MRI: Acquisition of a inverted fluorescence microscope system to increase biological research at Linfield College

林菲尔德学院申请资金购买蔡司Axio观察者Z1倒置荧光显微镜系统。该系统支持DIC、相位和荧光显微镜，并包括用于在x、y和z平面进行自动分析的电动机构、环境室系统和微注射系统。该显微镜系统将用于加强生物系教职员工的研究计划以及加强学院本科生研究人员的培训。将启用该仪器的研究项目包括1。)破译体内microRNA活性的分子机制，并确定特定microRNA在动物发育过程中的作用。3)研究海绵和海绵伴生细菌群落对河口生境营养物质通量的作用。参与学院实验室研究项目和以课程为基础的研究项目的本科生将使用显微镜系统获取哺乳动物细胞的高分辨率图像，分析果蝇组织和细胞培养中的绿色荧光蛋白报告和免疫荧光，以及海绵中细菌共生体的荧光原位杂交分析。接受该仪器培训的本科生将包括一系列初级到高级的学生，预计纳入该仪器的研究培训将进一步提高学生的生产力和对研究生课程的接受度。在过去的六年中，林菲尔德学院生物系经历了一段显著的增长期，原因是退休和增加了新的教职员工队伍，导致聘请了五名新教师。在这些新招聘的教员中，有三名教员的研究包括荧光显微镜的各种应用。为了促进他们的研究，提高所有教员的工作效率，并改善该项目本科生的研究体验，林菲尔德学院申请资金购买蔡司AxioWatch Z1显微镜系统，该系统将使教职员工和学生能够利用其荧光、DIC和相位对比度能力生成出版物质量的图像。购买这台仪器的目的是1)使教员能够收集高质量的数据，发表他们的结果，并提高未来支持研究项目的外部联邦资金的竞争力；2)通过向学生提供研究级别的设备来执行高分辨率、定量的细胞分析，加强教研系整合教育和研究的工作；3)为本科生提供出色的研究培训设施，为未来的研究和与生物科学相关的医学职业做准备。S系将研究与教育相结合，在全国会议上发表研究论文和演讲，并为学生申请并成功申请国家层面的研究生和专业课程提供了极高的成功率。在过去的五年里，该系约40%的毕业生继续攻读研究生或专业课程，随着新教师建立和维持他们的研究课程，这一趋势正在增加。

Linfield College requests funding to purchase a Zeiss AxioObserver Z1 inverted fluorescence microscope system. The system enables DIC, phase, and fluorescence microscopy, and includes a motorized body for automated analysis in the x, y, and z planes, an environmental chamber system, and a micro-injection system. This microscope system will be used to enhance the research programs of faculty within the Biology department as well as to enhance the training of undergraduate researchers in the college. The research projects that will be enabled with this instrument include 1.) Deciphering molecular mechanisms of microRNA activity in vivo and determining the roles of specific microRNAs during animal development, 2.) Determining the role of phosphoregulation of proteins in regulating cellular motility in human and Dictyostelium models, and 3) Investigating the role of sponges and sponge-associated bacterial communities on nutrient fluxes in estuarine habitats. Undergraduate students participating in research projects in faculty laboratories and through curriculum-based research projects will use the microscope system to acquire high resolution images of mammalian cells, analysis of GFP reporters and immunofluorescence in Drosophila tissues and cell culture, and fluorescent in situ hybridization assays of bacterial symbionts in sponge. Undergraduates trained on this instrument will include a range of introductory through senior level students, and it is anticipated that research training incorporating this instrument will further enhance students' productivity and acceptance into graduate programs.In the past six years, the Biology Department at Linfield College has undergone a significant period of growth, due to retirements and addition of new faculty lines, resulting in the hiring of five new faculty members. Among these new faculty hires are three faculty whose research includes various applications of fluorescence microscopy. In order to facilitate their research, to increase the productivity of all faculty, and to improve the research experience of undergraduate students in this program, Linfield College requests funds to purchase a Zeiss AxioObserver Z1 Microscope System that will enable faculty and students to generate publication quality images using its fluorescence, DIC, and phase contrast capabilities. The goals in acquiring this instrument are to 1) enable faculty members to collect high quality data, publish their results, and increase competitiveness for future external federal funding to support research programs; 2) enhance the department's work that integrates education and research by providing students with research grade equipment to perform high resolution, quantitative analyses of cells and; 3) provide outstanding research training facilities for undergraduate students in preparation for future research and medically related careers in the biological sciences. The department?s integration of research and education leads to research publications and presentations at national meetings as well as an excellent success rate for students applying to and succeeding in graduate and professional programs at the national level. Approximately 40% of the graduates from the department in the past five years have continued on to graduate or professional programs, and the trend in this pattern is increasing as new faculty establish and maintain their research programs.