Using SEM Micrographs to Examine Hydrothermal Vent Samples

I started an individual project within Professor Craig Moyer's microbiology lab with the purpose of exploring hydrothermal vent samples using scanning electron microscopy. Moyer has several organisms and core samples cryonically frozen from active sites all over the world, which have not been explored through SEM before. The objectives of the project included looking at three sample types (microbial mats, scale worms, and shrimp) and testing different SEM preparation methods. I focused on two aspects of the samples--their elemental composition and the presence (or absence) of bacteria. The ultimate product was a portfolio of images captured on the scanning electron microscope as well as figures that describe the elemental composition of the samples.