Essential Imaging Technology for Enhanced Education and Research in STEM Fields at Dominican University
Abstract
Dominican University (DU), a Hispanic-Serving Institution located in River Forest, Illinois, requests funding for a Magritek Spinsolve 60 MHz NMR, a Magritek Spinsolve 80 MHz NMR, a Rigaku MiniFlex X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and a JEOL JCM-7000 NeoScope scanning electron microscope (SEM) comprising an imaging technology instrument cluster to improve education and research. Students will benefit because the instruments will play an important role in eight current and three planned chemistry laboratory courses, with the 60 MHz NMR, XRD, and SEM used in introductory-level courses and the 80 MHz NMR, XRD, and SEM in upper-level courses. Through these educational experiences, DU students will gain hands-on experience and skills that will help them better prepare for a range of STEM careers, as imaging technology is widely used in chemistry, material science, structural biology, neurobiology, nanotechnology, and other STEM disciplines. Faculty members in the chemistry and biology disciplines, aided by undergraduate students, will advance research in topic areas of interest to the Army Research Laboratory and Office of Naval Research using the requested instrumentation. Projects that will immediately benefit from imaging technology capability at DU are (1) the rational construction of polymers from natural polyphenolics and dicarboxylic acid linkers that will be characterized by NMR, XRD, and SEM; (2) electrochemical incorporation of trifluoromethyl groups into host molecular scaffolds, monitored by fluorine-19 NMR; (3) functionalization of boron nitride nanomaterials with organic ligands, as analyzed by NMR, XRD, and SEM; (4) research in how natural receptors respond to signal molecules present in natural mixtures characterized by NMR; and (5) identification of novel antibiotic molecules produced by soil bacteria. The institution will also benefit from the requested instrumentation because obtaining imaging technology capability is the final step before DUÕs chemistry program can request approval from the American Chemical Society to certify chemistry graduates. Such approval will enhance the universityÕs reputation and will increase the career and graduate studies opportunities open to our STEM students. Approximately one-third of DUÕs incoming freshmen intend to major in a STEM field. Among DUÕs undergraduates, 69% are members of minority groups, nearly 70% are female, and half are low-income and/or first-generation college students. The proposed instrumentation will enhance these studentsÕ success in STEM majors and will attract more STEM students from nearby high-diversity high schools and community colleges to major in STEM fields at DU. Imaging technology instrumentation will help DU to become an important source of skilled STEM graduates from traditionally underrepresented minority groups, thereby strengthening and diversifying the nationÕs STEM workforce. Local high school and community college students and their teachers will develop technical skills through collaborative research projects and other activities resulting from DU STEM outreach efforts to strengthen and diversify the STEM pipeline.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 02, 2022
- Source ID
- W911NF2210134
Entities
People
- John Friesen
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Dominican University
- Office of the Secretary of Defense