University of Wyoming Secures Nearly $1.3 Million Microscope, Boosts Regional Research Capacity
The University of Wyoming received nearly 1.3 million dollars from the National Science Foundation to acquire a Leica STELLARIS 8 FALCON STED super resolution microscope, creating a new regional hub for advanced imaging. The instrument, housed in UWs Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging in the Science Initiative Building, will expand research, training, and healthcare related work across Albany County and neighboring communities when it becomes broadly available in early 2026.
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The National Science Foundation grant will fund a Leica STELLARIS 8 FALCON STED super resolution microscope that is now installed at the University of Wyoming and undergoing testing in the Center for Advanced Scientific Imaging light microscopy suite in the Science Initiative Building. UW assistant professor Eunsook Park led the proposal for the award of nearly 1.3 million dollars, and the university announced that no institution within roughly 600 miles of UW had comparable equipment when the proposal was submitted. UW expects the instrument to be available for campus and regional use in early 2026.
The instrument couples fluorescence lifetime imaging with STED based super resolution capabilities. That combination allows researchers to visualize cellular structures and dynamic processes beyond the limits of conventional microscopy, a capability that has implications for work in molecular biology, biomedical engineering, veterinary science, and plant biology. The project lists multiple co PIs and senior personnel across those disciplines, signaling a cross campus effort to integrate the technology into research and training programs.
“This microscope is truly a game changer,” Park said.
For Albany County residents the new capacity means more locally accessible tools for investigations that can influence public health and environmental work. Advanced imaging can accelerate studies of disease mechanisms, tissue pathology, and host pathogen interactions, and it can improve understanding of plant responses that affect regional agriculture. By situating the instrument within CASI, UW aims to make the technology a shared resource for faculty, graduate students, undergraduates, and postdocs, and to broaden access through formal training for partner institutions including Laramie County Community College and Colorado State University.
Beyond immediate research benefits, the microscope strengthens regional research infrastructure in ways that affect funding competitiveness and workforce development. Local students who gain hands on experience will have greater opportunity to enter scientific and clinical research careers, and community college partners can leverage training pathways to support equitable access to high tech skills. The presence of a facility with unique capabilities within 600 miles may also attract collaborative projects and external grants that bring funding and jobs to the area.
The university plans to roll out access policies and training schedules as testing concludes, with availability anticipated in early 2026. As the instrument moves from testing to routine use, Albany County institutions and residents stand to benefit from expanded research, enhanced training opportunities, and more locally anchored science that informs health and environmental decision making.
