A grant has been awarded to Indiana University under the direction of Dr. Suchetana Mukhopadhyay to acquire a dual high resolution and cryo transmission electron microscope for research and teaching. The instrument will give a group of eight researchers a powerful tool for observing the structure of cellular structures, including internal membranes, flagella, protein complexes, and other structures that require cryo (extremely cold) preparation conditions. The high resolution capability will enhance a materials science program, in particular in studies of nanostructure and crystalline lattices of polymers. The instrument will be used by undergraduate and graduate students in their research in the life sciences and materials science. The device will foster interdisciplinary research in Biology, Chemistry, and Geological Sciences. Images from the instrument will be used in exhibits in the WonderLab science museum, as well as in "show-and-tell" program for K-12 schools during a statewide Life Science Week in Indiana.
