ICAL News
New Instrumentation
04/16/2021
Thanks to the contributions of the National Science Foundation, ICAL will be upgrading two of it's tools: the Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer and the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope.
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From Microfluidics to Nano-optics: Building Devices in the Montana Microfabrication Facility
03/23/2017
This webinar is being offered through the Montana Nanotechnology Facility (MONT), a project funded by the NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure program. The presenters will be Dr. David Dickensheets, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Dr. Phil Himmer, Manager of MMF.
An abstract and link to register can be found here.
MSU NanoDays, February 28th from 5-7pm
02/20/2017
ICAL will be hosting a table at the annual NanoDays celebration in the MSU SUB Ballrooms. Please stop by and see us as you check out all the exciting activities exploring nanoscience. This event is free to the public and intended for kids and adults.
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Webinar: Material Characterization using electron microscopy and spectroscopy: Examples using SEM, XPS, and Auger
05/03/2016
This webinar is being offered through the Montana Nanotechnology Facility (MONT),
a project funded by the NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure program.
The presenters will be Dr. Recep Avci Professor of Physics, Dr. David Mogk Professor
of Geology, Montana State University.
An abstract and link to register can be found here.
$3 million awarded to MSU to create a new nanotechnology center
07/17/2015
MSU had been awarded a $3 million NSF grant to establish a new nanotechnology center, Montana Nanotechnology Center (MONT). This grant is part of the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) network. ICAL is excited to be part of this expansion.
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Congratulations, Josh
5/20/2014
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Congratulations, Muhammedin
11/30/2012
Muhammedin Deliorman has successfully defended his PhD thesis entitled, "The Immunoimmobilization of Living Bacteria on Solid Surfaces and its Applications" and accpeted a PostDoc position at Washington State University. He will be greatly missed in ICAL, but we wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavours.
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Professor M. Salih Celik, Dicle University - Turkey
11/29/2010
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!
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ICAL Post Doc
7/11/2012
We are pleased to welcome Mark Wolfenden, PhD to ICAL as our new post doc. He will be working on the MURI project and studying the effects of microbial-induced corrosion on steel. Please join us in welcoming Mark to ICAL.
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Dr. Oguz Dogan, Selcuk University - Turkey
7/15/2011
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.
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Biocorrosion Conference in Portsmouth, UK
7/15/2011
Dr. Recep Avci will be attending a conference on biocorrosion at the Unverisity of Portsmouth later this month. He will be giving two talks on the ICAL's involvement in this research.
MURI Project Meeting
6/8/2011
ICAL will host the MURI Project annual meeting on June 16 and 17th. Attendees from the collaborating agencies and universities will gather to discuss various topics concerning Fuels and Biocorrosion. Presentors from OSU, OU, ONR and MSU will give talks on current research and posters will also be presented. Lectures include "Perspective on Fuels and Biocorrosion - Navy Needs and MURI Team Interactions" Dr. Joseph Sulflita; "Application of Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Fuel Investigations", Dr. Jan Sunner and "Immunoimmobilization In Fuel-Sea Water", Dr. Jahson Zhiyong Suo. Strategy sessions will be conducted and tours of the 3rd Floor EPS facilities will be given. Contact ICAL for further information.
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Sukriye Celikkol, Research Scholar from Turkey
11/29/2010
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!
