MRI: Acquisition of an Illumina MiSeq Sequencing System to enhance environmental research in the Great Lakes region

美国大峡谷州立大学Annis水资源研究所（AWRI）获得了新一代测序系统。高通量测序数据现在被纳入生物学的所有领域，从医学研究到环境科学。AWRI是大峡谷州立大学的一个研究单位，重点是改善和提高淡水资源。AWRI的测序系统将为研究生和本科生提供直接培训这一关键技术的机会。由于了解基本水资源与基础研究、公共卫生和环境的相关性，该研究所对改善和保护水资源的承诺也具有广泛的社会效益。AWRI还参与了面向K-12学生、大学和一般公众的区域教育推广计划，这些项目将由AWRI的教职员工和学生通过收购测序系统进行，包括：评估入侵物种如何改变沿海沙丘系统中本地物种的菌根群落；不同营养尺度淡水湖有害藻华相关微生物群落特征；入侵物种引入与大湖区病毒群落变化关系的评价以及淡水湖中与塑料污染相关的微生物群落特征。总的来说，这些项目将提供关于我们这个时代一些最重大的环境挑战如何推动五大湖变化的重要信息，五大湖占世界淡水供应的近20%。此外，每个项目都有助于我们理解与人类活动相关的栖息地退化如何推动生态系统内群落水平的变化，这不仅适用于大湖区，也适用于全世界的生态系统。这些研究的结果将发表在同行评议的期刊上，在科学会议上提出，并用于公共宣传活动。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

An award is made to support the acquisition of a next-generation sequencing System for Grand Valley State University's Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI). High-throughput sequencing data is now incorporated into all areas of biology, from medical research to environmental sciences. AWRI is a research unit within Grand Valley State University that focuses on improving and enhancing freshwater resources. Sequencing system at AWRI will provide opportunity to directly train graduate and undergraduate students in this critical technology. AWRI's commitment to improving and preserving water resources also has broad societal benefit because of the basic research, public health and environmental relevance of understanding essential water resources. AWRI also engages in regional educational outreach program for K-12 students, universities, and the general publicKey projects that will be conducted by AWRI faculty and students through the acquisition of the sequencing system include: assessment of how invasive species alter mycorrhizal communities of native species in coastal sand dune systems; characterization of microbial communities associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs) across freshwater lakes ascribed to different trophic scales; evaluation of the relationship between invasive species introduction and changes in viral communities in the Great Lakes; and characterization of microbial communities associated with plastic pollution in freshwater lakes. Collectively, these projects will provide vital information regarding how some of the most significant environmental challenges of our time are driving changes in the Great Lakes, which comprises nearly 20% of the world's supply of freshwater. Furthermore, each project contributes to our understanding of how anthropogenic-related habitat degradation drives community level changes within ecosystems, which can be applicable not only for the Great Lakes region but for ecosystems throughout the world. Results from these studies will be published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at scientific meetings, and used in public outreach activities.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.