Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The proposed project aims to strengthen institutional research capacity by acquiring a versatile, high-throughput, elemental analysis instrument: ATLAS M7010 micro-X-Ray fluorescence (Micro-XRF). The proposed instrument will serve several ongoing research projects related to food and agriculture; they will utilize micro-XRF in research that requires elemental analysis and elemental mapping. Other FIU projects, spanning chemistry, materials science and engineering, and environmental science will also benefit from the instrument. FIU has the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the micro-XRF, and PD has expertise in micro-XRF techniques and will facilitate user training. The instrument has an estimated lifetime of 15 years and will have both local and regional impact on high-quality research due to its high versatility allowing application in many areas of research. The ability to collect high-quality preliminary data will lead to both increased research funding and a significant publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national conferences during the project period. The micro-XRF will engage participation of many underrepresented minority undergraduate students (estimate of more than 100), potentially leading to their graduate school recruitment. The acquisition will impact recruitment of high-quality faculty, contributing to FIU research capacity growth. The instrument will be included in training workshops for the research community at FIU and South Florida Universities to advertise the instrument capabilities and increase its user base.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
The proposed project, to be conducted at Florida International University (FIU), a Hispanic Serving Institution, aims to strengthen institutional research capacity by acquiring a versatile, high-throughput, elemental analysis instrument: ATLAS M7010 micro-X-Ray fluorescence (Micro-XRF). The instrument will advanceor enablefundamental and applied researchat FIU. The proposal objectives and related tasks are as follows:?Objective 1: Acquire and install theATLAS M7010 Micro-XRFresearch instrument.Task 1.1 Place ATLAS M7010 instrument purchasing order to IXRF SYSTEMS, INC.Task 1.2 Complete instrument delivery and installation (IXRF SYSTEMS, INC.)Task 1.3 Complete basic training (IXRF SYSTEMS, INC., part of the installation process)Task 1.4 Complete additional application-based training (IXRF SYSTEMS, INC.)Objective 2: Enhance FIU research capacity by establishing and growing a large researcher user-base using micro-XRF to increase food, agriculture-related research programs at the institution.Task 2.1 Deliver annual Micro-XRF workshops (PD with AMERI Facility staff engineers)Task 2.2 Train faculty and student researchers-need basisObjective 3. Complete and submit annual project reportsTask 3.1 Conduct annual project progress evaluationTask 3.2 Annual Reports Preparation/ Submission (and Final Report)
Project Methods
Methods1. Instrument Acquisition. The XRF acquisition is planned in Year 1 and does not require any special accommodation; the purchasing lead time is <150 days. The equipment will be fully operational by the conclusion of the first year of the project.2. Procedures for allocating the instrument time and maintenance (down time). i). Onboarding of ATLAS M7010 as a new capability at FIU.ii). Managing user training; PDwill participate during training sessions. All users who will be trained on the instrument will be provided access.iii). Schedule and perform maintenance (biannually).iv). Provide any troubleshooting assistance including connecting with customer service at IXRF.3). Attracting/supporting new users. The PD will develop a training video that highlights the instrument features, simplicity of use, and the applicability in many research areas. The PD will actively work to increasing the visibility of the instrument in the research community at FIU and in South Florida through presentation to relevant colleges/departments and references in peer-reviewed publications. Lastly, AMERI, the instruments facility in the collegehosts a biennial users conference, a platform for presenting research and engaging in new collaborations; ATLAS capabilities will be showcased. 4).Curriculum interventions:Integration of teaching modules presenting operation and application notes of the Micro-XRF in relevant courses.