MRI: Acquisition of a Scanning Electron Microscope to Strengthen Research Capabilities at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution

MRI：购买扫描电子显微镜以加强本科机构的研究能力

• 批准号: 2117210
• 负责人: Carmen Nezat
• 金额: $ 76.75万
• 依托单位: Eastern Washington University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-08-01 至 2026-07-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2117210&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; Scanning; Electron; Microscope

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award will enable the acquisition of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at Eastern Washington University (EWU), a primarily undergraduate and regional, comprehensive institution. This instrumentation will allow faculty and students to pursue research in multiple disciplines (biology, chemistry, environmental science, geosciences, and engineering). In addition to its use in research, this state-of the-art equipment will be integrated into coursework in several academic departments to allow students, many of whom are in underrepresented groups in STEM, to explore the microscopic world. This will be the only SEM at an academic institution in the greater Spokane, Washington area (which hosts three universities and three community colleges) and is intended to be part of a multi-user facility. The SEM will also support educational outreach activities for K-12 students and teachers including research experiences in the classroom, virtual field trips, and in-person field trips.A scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) generates nanometer-scale imaging and elemental analysis of solid materials which can be applied to a wide range of scientific, engineering, and research-training activities. The SEM will facilitate the investigation of 1) nutrient and heavy metal transport in soil, 2) ozone production in ground-level atmosphere, 3) plant and animal evolution and fossilization, and 4) timing and environmental conditions of regional igneous and metamorphic processes. Along with sample preparation equipment acquired with these funds, the SEM will provide critical research instrumentation for early-career investigators, foster interdisciplinary research, and improve the research infrastructure at EWU and nearby universities and community colleges. EWU faculty have a strong record of supervising research by undergraduates - many of whom are underrepresented in STEM. About 50% of EWU students are first-generation college students, 28% of the students identify as a minority, and 44% are PELL eligible. The SEM will enable novel hands-on research and training activities in multiple fields across EWU.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.

该重大研究仪器 (MRI) 奖项将使东华盛顿大学 (EWU) 能够购置一台扫描电子显微镜 (SEM)，该大学主要是本科生和地区综合性机构。该仪器将使教师和学生能够进行多个学科（生物学、化学、环境科学、地球科学和工程学）的研究。除了用于研究之外，这种最先进的设备还将被整合到多个学术部门的课程中，让学生（其中许多属于 STEM 中代表性不足的群体）探索微观世界。这将是华盛顿大斯波坎地区（拥有三所大学和三所社区学院）学术机构中唯一的 SEM，并且旨在成为多用户设施的一部分。 SEM 还将支持 K-12 学生和教师的教育外展活动，包括课堂研究经验、虚拟实地考察和亲自实地考察。具有能量色散 X 射线光谱 (EDS) 的扫描电子显微镜 (SEM) ）生成固体材料的纳米级成像和元素分析，可应用于广泛的科学、工程和研究培训活动。扫描电镜将促进以下方面的研究：1）土壤中的养分和重金属传输，2）地面大气中的臭氧产生，3）动植物进化和化石化，以及4）区域火成岩和变质过程的时间和环境条件。除了用这些资金购买的样品制备设备外，SEM 还将为早期职业研究人员提供关键的研究仪器，促进跨学科研究，并改善 EWU 和附近大学和社区学院的研究基础设施。 EWU 教师在监督本科生研究方面拥有良好的记录，其中许多本科生在 STEM 领域的代表性不足。大约 50% 的 EWU 学生是第一代大学生，28% 的学生属于少数族裔，44% 的学生符合 PELL 资格。 SEM 将在 EWU 的多个领域开展新颖的实践研究和培训活动。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。