Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Transmission electron microscopy is a central and uniquely powerful technology for imaging and understanding structure across many scientific disciplines, from the organization of cells and tissues in the life sciences, through to the morphology of fibres, films and nanoparticles in chemistry, physics and other materials sciences. This proposal seeks to replace the unreliable, obsolete camera for the Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) that is a core instrument of the Scientific Imaging Suite (SIS) of the Department of Biology at Dalhousie University. A reliable and capable camera is necessary for this microscope to be usable for research and teaching. Consequently, a modern sCMOS camera with high sensitivity that captures ~15 megapixel images is sought, to improve the imaging capabilities of the TEM, and, most crucially, to permit and ensure its reliable operation for the foreseeable future. The SIS microscope is vital because of the capacity it provides, and because of some unique capabilities, plus use efficiency factors. Thus, equipping this TEM with a state-of-the-art camera is crucially important for research groups across the Faculty of Science, in other faculties at Dalhousie University (e.g. Engineering) and across the Nova Scotia research community. This large community of users (>10 research teams are substantial users, plus ~30 occasional users in recent years) is represented by the proposal co-applicants, but extends well beyond these particular groups. As documented here, acquisition of the camera will enable NSERC-supported research ranging from characterization of new `kingdoms' of eukaryotic life, discovery of novel forms of highly modified mitochondria in anaerobic microbes and understanding adaptation by plant roots to nutrient deficiency or overaccumulation, through to improved understanding of development, aging, and healing in collagen-rich tissues, and the characterization of new nanoparticles with basic materials science, catalytic, and biomedical potential. Almost all direct users of this microscope and its camera are research trainees, and the SIS (managed by the highly experienced Dr Ping Li) has a long-established program for training HQP at all levels, in the use of this instrument and in electron microscopy methods more broadly. This gives the microscope, with its camera, exceptional value as an HQP training resource.