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，因为解剖学系统对生物体如何移动、喂养、繁殖以及与它们所生活的环境相互作用有着重要的线索。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；了解一个物种的多样性，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成像技术获得。这些技术的范围从表面扫描仪到使用紫外线或x射线收集数据的高分辨率3D显微镜。生物学家然后在计算机上处理和可视化这些数据集，要么为研究收集数据，要么在课堂上用作视觉辅助工具。然而，其中一些成像模式产生的数据集比典型的个人计算机所能处理的要大得多；或者可能需要由于许可或成本问题而不是每个人都可以使用的专门软件。两者都有可能对公共资助数据的共享和使用造成障碍，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的访问公共资助的网络基础设施（JetStream2）和数据资源（MorphoSource），否则他们可能无法从它们的可用性中受益；要么是因为他们缺乏计算资源，要么是因为他们缺乏使用这些资源的技术专长。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易于操作和使用。此外，训练营的机会将把有动力的研究生和博士后转变为新的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将使处理数字生物标本数据像处理基因组数据一样常规，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中。拟议的云服务和分析工具也将通过衍生的3D表型数据交换，使更大规模的多实验室合作无摩擦。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。

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.