9871906 Hehr Arkansas EPSCoR Cooperative Agreement The Arkansas EPSCoR Cooperative Agreement will increase the ability of researchers in Arkansas to compete for federal funding. Based on the state s research and development plan and on current and potential faculty expertise, four scientific areas will be supported. These are: mass spectrometry, molecular and cellular biology, biotechnology, and computational sciences. The University of Arkansas (UAF) will develop a mass spectrometry laboratory that will provide equipment and support for projects across many of the science and engineering disciplines. In order to help meet the needs of molecular science and technology in Arkansas, UAF will recruit six additional cellular and molecular biology faculty and provide start-up money to enable these faculty to begin development of their research programs. The Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Arkansas For Medical Science (UAMS) has recently been created. Space for the new department has been identified and the state has funded faculty salaries. To enhance teaching and research, start-up funds will be provided to equip eight new NSF- eligible faculty in this department. Two supporting areas will also be funded. In addition, the UAMS is planning to build a facility for shared university/private sector activities which will enhance economic opportunities and build biotechnical business and industry throughout the state. To help build a nationally competitive program in Computation Sciences, equipment will be purchased to support eleven tenure-track faculty and fellowships will be initiated to attract high quality graduate students for computation and other science departments. Currently NSF and state funds are being used to build a high-bandwidth network and funds will be sought to rebuild the campus backbone at both the UAF and UAMS to accommodate better Internet access.
