MRI: Acquisition of a Laser Confocal Microscope System for a Multi-User Core Imaging Facility Supporting Research and Training in the Sciences

明尼苏达州立大学曼卡托分校(MSU)生物科学系被授予购买一台配备AiryScan激光扫描共聚焦显微镜的蔡司LSM880。共聚焦显微镜将立即加强密歇根州立大学积极和训练有素的教员进行尖端研究，并培训本科生和硕士学生定性和定量荧光成像。此外，收购共焦显微镜增强了密歇根州立大学S招聘一流新教师的能力，同时促进了现有教师进行变革性研究、获得拨款并在高质量期刊上发表成果的能力。重要的是，它通过独立的研究项目和课堂应用，为本科生和研究生提供直接接触最先进的共焦成像技术的机会，这是未来生物科学职业生涯所必需的。最后，共焦显微镜将通过与已经到位的大学支持的项目合作，加强代表不足群体的STEM/STEAM扩展活动，这些项目旨在促进代表不足群体获得STEM并对其感兴趣。通过消除传统光学显微镜对成像和分析施加的限制，获得的共焦显微镜增加了与生物、化学和地质学等几个科学学科相关的广泛研究项目。共焦显微镜通过提升研究组织结构、生化和细胞相互作用、发育生物学、神经生物学、内分泌学、微生物学、植物科学和地质学的研究项目，加强了至少13名研究人员(PI、COPI、6个主要用户和5个辅助用户)的研究计划。研究人员项目将利用共焦显微镜的全部能力，包括高分辨率多标签成像、3D重建、实时成像和光谱分解。这些项目跨越多种模型系统，包括啮齿动物(小鼠)、细胞培养系、卡罗琳(绿色)、盘基网柄菌(粘菌)、植物组织、微生物和沉积物。预计所获得的共焦显微镜不仅可以满足现有教职员工的需求，还可以满足院系和大学未来的需求。

An award is made to the Department of Biological Sciences at Minnesota State University Mankato (MSU), a primarily undergraduate institution, to acquire a Zeiss LSM880 with Airyscan Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope. The confocal microscope will immediately enhance MSU's motivated and well-trained faculty to conduct cutting edge research and train undergraduate and masters students in qualitative and quantitative fluorescent imaging. Additionally, the confocal microscope acquisition boosts MSU?s ability to recruit top-notch new faculty while facilitating current faculty's capacity to conduct transformative research, obtain grant funding, and publish results in high-quality journals. Importantly, it provides undergraduate and graduate students direct exposure to state-of-the-art confocal imaging technology necessary for future careers in the biological sciences through independent research projects and in-class utilization. Lastly, the confocal microscope will strengthen STEM/STEAM outreach activities of underrepresented groups through collaboration with already in-place college supported programs that aim to promote access to and interest in STEM for underrepresented groups.The acquired confocal microscope augments a wide range of research projects associated with several sciences disciplines, including biology, chemistry, and geology, by eliminating the limits imposed by conventional light microscopes on imaging and analysis. The confocal microscope strengthens the research programs of at least 13 investigators (PI, CoPI, 6 major users, and 5 auxiliary users) by elevating research projects that investigate tissue architecture, biochemical and cellular interactions, developmental biology, neurobiology, endocrinology, microbiology, plant science, and geology. Investigator projects' will utilize the full range of the confocal microscope's capabilities including high-resolution multi-label imaging, 3D reconstruction, live-imaging, and spectral unmixing. These projects span a multitude of model systems including rodents (mice), cell cultures lines, Anolis carolinensis (green anoles), Dictyostelium discoideum (slime mold), plant tissues, microorganisms, and sediments. The acquired confocal microscope is anticipated to not only meet the needs of current faculty, but also have the ability to meet the future needs of the department and university.