A grant has been awarded Washington and Jefferson College under the direction of Dr. Ronald J. Bayline to acquire a laser scanning confocal microscope for research and education. The instrument will provide enhanced imaging of fine structure in cells in biological research. Studies that will employ the confocal microscope include research on development of neuromuscular system, experiments on compounds in food and medicine that induce cell death in cancer tissue cultures, and studies of microbial agents affecting tick borne disease organisms. The institution, which is an undergraduate college, has programs in student research that will engage students in hands-on research. Many students are first-generation, minority or women students, and these underrepresented groups will benefit from the research programs using the microscope.