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RESEARCH AWARD
11/24/2010
Recep Avci to lead MSU portion of $7.5M Multi-University Research Initiative (MURI) project
A new $7.5M Multi-University Research Initiative (MURI) project entitled "Fundamental Research on the Biological Stability of Future Naval Fuels and Implications for the Biocorrosion of Metallic Surfaces" has been funded by the Office of Naval Research. Research Professor and ICAL Director, Recep Avci, will lead the MSU portion ($2M) of the five-year project. The research will explore fundamental scientific issues that lead to new knowledge, understanding and technology for the prediction, diagnosis and mitigation of fuel biodeterioration and biocorrosion problems impacting US Naval operations. The project will explore to what extent the biocorrosion of carbon steel experienced in marine systems can be correlated with anaerobic fuel biodegradation, by addressing such hypotheses as: A) fuel biodeterioration and metal biocorrosion are differentially associated with the development of sulfate-reducing and/or syntrophic hydrocarbon-degrading anaerobic biofilms; B) biofuel formulations have the potential to exacerbate the baseline problem rate, depending on their susceptibility to biodegradation; and C) fuel biodegradation problems can be monitored and interrupted at sensitive stages to prevent spoilage and control biocorrosion. These hypotheses will be investigated by four research teams at four institutions, the University of Oklahoma, Colorado School of Mines, Montana State University and Oklahoma State University, in well-defined technical approaches. The MSU team's role and responsibilities include but are not limited to understanding the effect of key microbial interactions on the biocorrosion of carbon steel: This involves developing a versatile experimental platform employing a wide range of surface imaging and surface analytical techniques that will address the fundamental mechanisms of the anaerobic carbon steel biodeterioration process resulting from the anaerobic biodegradation of fuel in marine systems in the presence of sulfate and under sulfate-depleted conditions, at the nano-, micro- and macro-scales. Our results will complement and contribute to the studies carried out by our collaborators. Our team will focus on two parallel tasks designed to investigate the relationship between fuel biodegradation and biocorrosion, each with a series of specific objectives summarized under two tasks. Task 1 requires the development and employment of smart immunosurfaces (immuno-microarrays) to aid the understanding of early biodegradation/biocorrosion events at the nano- and microscales. Task 2 focuses on the comprehensive use of surface-sensitive methods such as advanced microscopy, spectroscopy , in situ microprobing and surface-sensitive analysis to evaluate the effect of biominerals and metabolites (H2S, S2-, H2) formed during the fuel degradation process on the corrosion of carbon steel at the nano-, micro- and macro-scales. The experimental design developed by the MSU team will facilitate in situ and ex situ observation and sample collection for analysis by our collaborators.
Student Researcher at ICAL
6/16/2010
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.
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Dr. Nicholas Seaton, University of Minnesota-Minneapolis
3/15/2010
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.
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ICAL assisted research earns high school student a trip to the International Science and Engineering Fair
3/15/2010
Katelyn Gibbs is a high school student in Great Falls, MT. She recently visited ICAL to conduct research on Yogo Sapphire inclusions. She had several cut and polished gems that contained inclusions or “defects.” Katelyn said "Some people consider them flaws; I consider them a learning tool." The Yogo sapphires are from the Vortex Mine near Utica, MT. At ICAL, we performed XRD on material that surrounded the sapphires and elemental analysis on several inclusions within the cut sapphires. Katelyn had been working with Dr. Baker before he passed away earlier this year. This past week Katelyn came in 2nd place at the Region II Intel Science and Engineering Fair at Montana State University-Great Falls College of Technology. She and four other students will be heading to the International Science and Engineering Fair in San Jose, CA in May. We wish her the best of luck and were happy to help her conduct her research.
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Dr. Iwona Beech
2/17/2010
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.
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First Place Poster!
2/17/2010
Muhammedin Deliorman was awarded First Place for the poster entitled "Nanoscale elasticity and the puncturing of immunoimmobilized live bacteria" presented at the 2nd International Biophysics Congress and Biotechnology at GAP and the 21st National Biophysics Congress, October 05-09, 2009, Diyarbakir - TURKEY. Come by ICAL to see the poster.
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Industrial Associates visit ICAL
2/17/2010
ICAL hosted numerous Industrial Associate visitors attending the Center for Biofilm Engineering's winter conference Feb. 9-10, 2010. Industrial members were interested in ICAL techniques and services for surface analysis, materials characterization and bacteria/biofilm analytical methods. Representatives from 3M, Masco, Colgate-Polmolive, BASF/CIBA Specialty Chemicals and Dow Chemical were among the visitors.
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Dr. Mary Schweitzer
10/26/2009
Research on organic preservation in Dinosaur feathers.
Summer Students
7/27/2009
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.
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Erik Roessler from Germany
4/20/2009
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.
ICAL's new webpage
2/10/2009
ICAL has a new WEBPAGE design that includes some great features. Keep up to date with ICAL activities, news, publications and ongoing research projects!
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Dr's Jan A Sunner and Iwona B Beech
2/10/2009
Dr's 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.