ICAL is collaborating with Professor Dr. Oguz Dogan who is from Selcuk University, Konya, TURKEY for the next few months. His research focus is in Energy Dispersive X-Ray Flourescense Spectroscopy and YBCO superconductors. At MSU, Dr. Dogan will work with the ICAL analysis systems: Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE SEM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Small-Spot X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS), Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (ToF-SIMS), X-Ray Powder Diffraction Spectrometer (XRD) and Scanning Auger Electron Microprobe (AUGER). One of the goals is to develop mutual relationships between MSU and Selcuk University and also to assist in current research projects. We are very pleased that Dr. Dogan can join us this summer.

ICAL hosted Professor Salih Celik, head of the Biophysics Department and Medical Faculty , from Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey. For 2 weeks, Prof. Celik participated in ICAL in-house research activities and consulted with ICAL/MSU researchers and staff. We look forward to further collaborations with him and Dicle University.

ICAL is pleased to have PhD student Sukriye Celikkol working in the laboratory with ICAL PhD candidate Muhammedin Deliorman. In her own words:

I am a PhD student in Bogazici University - Institute of Environmental Sciences and I am here as a part of a collaborative study between Istanbul Technical University (ITU) - Environmental Engineering Department, Bogazici University - Institute of Environmental Sciences and Montana State University - ICAL.

My goal is to collect data for my PhD thesis on surface biochemistry and biophysics in relation to the microbiology of the immunoimmobilization of living microorganisms on flat surfaces. I will be using instruments such as epifluorescence optical microscope, high-resolution scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, photoelectron spectrometer, time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry for visualization and characterization of materials and for understanding the fundamental aspects of the modern bacterial immobilization technology.

WELCOME SUKIRYE!

ICAL is hosting Bridges student Dawson Demontiney for the AIRO summer research program. Dawson's project will involve studying different sample preparation methods for Scanning Electron Microscopy, including preparing biological samples using ICAL's critical point dryer. A research poster will be prepared and presented in July at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In the fall, Dawson will begin his studies at MSU with the Department of Civil Engineering.

This year Dr. Nick Seaton visited ICAL to illustrate some of the functionalities of our EBSD-FEM system. Nick worked closely with Dr. Colin Shaw and Melody Bechberger to identify optimum settings for our instrument to conduct multiple research projects. Nick also gave a presentation in the Earth Sciences Seminar Series on his work in Turkey. We look forward to future collaborations with Nick.

ICAL collaborator Dr. Iwona Beech from Portsmouth U.K. and University of Oklahoma is working with Dr.Avci and Dr.Suo on ONRG/ONR sponsored research investigating microbial degradation of naval biofuels. Project title: An immuno-biosensor for detecting micororganisms in biofuels.

Research on organic preservation in Dinosaur feathers.

ICAL has hosted a summer REU student, Chaz Goodwine who is a Chemical Engineering major from Rensselaer Polytech Institute in Troy, New York. Chaz is working on a biophysics project involving the mechanical properties of Bacterial surface layers.  Different types of bacteria are being studied using the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). Chas will be here until August.

ICAL has a visiting 3rd year Physics student from the Technical University at Ilmenau, Germany - Erik Roessler. Erik will be here on internship until the end of August working on an Atomic Force Microscopy project.

Drs Jan A Sunner and Iwona B Beech of the University of Portsmouth in the UK are our returning international visitors this month. Iwona and Jan are our old friends and frequent guests at ICAL. Their research focuses on investigating mechanisms of biofim-influenced deterioration of metallic materials, such as steel and Cu-Ni alloys, and archeological timbers of the historic ship the Mary Rose.