| NSF Org: |
DBI Division of Biological Infrastructure |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | August 6, 2020 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | August 6, 2020 |
| Award Number: | 2018586 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
John Steven C. De Belle
jcdebell@nsf.gov (703)292-2975 DBI Division of Biological Infrastructure BIO Directorate for Biological Sciences |
| Start Date: | October 1, 2020 |
| End Date: | September 30, 2024 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $563,976.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $563,976.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
730 SULLIVAN RD EASTON PA US 18042-1760 (610)330-5029 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
730 High Street Easton, PA US 18042-1762 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | Major Research Instrumentation |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): | |
| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.074 |
ABSTRACT
An award is made to Lafayette College for a powerful and easy-to-use Carl Zeiss EVO scanning electron microscope (SEM) to do several projects spanning multiple disciplines ? biology, chemical and biomolecular engineering, civil engineering, environmental science, geology, neuroscience, and physics. Lafayette is a small liberal arts and engineering undergraduate institution which prides itself on high-impact undergraduate student research engagement. Societal benefits include the training of the next generation of scientists, teaching them to think critically with problem-based learning modules using the EVO. The Science Horizons Program, a year-long mentorship program for students from underrepresented populations culminating in summer research opportunities, will ensure these benefits are realized by a diverse group of students. Additionally, the EVO will be used in outreach activities for high school students to encourage them to consider careers in science and engineering research.
Acquisition of the EVO is critically important as it will enhance research productivity for faculty and undergraduate collaborators on a multitude of diverse projects. The EVO will allow imaging of a variety of materials (living and non-living) at the nanoscale using several different detection modes, including correlation of electron microscopy and optical microscopy. Use of the EVO will lead to new findings on understanding the mechanisms of photoreception by tissues of the eyes in turtles, the physics underlying magnetic nanoparticle ensembles, and the history of magma systems by detailed analysis of accessory minerals. Other research made possible with the EVO includes characterizing ?smart? biomaterials for tissue engineering applications, examining interactions between biofilms and their substrates for design of containment systems, studying the mechanisms of mechanotransduction in zebrafish, investigating nanowire synthesis, and analyzing single-photon emission from defects in wide bandgap semiconductors. Results from these research projects completed by faculty and undergraduate student co-authors will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications and at regional, national, and international scientific meetings.
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.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
An award was made to Lafayette College for a powerful and easy-to-use Carl Zeiss EVO scanning electron microscope (SEM) to do several projects spanning multiple disciplines – biology, geology, and physics. Lafayette is a small liberal arts and engineering undergraduate institution which prides itself on high-impact undergraduate student research engagement. The EVO has allowed imaging of a variety of materials (living and non-living) at the nanoscale using several different detection modes, including correlation of electron microscopy and optical microscopy.
Results from these research projects completed by faculty and undergraduate student co-authors have been disseminated at regional, national, and international scientific meetings with peer-reviewed publications in preparation. Examples of findings include the following: images from irises of different species of turtles to begin understanding the anatomy underlying the mechanism of photoreception controlling their pupil constrictions (Figure 1); images of the male genitalia of harvest spiders allowing discovery of new species (Figure 2); and images providing insight on the mechanism of lava flow (Figure 3). Work also has begun to be able to image for characterization of magnetic nanoparticle interactions.
Societal benefits included the training of the next generation of scientists, teaching them to think critically with problem-based learning modules using the EVO. This has included broadening participation to a large number first year students (nearly 500) taking general biology over the past three years at Lafayette. Students had the opportunity to drive the microscope to image pollen from flowering plants and compare differences between monocots and dicots (Figure 4). The Science Horizons Program, a year-long mentorship program for students from underrepresented populations, also ensured summer research opportunities for diverse group of students, where they were able to learn how to carry out various methods involving the EVO.
Last Modified: 01/28/2025
Modified by: James R Dearworth
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