Suart, C. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2021

Mod3D: A Low-Cost, Flexible Modular System of Live-Cell Microscopy Chambers and Holders

Live-cell microscopy imaging typically involves the use of high-quality glass-bottom chambers that allow cell culture, gaseous buffer exchange and optical properties suitable for microscopy applications. However, commercial sources of these chambers can add significant annual costs to cell biology laboratories. Consumer products in three-dimensional printing technology, for both Filament Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Masked Stereo Lithography (MSLA), have resulted in more biomedical research labs adopting the use of these devices for prototyping and manufacturing of lab plastic-based items, but rarely consumables. Here we describe a modular, live-cell chamber with multiple design options that can be mixed per experiment. Single reusable carriers and the use of biodegradable plastics, in a hybrid of FDM and MSLA manufacturing methods, reduce plastic waste. The system is easy to adapt to bespoke designs, with concept-to-prototype in a single day, offers significant cost savings to the users over commercial sources, and no loss in dimensional quality or reliability.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Grades, motivation, and resilience: the role cognitive and non-cognitive traits play in the undergraduate research student selection process

The academic research experience is extremely rewarding but is also froth with many challenges, setbacks, and frustrations. The publish-or-perish mentality of a research-intensive academic environment demands a certain skill set in its trainees. This selection criterion begins with the undergraduate research selection process, but what is the ideal skill set of an incoming student entering the research experience? The current landscape on this topic is bleak, with little examination of how students are chosen for these positions. We therefore conducted an analysis examining student selection methods, non-cognitive traits, emphasis on grades and medical school future ambitions. Our findings suggest that the top five student traits valued by principal investigators are: motivation, resilience, hard work, inquisitiveness and honesty. Surprisingly, emphasis on grades as a screening tool decreased as age of laboratory and frequency of publication increased. Additionally, we identified an inverse correlation between student interest in medical school and research supervisor interest in selecting the student for an undergraduate research experience. Taken together, our study culminates in a defined set of skills beneficial for an incoming student at the beginning of their research experience. We feel our findings will greatly facilitate the overall undergraduate student selection process in any academic environment.

scientific communication and education↗