MRI: SEM for Geological, Environmental and Materials Science Research and Teaching at the University of St. Thomas

这项主要研究仪器（MRI）计划资助购买一台配备背散射电子探测器和能量色散光谱仪（EDS）的扫描电子显微镜（SEM），以支持位于明尼苏达州圣保罗的圣托马斯大学（UST）的研究和研究培训。授予机构。该仪器允许对地质、合成和生物材料进行微米尺度的纹理和成分成像，并将支持UST多个部门的教师和本科生研究，包括地质、生物和工程。研究人员将通过电子显微镜方法的体验式学习吸引本科生，并计划通过位于明尼阿波利斯的UST社区学院Dougherty家庭学院招募代表性不足的学生。SEM将为教师和学生提供跨学科的研究，涵盖地质学，环境科学，生物学，材料科学和工程学。具体的研究应用将包括：1)表征中新世湖相微生物岩的化学和结构，作为发现火星上以前生命的地层证据或早期地球微生物活动的证据的可能类似物；2)研究碳氢化合物对土壤矿物的影响，以更好地了解金属在浅层含水层中的运移；3)明尼苏达州铁矿开采过程中释放的塔脱石矿物气溶胶的表征；4)研究在磁场下变形的3d打印弹性体复合材料，在机器人肌肉组织、药物输送、生物医学植入物和许多其他应用中具有潜在的用途。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。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program grant supports acquisition of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with backscattered electron detector and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) to support research and research training at St. Thomas University (UST) in Saint Paul, MN, a non-Ph.D. granting institution. The instrument allows for micron scale textural and compositional imaging of geological, synthetic and biological materials and will support faculty and undergraduate research across multiple departments at UST including Geology, Biology and Engineering. The investigators will engage undergraduates through experiential learning in methods of electron microscopy and plan recruitment of underrepresented students through the UST Minneapolis-based community college, the Dougherty Family College.The SEM will serve faculty and student interdisciplinary research spanning geology, environmental science, biology, materials science, and engineering. Specific research applications will include: 1) characterization of the chemistry and textures of Miocene lacustrine microbialites as possible analogues for discovering stratigraphic evidence of previous life on Mars or evidence of early Earth microbial activity; 2) studies of hydrocarbon impacted soil minerals to better understand how metals mobilize in shallow aquifers; 3) characterization of taconite mineral aerosols liberated during iron ore mining in Minnesota; and 4) studies of 3D-printed elastomer composite materials that deform under magnetic fields, with potential uses in robotic musculature, drug delivery, biomedical implants, and a host of other applications.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.