Founded in 1800, Middlebury College, located in western Vermont, has committed itself to academic excellence in all disciplines, including the sciences. Research by undergraduate students, working in close collaboration with faculty mentors, is the centerpiece of science education at Middlebury. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The commitment of faculty, in carrying out significant research in the setting of an undergraduate institution, has increased of the number of students pursuing chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology. Success has come in spite of antiquated facilities for research and research training. Recognizing this need the college will renovate laboratory space in the Science Center for chemical and biochemical research with support from the Academic Research Infrastructure Program. Present conditions of research space dedicated to the department are inappropriate and poorly configured to support research activities. Renovations will include consolidating research space that is currently dispersed throughout the building. Instrumentation rooms will be created for all major analytical instruments. New fume hoods and ventilated storage cabinets will be located in all laboratories, improving laboratory safety. The renovated laboratories will provide access to modern research space for more undergraduate students and will substantially improve the environment for student-faculty research. These modifications will facilitate the substantial flow of scientific results from Middlebury faculty and students, and will contribute to the recruitment and training of future scientists.
