Award Abstract # 0319523
MRI/RUI: Acquisition of a Nuclear Microprobe System for Interdisciplinary Research and the Integration of Research and Undergraduate Education at Hope College

NSF Org: PHY
Division Of Physics
Recipient: HOPE COLLEGE
Initial Amendment Date: July 29, 2003
Latest Amendment Date: September 7, 2005
Award Number: 0319523
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Kathleen McCloud
kmccloud@nsf.gov
 (703)292-8236
PHY
 Division Of Physics
MPS
 Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Start Date: September 1, 2003
End Date: August 31, 2006 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $660,000.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $680,000.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2003 = $680,000.00
History of Investigator:
  • Graham Peaslee (Principal Investigator)
    gpeaslee@nd.edu
  • Paul DeYoung (Co-Principal Investigator)
  • Brian Bodenbender (Co-Principal Investigator)
  • Michael Pikaart (Co-Principal Investigator)
  • Kenneth Brown (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Hope College
35 E 12TH ST
HOLLAND
MI  US  49423-3626
(616)395-7316
Sponsor Congressional District: 04
Primary Place of Performance: Hope College
35 E 12TH ST
HOLLAND
MI  US  49423-3626
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
04
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): YBR2AJ9X4BK9
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Major Research Instrumentation,
NUCLEAR STRUCTURE & REACTIONS
Primary Program Source: app-0103 
Program Reference Code(s): 0000, 9229, OTHR
Program Element Code(s): 118900, 123300
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.049

ABSTRACT

A grant has been awarded to Hope College under the direction of Dr. Graham Peaslee for
a particle accelerator and attached microprobe facility to enhance the research efforts of
faculty and undergraduate students. This new instrumentation will be used in a variety of
interdisciplinary research projects conducted in the areas of environmental chemistry,
biochemistry and biophysics, condensed matter physics and materials science,
electrochemistry, paleontology and geochemistry. While the disciplines affected by this
state-of-the-art instrumentation vary, the intellectual merits of these research projects are
consistent in that they each advance a field of basic scientific research, and they each
involve significant opportunities for undergraduate training in doing so. Additionally,
most of the research projects proposed will strengthen interdisciplinary connections
between two or more research groups.
Ion beam analysis techniques that will be available with this instrumentation include
microPIXE, STIM and RBS, which allow characterization and quantitative measurement
of elements on the surface of materials. Specific examples of the work to be pursued with
this instrumentation include direct measurement of anthropogenic metals in the lake
sediment and quantitative assessment of metals in protein gel assays. Other projects will
simply use the analytical tools provided by this instrumentation to further the
understanding of materials developed on campus or to solve problems that cannot be
answered by other methods. Examples of this include characterization of amorphous
nitrite films for optical and electronic devices and phthalocyanine films for use in
electrochemical sensors, or studying the chemical surroundings of dinosaur bones
between the time of their death and their discovery as fossils.
In addition to these valuable research contributions that become possible with this
instrumentation, the broader impact of this proposal includes the training of
undergraduate students in some of the state-of-the-art analytical methods employed in
physics, chemistry, biology, geology and environmental science. What is novel about this
particular instrumentation is that it will form a common tool that multidisciplinary teams
of undergraduates (and their research mentors) will use together to solve complex
research problems. In addition, it is anticipated that companies will be able to obtain
sophisticated materials analysis from this facility occasionally, which will help local
industries stay competitive.

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