Equipment: MRI: TRACK1 acquisition of a zeiss LSM980 airyscan confocal microscope for plant research

The National Science Foundation Office of Integrative Activities awarded the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center $783,491 on March 15, 2026, to acquire a Zeiss LSM 990 Airyscan confocal microscope for plant research. The award funds equipment under the Integrative Activities program (CFDA 47.083).

The microscope will be integrated into the Center's Advanced Bioimaging Laboratory and will support more than twenty federally and privately funded research initiatives led by thirteen principal investigators. The system provides parallel spectral imaging, high-speed high-resolution modalities, and automated high-throughput capabilities for multi-well plate experiments, enabling precise quantification of cellular molecular movement and investigation of topics including microbial interactions, stress responses, nuclear structure, and protein localization. The Center plans to use the instrument for training scientists at all career levels, including high school and college students in imaging projects, teacher workshops, and connections to local schools. Graduate students and postdocs will gain high-demand skills in modern agricultural science and workforce development.

The award supports collaborative research across the University of Missouri System (Saint Louis and Columbia campuses) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Performance takes place in Olivette, Missouri, with an ultimate completion date of February 28, 2029.

Abstract

The donald danforth plant science center (ddpsc) has received a grant to purchase a zeiss LSM 990 airyscan confocal microscope. This advanced tool will benefit several ongoing research projects and offer new ways for the broader scientific community to study plants through the center?s advanced bioimaging laboratory (ABL). The new microscope will also be used to train scientists at all levels of their careers. The center plans to continue its strong history of mentorship by involving high school and college students in imaging projects, hosting teacher workshops, and connecting researchers with local schools. By working with this state-of-the-art technology, graduate students and postdocs will gain high-demand skills necessary for the modern workforce and the future of agricultural science. The integration of the zeiss LSM 990 system into the ddpsc?s advanced bioimaging laboratory introduces several critical functionalities, most notably parallel spectral imaging and high-speed, high-resolution modalities. These features, along with automated high-throughput capabilities for multi-well plate experiments, allow for the precise quantification of cellular molecular movement. This technological leap will provide immediate support to over twenty federally and privately funded research initiatives led by thirteen principal investigators. The impact of this system extends beyond the ddpsc, fostering collaborative research with the university of missouri (saint louis and columbia) and the university of nebraska-lincoln. By enabling advanced investigations into topics ranging from microbial interactions and stress responses to nuclear structure and protein localization, the LSM 990 serves as a cornerstone for the development of next-generation imaging applications specifically tailored to the plant sciences. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.