NSF Grant Fuels Innovation in Baruch’s Science Labs
November 10, 2025
With digital microscopes funded by the National Science Foundation, students will gain valuable skills that are directly applicable to numerous careers in STEM-related fields.
Baruch College is advancing innovation in science teaching and learning with a new $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. The award, secured by Grace Avecilla, doctoral lecturer and Associate Professor Krista Dobi, both in the Department of Natural Sciences, will fund the purchase of 49 Zeiss 3 Digital Microscopes equipped with 5-megapixel cameras and integrated with digital classroom software.
The new microscopes—set to be installed next summer in biology and environmental science teaching labs—will directly benefit more than 950 students each semester, including those in general education courses and biology majors and minors.
New Opportunities for Exploration
“The microscopes provided by this grant represent a significant step forward for our students,” said Stephen Gosnell, PhD, Professor and Chair of the department, housed in the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences.
“Not only will the new scopes make it easier for students to view slides, but they also allow students to send images to connected devices and share them with other students and instructors.”
Gosnell added, “This technology brings the ‘invisible’ microscopic world to the big screen in our classrooms. We will be able to focus on what students see, not how hard it is to see it and open the door to discussion and exploration in teaching labs.”
Expanding Hands-On Learning
The new microscopes will enable faculty to create interactive, collaborative learning experiences that promote engagement and mastery of scientific techniques. Students will be able to share, annotate, and analyze high-resolution images in real time, while receiving personalized feedback from professors.
Baruch students use microscopes to view living single-celled organisms, examine plant reproductive structures, and examine cells and bacteria from inside their mouths. For the upper-level biology courses, students will have the ability to capture publication-quality images, deepening their research expertise.
Skills for 21st Century STEM Careers
Avecilla and Dobi noted that the impact of this NSF grant extends beyond the classroom.
“Students will gain valuable skills in microscopy that are directly applicable to careers in healthcare, environmental science, research, and other STEM-related fields.”
Through this investment, Baruch College continues to uphold its mission of academic excellence, student success, and innovation in teaching and learning—empowering students with the tools and experiences to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world.
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