In 2021, PI Elba Serrano and Co-PIs Charles Shuster, Sara Fuentes-Soriano, Jennifer Randall, and Igor Sevostionov were awarded an MRI grant, “Acquisition of a Bio-AFM for Life Science and Soft Matter Research and Research Training in New Mexico” from the NSF for the purchase of a Bruker Nanowizard 4 XP BioAFM system on an Olympus IX73 inverted fluorescent microscope. This BioAFM supports investigators and students at three Hispanic-serving institutions offering undergraduate, masters, and doctoral STEM degrees: New Mexico State University in Las Cruces; New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro; Eastern New Mexico University in Portales.  This critical tool for life science and soft materials research was previously unavailable to researchers at these institutions, and will enhance infrastructure for research and education by forging a collaborative network among New Mexico institutions.

      The Bruker NanoWizard 4 XP offers atomic resolution and fast scanning, and is configured to capture quantitative measurements of biomechanical properties from molecules, cells, and tissues in a temperature controlled, fluid environment.  It scans with rates up to 150 lines/second combined with a large scan range of 100 um in one system.  See here for more information.

      For more information about training, using, or touring the instrument, contact Lab Manager Stanley Cheng (scheng2@nmsu.edu)