极的研究计划，充分利用现代化的，最先进的仪器，如ultracentrance。SU庆祝其多样化的学生群体，这种多样性反映在生物学学生中：去年42%的生物学毕业生自认为是少数民族，70%的毕业生是女性。研究项目将由本科生进行，并为传统上在科学领域代表性不足的学生提供使用现代仪器的第一手经验。由新离心机实现的研究结果将发表在同行评审的期刊上，并由学生和教师在区域和国家会议上介绍。 拟议中的超浓缩技术也用于病毒学、高级细胞生物学和微生物学课程，所有这些课程都有研究性实验室组成部分。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).Seattle University (SU) has received an award from the NSF MRI-R2 program to purchase a large-volume preparative ultracentrifuge to support programs in undergraduate research and education. The large-volume preparative ultracentrifuge is initially being used by three different faculty members and undergraduate student researchers to conduct basic research projects. Dr. Stenbak and her students use the ultracentrifuge to investigate the molecular requirements for assembly of foamy viruses (ancient, non-pathogenic retroviruses). Cell fractionation through ultracentrifugation allows students working with Dr. Smith (microbiology/biochemistry) to isolate and characterize bioactive compounds involved in territoriality from Myxococcus sp. Finally, students working with Dr. Murphy (biological chemistry/molecular pharmacology) use the centrifuge to prepare eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell lysates for characterization of Hsp90-based molecular chaperone protein function and activity. One of SU's foremost pedagogical goals is ensuring its graduates become independent critical thinkers who develop a lifelong love of learning. Faculty-mentored undergraduate research experiences play an instrumental role in realizing this goal. As a result, the biology faculty, the College of Science & Engineering, and the University are committed to building a culture of research and maintaining active research programs that fully utilize modern, state-of-the-art instrumentation, such as the ultracentrifuge. SU celebrates its diverse student body, and that diversity is reflected in the biology students: last year 42% of biology graduates self-identified as minorities and 70% of graduates were women. Research projects will be conducted by undergraduates and provide first-hand experience using modern instrumentation for students who are traditionally underrepresented in the sciences. Results from studies enabled by the new centrifuge will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented by students and faculty at regional and national meetings. The proposed ultracentrifuge is also used in virology, advanced cell biology, and microbiology courses, all of which have investigative laboratory components.