MRI: Acquisition of a Confocal Microscope for Multidisciplinary Imaging Core Facilities

这项重大研究仪器（MRI）奖资助了罗切斯特理工学院的激光扫描共聚焦显微镜的收购。 该显微镜具有足够高的分辨率和快速的数据采集速率，可用于生物和材料研究，其收购将通过显着增强成像能力来改变RIT的研究。 将受到影响的四个主要项目是：（1）通过命运绘图和基因表达检查来检查棘皮动物发育的进化;（2）植物蛋白质的亚细胞定位;（3）表征眼透镜蛋白质溶液的粘弹性，作为组成和温度的函数，并绘制其玻璃化转变边界;以及（4）检查胶体玻璃化转变。 生物科学、医学科学、物理学、化学、机械工程和生物医学工程系的至少15名教员将受到这种新成像系统的影响。 教师用户积极参与本科生在他们的项目的各个阶段，包括出版和在全国会议上提出。 几位教职员工也为硕士生提供支持。 显微镜的收购将直接解决NSF的目标，即改善获得和增加使用最先进的设备。 共聚焦显微镜将是创造一个多学科研究培训环境不可或缺的一部分，因为它将被安置在一个中心位置，以促进教师和学生在科学和工程领域的合作。 本科研究生将与他们的教师导师一起从事研究项目，共聚焦显微镜将举办研讨会以培训新用户（本科生，研究生，教师和外部用户），共聚焦显微镜将用于当前的研究课程，并将开发一个新的多学科课程并由PI提供。 本课程将为学生提供在学生/教师设计的研究项目中使用显微镜的实践经验，共聚焦显微镜将发挥不可或缺的作用。 共聚焦显微镜的收购将产生更广泛的影响，超出了加强RIT的研究基础设施和促进研究和教育的整合。 这些措施包括扩大代表性不足的群体的参与，特别是RIT的聋人和听力困难的学生，科学和工程领域的妇女，以及AALANA（非洲裔美国人，拉丁美洲人/美洲人，美洲土著人）的教师和学生。 研究项目的结果将在本科研究研讨会和专题讨论会，地方，区域和国家会议上提出，并将在同行评审的期刊上发表。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award funds the acquisition of a laser scanning confocal microscope at the Rochester Institute of Technology. The microscope has sufficiently high resolution and fast data acquisition rate to be used in biological and materials research, and its acquisition will transform research at RIT by significantly enhancing imaging capabilities. The four main projects that will be impacted are (1) examination of the evolution of development in echinoderms through fate mapping and examination of gene expression, (2) subcellular localization of plant proteins, (3) characterization of the viscoelasticity of eye lens protein solutions as a function of composition and temperature and mapping their glass transition boundaries, and (4) examination of the colloidal glass transition. At least fifteen faculty members in the departments of biological sciences, medical sciences, physics, chemistry, mechanical engineering, and biomedical engineering will be impacted by this new imaging system. The faculty users actively involve undergraduate students in all phases of their projects, including publishing and presenting at national meetings. Several faculty members also support Master's students. The acquisition of the microscope will directly address the NSF goal of improving the access to and increasing the use of state-of-the-art equipment. The confocal microscope will be integral in creating a multidisciplinary research training environment as it will be housed in a central location to facilitate collaborations between faculty and students across science and engineering. Undergraduate research students will work on research projects with their faculty mentors, workshops will be given on confocal microscopy to train new users (undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and external users), the confocal microscope will be used in current research-based courses, and a new multidisciplinary course will be developed and delivered by the PIs. This course will provide students with hands-on experience with microscopy in student/faculty designed research projects, and the confocal microscope will have an integral role. The acquisition of the confocal microscope will have broader impacts beyond enhancing RIT's infrastructure for research and facilitating the integration of research and education. These include broadening the participation of underrepresented groups, especially the deaf and hard-of-hearing students at RIT, women in science and engineering, and faculty and students who are AALANA (African American, Latino/a American, Native American). Results of the research projects will be presented at undergraduate research seminars and symposia, local, regional and national meetings, and will be published in peer-reviewed journals.