Agriculture News

Scanning Electron Microscope Approved by NSF

Muhammad Jahan (PI), Sanju Gupta, Rajalingam Dakshinamurthy, Hemali Rathnayake

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant provides funding to the Western Kentucky University to acquire a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for education and research at undergraduate and graduate levels.  The instrument will support a broad range of cutting edge and innovative research projects spanning multiple disciplines of natural sciences and engineering.  Additionally, the instrument will allow integrating the hands-on training and research component into the course instruction for various undergraduate courses.  The new instrument will allow the students, researchers and educators to obtain high-resolution images of a wide variety of samples ranging from complex micro-features in electronic and aerospace materials to organic nano-particles and biological species.  The new instrument will also impact the research experience and education of Gatton Academy Math and Science high school students, as well as secondary and middle school students from the minority and underrepresented groups and Appalachian counties.