NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute (EAPSI) for FY 2013 in Japan

2013 财年 NSF 东亚及太平洋夏季学院 (EAPSI) 在日本举行

• 批准号: 1310731
• 负责人: Heather Harper-Lovelady
• 金额: $ 0.51万
• 依托单位: Harper-Lovelady Heather M
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Fellowship Award
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-06-01 至 2014-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1310731&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NSF; East; Asia; Pacific; Summer

This action funds Heather Harper-Lovelady of the University of South Florida to conduct a research project in the Mathematics and Physical Sciences area during the summer of 2013 at Laboratory of Bio-Solid State Science, Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. The project title is "Characterizing Environmental Effects on the Physical Properties of Collagen." The host scientist is Professor Toru Asahi.Many tissues in the body such as ligament, bone, and cornea, derive much of their structural and mechanical properties from type I collagen. All of these tissues have drastically different physical properties but they are all constructed using the same collagen molecule. How the same molecule can be responsible for such a range of tissues is of great importance in the fields of tissue engineering, bio-technology, and more. Previous research has demonstrated that ionic environment plays a key role in the physical properties of individual collagen molecules. For collagen to form a tissue, such as cornea, it has to be assembled in a specific pattern to create a sheet. It remains unknown how the physical properties of individual molecules affect a larger scale collagen sheet. This project investigates the physical properties of collagen sheets and relates them to previous research on collagen molecules. Comparing the physical properties of collagen on these different scales will provide valuable knowledge for engineering collagen based tissues in the future.Broader impacts of an EAPSI fellowship include providing the Fellow a first-hand research experience outside the U.S.; an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and an orientation to the society, culture and language. These activities meet the NSF goal to educate for international collaborations early in the career of its scientists, engineers, and educators, thus ensuring a globally aware U.S. scientific workforce. Furthermore, outreach activities are being performed to introduce high school students to opportunities in international study and collaboration through scientific research. Both before and after the internship, local high school students will be introduced to the EAPSI program, NSF, and the Fellow's research through an interactive web-based blog in written and video format. The goal of this outreach is to educate, inspire, and encourage students to pursue education and careers in the STEM fields.

该行动资助南佛罗里达大学的 Heather Harper-Lovelady 于 2013 年夏季在日本东京早稻田大学生物固态科学实验室开展数学和物理科学领域的研究项目。 该项目的标题是“表征环境对胶原蛋白物理特性的影响”。主持科学家是 Toru Asahi 教授。体内的许多组织，如韧带、骨骼和角膜，其大部分结构和机械特性都源自 I 型胶原蛋白。 所有这些组织都具有截然不同的物理特性，但它们都是使用相同的胶原蛋白分子构建的。 同一分子如何负责如此广泛的组织在组织工程、生物技术等领域非常重要。 先前的研究表明，离子环境对单个胶原蛋白分子的物理特性起着关键作用。 为了使胶原蛋白形成组织，例如角膜，它必须以特定的模式组装以形成薄片。 目前尚不清楚单个分子的物理特性如何影响更大规模的胶原蛋白片。 该项目研究胶原蛋白片的物理特性，并将其与先前对胶原蛋白分子的研究联系起来。 在这些不同尺度上比较胶原蛋白的物理特性将为将来工程基于胶原蛋白的组织提供宝贵的知识。 EAPSI 奖学金的更广泛影响包括为研究员提供美国以外的第一手研究经验；各自地点的科学、科学政策和科学基础设施的介绍；以及对社会、文化和语言的定位。 这些活动符合 NSF 的目标，即在科学家、工程师和教育工作者职业生涯的早期进行国际合作教育，从而确保美国科学劳动力具有全球意识。 此外，我们还开展外展活动，向高中生介绍通过科学研究进行国际学习和合作的机会。 在实习之前和之后，当地高中生将通过书面和视频格式的交互式网络博客了解 EAPSI 计划、NSF 和研究员的研究。此次推广活动的目标是教育、启发和鼓励学生在 STEM 领域追求教育和职业。