Collaborative Research: Research Infrastructure: MorphoCloud: A Cloud Powered, Open-Source Platform For Research, Teaching And Collaboration In 3d Digital Morphology And Beyond

形态学的定量研究是生物科学中许多领域的核心，因为解剖学系统掌握着生物体如何移动、进食、繁殖以及与它们所生活的环境相互作用的重要线索。通过这些研究，生物学家可以了解随着时间的推移发生了什么变化;很好地了解物种内部的变异性，甚至预测它们是否有可能在全球环境挑战中生存下来。形态学数据最好使用3D成像技术获取。这些技术可以从表面扫描仪到使用UV或X射线收集数据的高分辨率3D显微镜。然后，生物学家在计算机中处理和可视化这些数据集，以收集研究数据或将其用作课堂上的视觉辅助工具。然而，这些成像模式中的一些产生的数据集比典型的个人计算机可以处理的数据集大得多;或者可能需要由于许可或成本问题而可能不对每个人可用的专用软件。两者都有可能为公共资助的数据创造共享和使用障碍，阻碍教学，科学探索和合作。该项目为生物学家提供了公平和方便地访问公共资助的网络基础设施（JetStream 2）和数据资源（MorphoSource）的机会，否则他们可能无法从其可用性中受益;因为他们缺乏计算资源或使用它们的技术专业知识。该项目团队还将培训数百名早期职业科学家，他们的研究和教学将受益于数字生物标本的简单操作和使用。此外，训练营的机会将把积极的格拉德生和博士后转化为新分析工具和功能的未来发明者，这将发展在数字环境中工作的形态学家社区。 MorphoCloud将使数字生物标本数据的处理与基因组学数据的处理一样常规，这样生物学家就可以专注于他们的科学问题，而不是陷入复杂的工作流程，技术细节和有限的资源。建议的云服务和分析工具还将通过3D表型的衍生数据交换，实现更大规模的多实验室协作。该奖项反映了NSF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。

Quantitative study of morphology is central to many fields within the biological sciences, as anatomical systems hold important clues on how organism move, feed, reproduce and interact with the environment in which they live in. Through these studies, biologists can understand what changes have happened through time; get a good glimpse of the variability within a species, and even predict whether they are likely to survive with global environmental challenges. Morphological data is best acquired using 3D imaging technologies. These technologies can range from surface scanners to high-resolution 3D microscopes that use UV or X-ray to collect data. Biologists then process and visualize these datasets in computers to either collect data for research or use them as visual aids in the classroom. However, some of these imaging modalities produces datasets that are much larger than typical personal computers can handle; or may require specialized software that may not be available to everyone due to licensing or cost issues. Both can have the potential to create sharing and usage obstacles for publicly funded data, impeding teaching, scientific exploration and collaboration. This project provides equitable and convenient access to publicly funded cyberinfrastructure (JetStream2) and data resources (MorphoSource) for biologists, who otherwise may not benefit from their availability; either because they lack the computational resources or the technical expertise to use them. The project team will also train hundreds of early career scientists, whose research and teaching will benefit from the easy manipulation and use of digital biological specimens. Additionally, bootcamp opportunities will transform motivated grad students and post-docs into future inventors of new analytical tools and functionalities, which will grow the community of morphologists working in digital environments. MorphoCloud will make working with digital biological specimen data as routine as working with genomics data, so that biologists can focus on their scientific questions rather than get bogged down with complex workflows, technicalities, and limited resources. Proposed cloud services and analytical tools will also make wider-scale, multi-lab collaborations friction-free, via derived data exchange of 3D phenotypes.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.